New steering gear box is super stiff

[thekidwithquestions]

So I just replaced my steering gear box and it is SUPER stiff trying to turn it, like it feels like the power steering is doing nothing.

With the front end jacked up to where the tires are in the air, it is very easy to turn, feels normal, but as soon as the tires are on the ground its a nightmare to turn the steering wheel. Does anyone know whats up with it? is there an adjustment I should make?

 

[JMT]

So I just replaced my steering gear box and it is SUPER stiff trying to turn it, like it feels like the power steering is doing nothing.

With the front end jacked up to where the tires are in the air, it is very easy to turn, feels normal, but as soon as the tires are on the ground its a nightmare to turn the steering wheel. Does anyone know whats up with it? is there an adjustment I should make?

We just did a steering box on Monday. There was no adjustments that had to be made. As long as you have the three bolts in the side that support the box, the temp lines that screw into the top of the box side by side, the steering shaft is all the way in the splits from the steering box, and the steering shaft collar is right, that’s all there is to the mechanical side of it. Then you bleed them by turning back and forth at least 8 times to get all the bubbles out, top it off, steer some more to make sure. Should be good at that point.

 

[thekidwithquestions]

We just did a steering box on Monday. There was no adjustments that had to be made. As long as you have the three bolts in the side that support the box, the temp lines that screw into the top of the box side by side, and the steering shaft collar that’s the mechanical side of it. Then you bleed them by turning back and forth at least 8 times to get all the bubbles out, top it off, steer some more to make sure. Should be good at that point.

Did all that, for now i'll just keep trying to turn it some more to "break it in"

 

[JMT]

Did all that, for now i'll just keep trying to turn it some more to "break it in"

My guess would be the bleeding process too. I’d leave the wheels on the ground and turn left and right. Have someone watch the reservoir if possible.

I hope nothing got in the lines that could plug them up.

 

[thekidwithquestions]

My guess would be the bleeding process too. I’d leave the wheels on the ground and turn left and right. Have someone watch the reservoir if possible.

I hope nothing got in the lines that could plug them up.

Even if I use literally all my body weight I can BARELY turn the wheel when its stopped, cars on and the tires are on the ground, like it feels like I'm breaking the steering wheel trying to turn it

 

[thekidwithquestions]

@mrblaine you have any idea what it could be?

 

[mrblaine]

Even if I use literally all my body weight I can BARELY turn the wheel when its stopped, cars on and the tires are on the ground, like it feels like I'm breaking the steering wheel trying to turn it

Which steering gear did you install?
Stop before you break something.
With it running, carefully crack open the pressure line fitting and see if fluid comes out. I've seen them with an air lock that wouldn't bleed correctly and the pump was not making any noise.

Is the pump making any noise?

With it running and circulating fluid back into the reservoir, can you tell it is doing that by the small amount of turbulence in the fluid?

 

[jonny jeep]

I've had a sticking valve cause loss of power steering at idle rpm. If the wheels won't turn at idle, will they turn with raised engine speed?

 

[thekidwithquestions]

I got it worked out, there must have been a large air bubble or something because I was revving the engine and rotating the tires and it suddenly loosened up.

As for a review now, the box is really nice, the steering is BUTTERY smooth and just slightly more sensitive (which I like) for reference: Borgeson Power Steering box

 

[mrblaine]

I got it worked out, there must have been a large air bubble or something because I was revving the engine and rotating the tires and it suddenly loosened up.

That was the air lock I referred to that is solved by cracking the pressure line loose at the steering gear. Otherwise, you run the risk of running the pump dry and ruining it.