Has anyone had to replace a powersteering pump on a 93 dodge W250 before? I have completly gone through the front brakes, lines, pads, and calipers. But it feels like my truck oversteers to every reacton to the steering, causing it to go all over the road. I am running slighthly larger tires, 265/75 r16. but it just recently started and I'm running out of ideas. The sterreing seems tight by turning the shaft and watching the box and srteering arm. tie rod ends are ok. And front axle lockouts are working. It has about 180,000 miles on it and I was wondering if the pump is just worn out and giving eratic pressures? Any help would be appreciated. I bought this truck this winter, January, and it is my first deisel. I have had other Dodges but none with this kind of miles.

 

I rockind,

Mine had the exact same issues when I bought it a couple of months ago and my first solution was to not really steer it, but correct it every now and then. That worked pretty well. But after driving it a while, I thought " this is silly" so I added a steering damper, and that helped a lot.

It still tends to wander, so the next thing is to replace the tires (which are nearly gone) and the shocks.

I have the same size tires as you by the way.

 

Check the U-joints. If they are sticking they will prevent the front wheels from returning to center causing you to correct. An easy way to check them is to lock the front hubs and take it for a drive. This condition will not be noticeable when the hubs are locked. If it steers better this way replace the outer U-joints on the axle, just make sure to buy quality U-joints as they are not easy to change.

 

Oversteer is usually caused by too much toe out, check your alignment.

 

I lost stearing control on curves turned out to be bad bushings on the struts and failed origional rear shocks.

 

I'm still not happy with the way mine is acting either. I have mostly had trouble with it pulling when braking. Brakes don't seem to be the issue, new calipers and stuff did nothing. Tie rod ends were junk, replaced them and stuff got a lot better, but it still wants to pull sometimes, and not always one side or another it seems.
I moved to a more agressive tire, so that complicates my issues, since they may be causing some of it

 

If it is pulling while braking check the rear brake adjustment. Mine get out of adjustment fairly quickly and not evenly from side to side and cause mine to pull while braking.

 

We should start a pulling club --

My front end is tight, but the truck pulls to the right, and the brakes pull to the left. It is painful, especially after all of the work that I put into that front axle . . .

We will get it licked, tho! And the new king-pin bushings & springs did help the steering feel quite a bit.

 

I agree check the rear brake adjustment, if its out of adjustment it will make your truck pull when braking. As for the steering check your steering shaft that goes from your steering wheel to the pump. Its kind of cheesy and tends to wear out. The alignment idea sounds good to. How are your front tires wearing?

Paws

 

If the truck is a 4X4 you should also check the steering box mounting bracket.
Look at the rounded contours of the bracket as well as the area around the bolt holes... common to find cracks that allow the steering box to flex or even pull away from the frame rail.... in fact did that very diagnostic tonight with a new 1st genner who went out and lay under the truck while we spoke. In his case the cracks were not hard to see, they really stuck out..

PB.

 

I tried locking the hubs, still was squirrely. I resigned my self to changing out the steering box after reading a thread and suggestions in HELP. I also rebuilt the block parts in the box reciever to the steering shaft, Both power steering hoses, and replaced the draglink. It would of been easier with all the right tools but I got it done. Much improved and easier to handle. At least it is drivable. Still a little soft response at slow speed and follows contours in the road. After closer inspection I noticed the drivers front u-joint doesn't look well and they will be next. Thanks again for the help, Dwayne

 

I have the borgeson shaft and I check the rear brakes with every oil change

 

You can check toe in very easily. Just take a board and drive a nail through it, jack up one wheel and hold the board with the nail against the tire and turn the tire to leave a mark on it, do the same with the other wheel and then measure the distance between the marks at as close to centerline (level) as you can, both front and back. It should be 1/16 to 1/8 inch less on the front measurement, if not you can adjust the tie rod to get it where you want it.

 

I always thought I would get pulled over for DUI even though I wasn't!! Being these trucks have hardly any caster, I put some 1.5 degree caster shims in it and it helped. And yes, they are very sensitive to toe adjustment, mine seems to be best at 0 using a crude measuring method. It drives a lot better than it did, but after all, this is 80 year old front end technology here, not Formula 1 by any means. The rear brake adjustment really helps on the pulling, also. Almost like the bias isn't right. Maybe an adjustable valve would be worth trying. Jim

 

The latest in my problem is I also replaced the master cyl, as a friend who had problems told me his was so gummed up with stuff it wouldnt release the front calipers and his problem dissapeared after his new master cyl install. The truck drives great until I use the brakes a few times and then the front wheels pull back and forth, left, right, almost bouncing the truck. I am at a loss now anyone else experience this problem before? I can watch the steering wheel pull side to side as I drive. Thanks