Wheel doesn't re-center when turning left at speed.

[Begle1]

Ever since I've replaced my steering box, my steering has been weird and the steering wheel has centered to the right.

The alignment seems to be fine; it doesn't pull and I haven't seen any weird tire wear yet in 500 miles.

I took it for a drive over the Ortega today to put it through its paces and put a finger on what's wrong with it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 7&t=h&z=11

The truck moves straight when the wheel is ~45 degrees to the right. The problem is that at higher speeds, above 40 MPH, whenever the wheel turns 45 or more degrees to the left, the point where the wheel is centered, it stays there. When I pull the wheel back to the right it fights me a little bit; it gives me a few little nudges back while I get the truck to move straight again. If I let go of the wheel while turning left I can sustain a constant left turn all day long.

Turning right, the wheel doesn't fight me at all and it returns to center when I let go just like it always has.

At low speeds, like in a parking lot, the wheel returns to center on its own whether I'm turning left or right. The no-return problem only shows up at higher speeds but is 100% repeatable and very weird.

Anybody know what could cause this? I'm guessing that it has to be a problem in the steering box and I'm replacing it with another reman...

[cougar]

Sounds like the spool valve in the steering box. Try this;
raise the front wheels off the ground
turn the wheels straight ahead (ignore were the steering wheel is)
start the engine
The wheels should stay straight ahead. If you turn the wheel, they should stay were you put them. If you raise the RPM, they still shouldn't move. The fix is to re-center the spool valve or you may have to replace it.

[Begle1]

I got a new remanufactured unit (Limited Lifetime Warranty yippee...) and it no longer holds the wheel straight while turning to the left. The steering wheel is still off-centered, but I can live with re-centering the wheel as long as it steers normally and doesn't fight me while coming out of a corner.


Autozone seems pretty good with their Lifetime Warranty parts. If you get their little "Rewards Card" and have them scan it while you purchase the part, the purchase goes into their computer under your name and phone number. You don't have to remember the receipt to get your $40 shocks replaced now.