So this is new. When my steering is dead center and I am not moving, I can turn the steering wheel to the left about 1/2” to 1” and I can start to feel a grind in the steering wheel. Past the 1” it’s fine again. I almost have to do 1 full turn to the right to get the same feeling. I can not hear anything different, it’s definitely just a feeling like dry metal on metal. Is it my steering knuckle, box, gears, bearings etc...??? I will say that on slow moving full turns, like pulling into a parking spot, I can feel it on the brake pedal and clutch too.
New grinding feel in steering wheel
- Thread starter BayTJ
- Start date
Does it feel like it's coming from inside the vehicle like the steering wheel itself, or does it feel like it's something coming from outside the steering wheel? Have you got under the vehicle and had someone to a dry steering test?
That would very, very easily identify the culprit I would imagine.
That would very, very easily identify the culprit I would imagine.
Hi Chris! Thanks for the reply! It’s definitely outside the steering wheel. I looked underneath while someone turned the steering wheel to see if anything stuck out, but I honestly wasn’t sure what to look for. What’s involved with a dry steering test?
Get under the front of the vehicle and have someone sitting in the vehicle aggressively crank the steering wheel back-and-forth. Lay under the vehicle and watch the tie rod, drag link, and other steering components moving back-and-forth. If there is a grinding point, it should be very easy to notice with a dry steering test.
It helps to have the engine running and the vehicle in park when doing the test (having the power steering running makes it a lot easier IMHO).
Also check under the hood while they are doing this and inspect the steering shaft.
Can you feel the grinding when the front wheels are up? If no it is probably in the linkage past the box. If yes then you may have worn a rough spot in the box on the worm gear. So if it looks like it might be the box, adjust the box a bit looser and then harder. If looser makes it feel better and tighter make it feel worse then it should be almost 100% in the box.
Forgot to add... sometimes you can feel it better with no p/s. So try with and without the engine running while the front is off the ground. But first try to find any worn joints like others have said. But most bad joints won't feel that bad when up.
Chris, here is a video of the dry test. Should I have that much movement? Should the joint at the Pittman arm have that much grease?
Look for a stud with a flat head groove cut in the end with a jam bit screwed down the outer threads.
That's not a dry steering test. Someone needs to sit in the vehicle and turn the steering wheel back-and-forth from side to side while you're under there. All I see is you playing with the tie-rod / drag link connection (and yes, that play is normal).
There is a bunch of grease on there, which just tells me that either one of the grease boots is broken, or someone just put way too much grease on there to begin with.
There's also A LOT of rust under there, which you may want to look into doing something about in the future (even though it's not related to this discussion).
Thanks Chris! After I did the test, that is what I thought might be causing the grind feeling so I just recorded the findings. On your other note, what do you recommend for the rust? I did have “Ziebert” under coating done 2 years ago and then a touch up this past January.
I recommend a shit ton of wire wheel work
with a lot of elbow grease, some satin black spray paint to cover up the bare metal, and then something like Fluid Film to protect the underside with.Ok the problem is solved! Look at the video:
Mystery grind feel on steering wheel solved
My only question is how in the world could the metal brake lines have moved that much to start rubbing against the steering shaft?
Thanks for all the suggestions guys!
Mystery grind feel on steering wheel solved
My only question is how in the world could the metal brake lines have moved that much to start rubbing against the steering shaft?
Thanks for all the suggestions guys!
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