Hi all,
I got in my truck and started to drive off. I noticed that the steering wheel was about 90 degrees off from where it should be. I checked all the linkage and the steering components. I drove for a little while and it steered fine. When I started again after shutting it off, it was clocked right and drove fine. I stopped again and shut i of. I started it, backed up and upon moving forward again the wheel was 180 degrees off,(completely upside down from normal). I drove a little further, shut it off and then when I stated out again it was 90 degrees off. I suspect the steering box, but what would cause this?
Mike

 

wow thats weird..... im not help but heres a bump to help ya get it figured out, you sure its safe to drive?

 

my truck does something sort of similar but it's entirely because my front allignment is out. Sometimes one tire grips the pavement better and the steering wheel is off to one side, then other times the other tire tracks the truck and the steering wheel is off to the other side. I haven't gotten an allignment yet because I want to rebuild my kingpins first. I have old crappy tires on there so it doesn't matter what happens to them, so long as they hold air.

Maybe that's your problem, maybe not. Just thought it was worth considering.
I take it all your steering components are tight and there is no play in ball joints or kingpins or the steering shaft/box?

 

Have a good look at the REAR axle. Make sure the u-bolts aren't loose and allowing it to move around on the lift blocks. If it is, you'll see it in the steering wheel centering.

 

hmm, sounds like a panhard bar isn't tight or even broken. I wouldn't keep driving it. Is the front of that setup like the 3rd gens or are you on leaf springs in the front?

 

Hi All,
I am on leaf springs. I have not checked the rear axle. I have near new tires and the truck drives straigh and true. I have not been on any bad roads. I won't be driving it any more. I am putting it up on my two post lift tomorrow and checking it over. I think I will put a gearbox on it and check the frame. I'll keep you all posted.
Mike

 

There's a stamped metal plate that connects the steering gear-box to the actual frame.

- Make sure it's not cracked and/or with broken flanges (a common problem).

 

ditto

sounding similar to problems I've read about several times on here. Some people say it's easier to steer one way than the other when this is cracked and flexing

 

Yep after mine broke for the 2nd time, after welding it back together, I had to ratchet strap the box back to the frame so I could drive home. And got a new plate from the dealer.