Steering knock and movement

[mudgrip4]

Had a wheel alignment and new 32" muds this month. Everything good. However was out driving on road today when I noticed steering more vague than usual - like driving with a side wind. Also noted steering wheel centre is no longer horizontal and level but is canted to left as though wheel is half a spline out.

Then went to do some offroading over light to medium rocky stuff and heard a knocking, clonking sound in the steering when crossing uneven ground. Also felt it through the wheel. The wheel itself was not moving, but when going over rocks there was a feel of a left to right clonking movement coming through the wheel, like something is loose or slogging out. Audible knocking and feel of left to right movement through steering wheel with it.

Coming home truck tracked straight on road with hands off wheel, but with steering wheel at funny angle-about 15-20 degrees off level to left.

I will check wheelnuts again and bearing tightness. The idler arms are both good. Sway bars are connected. Wondering what the hell it could be - my club mechanic didn't seem to know.

Balljoint?
Wheel alignment bolts now loose?
Something in steering column?
Steering box?

Appreciate any advice

Thanks Mike.

[mudgrip4]

Just checked and no steering fluid is gone. Also reached down under turbo and twisted steering column side to side and there is a bit of audible clonk there coming from lower down column. Is there meant to be a little bit of movement as say when rotating rear driveshaft from side to side?

Mike.

[nig]

One thing that might be worth checking is the tension on the bolts that hold the steering box on to the chassis.
My rodeo developed vague steering with a clunck a while ago, turns out all 4 bolts holding the steering box on had worked loose.

[geeves]

First thought with vague steering would be 50 psi in the tyres as most tyre dealers seem to think is normal. Very low pressures can do this as well although this would also be heavy. Im sure youve already checked this.
Was the steering wheel out of line after the alignment If so go back and get them to do the job properly If not could be a loose tye rod end but if they adjusted camber etc the top a arm could be loose or maybe the bushes have gone. The bushes are cheap at BNT (mine were 140 both sides) but you need a press to fit them. If the a arm bolts are loose then shims might of fallen out ref my first suggestion.
There is a small universal in the steering collum Mine broke about 3 years ago with similar results Dont know price as mine was done the same time as my steering box and snorkle You dont want to know about that bill.
Could also be the idle arm

[mudgrip4]

Thanks for help guys - tyre pressure 34 - am working through other stuff.

Test this morning interesting. Sat in truck and moved steering wheel side to side a bit to test slop. No real problem and wheels also moved with small steering wheel movement so no real slop. However when mate under truck as I moved steering wheel he could clear clonking noise from steering box with each movement. Not good news - movement in there.

However - a question. On top of steering box is an adjustment screw with a locknut - what is this for? Wondering if it could be for taking up excess movement as in this case?

James giving me a hand to troubleshoot more thoroughly tomorrow nite, but would like any comment on the adjuster screw - and any other ideas.

Mike

[geeves]

You can adjust it there and sometimes all will be good. But like all old well loved items not always. The gears in the box can wear unevenly so when you take the slack out in the center it can bind at full lock. Then its box recon time$

[geeves]

Just a thought Harry bought 2 steering boxes(still in trucks) last week He might be able to sell you one although freight from Tirau might hurt

[isuzumudman]

You are correct. The shaft has a slot for a screw driver. Before doing anything, check how much slop there is by moving the steering wheel left & right a small amount while someone else looks at the corresponding movement in the Pitman arm.

To adjust hold the shaft firm with a screw driver while loosening the lock nut.

Clockwise to reduce play then tighten nut to test.

Dave

[Harry]

Seems a bit sudden for the steering box.I'd expect it to happen a little more gradually than that.Check the ball joint on the end of the steering box drop arm.At my first warrant on my road truck mechanic found that the nut was less than finger tight but the split pin was in properly.Someone [not me] had forgetten to tighten it first.That was quite rattly and vague.But if it all happened after the wheel alignment I'd suspect it was something they've done .They should have re-centred the steering wheel.
Regards,Harry.

[mudgrip4]

Will check through the points tomorrow - the steering wheel was correctly centred after recent alignment. What is the cost for a 2nd hand steering box Harry - in case its necessary..

Thanks Mike

[Harry]

$50 plus new top seal plus shipping.
Regards,Harry.

[adam]

vauge steering could also mean your wheel bearings are loose

[mudgrip4]

Could be but bearings were fine recently. Steering box sounds fine Harry - will know by tonight if need a new box after we've checked everything over.

Thanks guys

Mike.

[mudgrip4]

Well.. better picture now. The wheel bearings on both sides were a bit loose (after just 2-3 months) which could account for wandering feel on road. Also wheel re-alignment needed - hopefully not at my expense. Should not happen after just 2 months .

Also showed truck to steering specialist and later checked more with James, and there is definitely some wear and a bit of knock, but it appears most likely to be coming from wear and slop in the balljoint in the steering arm beneath the steering box and not the box itself - good news. The specialist didn't think movement/noise was excessive, but he didn't hear it when bouncing over rocks. Looks like a wait and see exercise, with probable replacement of steering arm by next warrant.

Still, a bit of relief its not a much bigger job. Scared the crap out of my wallet - a new clutch and tyres has been enough $$$ for one month...

Thanks to all - Mike.

[geeves]

From memory the joint under the steering box is part of the center arm. When I did mine about 3 years ago the arm was about 120 at BNT I have heard of these being machined out and replaced but its nearly as much and the other joint has done as much work. The after market arm also has the connection point for a steering damper if you want one