The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1966 C10 steering is extremely tough (without power steering)

I have a 66 C10 that I can barely turn the wheel unless I'm moving and sometimes it tough there as well.It does not have power steering. I have greased all the front end parts, I have checked the gear box too. When the truck is lifted off the ground its still hard to turn. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Low tires can actually do that. Jack up front and see if you can determine a big change or is it still stiff'ish. Also "checked gear box" ? how? adjusted per spec? clean out an lubed?
1. Did you do anything lately, new tires, hit a ditch, real cold weather or has it been that way a long time?
2. Are you new to this truck? never had an old truck before?
3. When you are moving down the road, steering OK? wondering? stiff? loose? rattle? grind? bump?

Thanks for the fast response, I checked the lube in the gear box, When the truck is lifted its a little easier and I have had the truck for about 4-5 years and it has always been that way. When driving it steers hard but no noises of any kind or jumping around. I will check the air pressure and look into adjusting the gear box.

Thanks

Did you check all of the mechanical connections (linkages and arms) through full range of travel? Put it up on stands and have someone run steering through full travel and make sure arms and linkages are free. Otherwise, Steering gear may be set too tight.

are the joints taking the grease.
another thing to look at is if the frame is cracked around the bolt holes of the s/box. I would also knock off the drag link end at the pitman arm; that way you can see if the stiffness is in the box or the steering linkage
ron

My 65 1 ton was the same way, a friend recommended Justin Brother's friction modifier, a little in the steering box and for good measure some in the transmission, after a few days it steered way better and shifted smoother. Lucas makes a similar product. The steering box more than likely has the original gear oil in it.

Tire size and wheel width can also have an effect on steering.
I believe the stock wheels were about 5 1/2" and the tires were fairly skinny. If you are using oversize wheels and tires you may have contributed to the problem. If all the suggested mechanical issues are sorted out and you still have a problem you may need to do a PS conversion.
Fred

If it steers hard with the wheels off the ground... you can be confident that you have eliminated tires / wheels as the issue.

My '65 had P235/75R15 on the front and stock factory non-power steering. You don't need power steering, you just need to identify the problem.

Are you running a stock diameter steering wheel?