Early this Summer I made a few deliveries to farms on gravel roads with allot of studder bumps and I noticed that I had some chatter in the steering wheel. I would also notice this over RR tracks and small pot holes.

I took the truck to a freind of mine that is a truck mechanic and we traced the wear that was causing the problem to the steering box.

We ordered and installed a remanufactured steering box. Right away I noticed that the steering was very tight again and felt real good. Except that the truck pulled to the left and the steering wheel was not centered any more (we made sure that the timing marks were lined up).

Thinking that it might be a tire problem now, I changed the steer tires and it still pulled to the left.

So I have been pretty busy the last couple months and I am getting tired of having a sore right hand from always having to keep pressure on the wheel.

Today I had a 3 axle alignment done on my truck. Everything is in great shape, King pins, tie rod ends, springs, spring hangers, wheel bearings, all the rubber bushings on the rear suspension etc. etc.

The shop that I went to had a real hi tech alignment machine, they measure stuff by 100's of a degree.

My truck was toed out 1/8", the rear drive axle was out 5/32" and the front drive axle was out 7/32".

I was real happy about this because I thought my pulling problem was caused from the rears steering the steer axle. Got back out on the freeway after the alignment and it pulls just like it did.

Before when I had the worn steering box on the truck the truck went down the road great except for the chatter I would get on rough roads.

All these problems started with the new steering box. Today when I got home I took the top off the power steering resivour (spelling?) to check for air in the system while the truck was running and turning the wheels back and forth. No air.

What is the problem? Could something be wrong with the valving in the steering box making it alway turn to the right and I have to correct it?

1996 IH 9200 Shepard Gear Box


Any Ideas would really help

Thanks Mike

 

Just looking at this from a shear logic point it sounds like it's not lined up properly for some reason even though the timing marks are correct. Is it possible to move the shaft over past the timing marks until the steering is straight? Could be parts from a different model that threw you off?

 

Mike,
Steering problems are nothing to mess with. I doubt the steering box is the issue.. But first of all , I am not standing there looking at the truck. Moving the steering arm a couple of teeth on the shaft is not likely a possibility. and would have nothing to do with the truck pulling to the right. Since it is a new box (assuming not used) get it back to the shop you had it installed at. This could be a warranty issue and they should check it for a reasonable fee if not for free.
Another item you can check is the kingpins. Jack it up get the steers off the ground.. put a tire iron in hole at the bottom ,,pry out at the bottom holding the bar vertical. have someone watch for play in the spindle. If there is more than an 1/8" of side play in the kingpins.. replace em. However with the alignment I would think they would have found this.
Bearing drag could also be a issue. Worn or improperly tightened wheel bearing nuts could cause this, and look at the other side in case it is too loose.. Again, loose should have been caught on the front end rack.
As far as steering wheel alignment.. Usually after and alignment is done... and all the numbers are as they should be.. the tech will usually pull the steering wheel and reset it. Unlike a 4 wheeler that will normally be squared up after alignment.. Trucks are not the same.. can't explain it just the way it is..
I hope this helps some. I would pm you a email and phone,, but can't pm do to lack of posts here..
be safe
Chris

 

Thanks for the input Steve and Nightrider1. This has been a problem I have been not taking lightly.

My problems started the day we put the new gear box on. Even though it cured the problems I wanted to fix (chatter over RR tracks and studder bumps on a gravel road) The truck started pulling to the left right away and the steering wheel is off about 1/8 of a turn and it was straight before. I am not concerned right now about the steering wheel because that can be corrected easily by pulling the wheel and moving it one or two teeth.

The gear box is being warrantied and I will be getting the new one Tuesday.

Oh ya I got the 3 axle alignment Thursday and the Tech let me watch and he explained every move he made to me. He checked the truck out real good and (just like I have many times since this started) and said everything is in real good shape.

Today I jacked both sides of the steer axle up until the tires were off the ground and started the truck and took it up to 1400/1500rpms (my cruising rpms) hoping the wheel would creep to the left but it didn't.

I'm lost

I mounted up a new set off Michlen XZA3 steers today, get the new gear box on this week and I hope it drives like a Cadilac well maybe a Buick or Chevy LOL.

Mike

 

Have you checked the king pins?

 

you went through all of this work to cure a pulling problem that began immediately following a steering gear replacement?!?... hmmmmm

 

Bobh Don't really know what hmmmmmm? means but it had been 240,000 miles since my last 3 axle alignment. So it was time for a alignment. And my steers had 150,000 miles on them so it was time for new tires too.

Didn't do any work that wasn't needed. Would of liked to have the time to get to the bottom of this problem a little sooner.

The steering box was warrantied, got the old new one off and the new new one on in 45 minutes and the truck is perfect again.

Mike

[/u]

 

Mike, glad you got it fixed.. bad steering boxes , to the best of my knowlege, if they have been rebuilt aren't usually the issue.. Now I have learned something as well...
Stay safe
Chris

 

Thanks Nightrider1 I am still a little confused with this too.

The original rebuilt was leaking too, out of the front of the case. I never did put a wrench on the 4 bolts that hold the front together because I was afraid if I knocked the paint off the bolts I would lose the warrenty.

I put the new steers on the same day we put the second box on. When I said in my first post that I changed the steer tires I should of said that I took the tires off the rims and swapped them from side to side thinking it might pull to the right making my problems the tires. But it didn't.

But the tires are uni-directional so I actually kept the tires pointing the same way not really changing anything.

So maybe my problem was tire related, but it did start the day I put the first new box on.

Anyway I just got home from 550 miles and the truck is great.

Thanks for the input

 

hmmmm means; you've paid someone a bunch of money to fix your steering problem. and, as soon as you get it back on the road a new, previously non-existent problem suddenly surfaces .......... take it back and make them fix it !!!!! a hydraulic flow/pressure test would reveal that problem within a few minutes