The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Hard steering....

I have been driving my 46 2-ton long enough to know when something is going on. I hadn't driven it for maybe 3 weeks, but when I hopped in it last week the steering was very hard. I check tire pressure and that wasn't it. I then greased the king pins, tie rod ends, drag link and steering box. Everything seems to be in order. It is just steering hard and takes a lot of effort to keep straight, almost like it has zero to positive caster and is binding up?

I have had the wheels off recently and nothing seemed to be out of the norm.

Guess I will be pulling the wheels off again to check things. Any places I should look first?

The first obvious call would be a sticking king pin, however since you just had the wheels off, watch out for zebras.

How did you jack it up? How was it supported for the work?

Any chance of a bent tie rod? R&R steering arms?

Wheel bearing didn't seat properly?

The check for king pin is easy. Jack up front. Unhook the drag link and grab one tire and try to swing the wheels in and out. Moves easy, not kingpins. Moves hard, pop 1 tie rod end off. Try each wheel. one easy one hard, bad kingpin.
While the drag link is off spin the steering wheel and and see if it feels tight.

Maybe the adjuster for the steering box came loose?

I was thinking steering box as well. You have a cool brake set up on that truck now. I just added a KRC ps pump and an Isuzu box (course, mine is a COE with a little different angle) but man I can turn it with my pinky AND i'm only 2.5 turns lock to lock.

I didn't bend the steering arm when I jacked it up... It was supported with jack stands under the axle. Wheel bearings are tight.

Is this steering box adjuster something external or internal to the steering box?

There are two adjustments on the steering box, both are external.
Before touching either, you have to disconnect the drag link. When it is disconnected, turn the steering wheel full both ways, if it is smooth and easy to turn, that is not causing your problem. If it has a lot of drag, catches or has "lumps", adjustment won't help. It needs a rebuild. The only other thing an adjustment will fix is free play or "slop".

If the steering box isn't the problem, jack up the front and try moving the wheels by hand while the drag link is off.

That's kinda what I was thinking. I have had plenty of steering boxes apart, just not one from an old Chevy!

Might be time to replace the drag link with a more modern set up..... And maybe rebuild the front end if it needs it.

Thanks for the help.