my89xj

So after going offroading 2 days ago, I noticed today that my steering was all funny. When I turn either left or right mostly right I feel resistance and then I keep turning and loosenes back off after I get past that hump. Any idea what's going on?

RenegadeT

PS pump or box going bad? Have someone crank the steering wheel back/forth, while you crawl under and watch what going on., Start at the steering box, make sure its mounted firmely to the unirail, not wagging around while the steering wheel is turned. Then on the pitman arm, etc down to each wheel.

RTorrez1

How hard were you wheeling? Did you hit anything or land hard. If so you may have bent something? Like RenegadeT. Climb under your rig and have someone crank the wheel back and forth to see if something looks loose or bent.

my89xj

I guess its the pump, nothing is bent.

my89xj

So how can I tell if its the pump or the gear box

Northwoods Snowman

I would try getting the front wheels off the ground and try turning them back and forth with the engine off (ie no pump). If it's still hard to turn then it's the gearbox. If it isn't hard to turn, fire up the engine and see if you notice anything different with the pump on. If is still feels good, put the wheels back on the ground and try the same thing with the engine running (this will load up the system up and make the pump work.) If that doesn't narrow it down come back and let us know.

my89xj

Will do!

my89xj

Alright well i did do this. When the front wheels where lifted and the key turned to hot, I could move the wheel but not easily, couldnt tell if thats because its a bad gear box or because I had no pwr steering when I turned the car on while still jack the wheels turn easy with no problems. I'll note I cannot make sharp turns without hearing a whine, or clanking.

FL Denmark

it sounds its the gearbox gone bad. could also be a u-joint on the steering axle.

anything else would not feel different from left to right

good luck with it

my89xj

Well if thats the case I had recently payed a shop to replace the gear box once, so hopefully they'll through a new one in for me. I know it was aftermarket and not that strong but what could I have done to break it? Or what if the pump isn't giving it any fluid?

Northwoods Snowman

By turning the key to "hot" you mean on, but without the engine running? In that case the wheels will be harder to turn throughout the range since there isn't power steering, but it should be constant and smooth.

Is the issue you're having when you're turning from straight to when the wheels are returning to straight? I had an issue where a front u-joint was binding up and the steering would pulsate when returning to center.

A way you can check the u-joints if you can't feel any play by grabbing them is to get the front wheels off the ground, turn them full lock left or right and try to spin the front wheels by hand. That's how I found a bad u-joint. In my case only one axis was bone dry and the wheel would bind every 180 degrees as I turned it.

Can you please elaborate on your statement "I'll note I cannot make sharp turns without hearing a whine, or clanking."? Full lock, wheels turning, up on jacks etc?

my89xj

My issue is when I start to turn right I get a lot of resistance, but I can still turn right. Also when I make Sharp turns I can hear a whine coming from somewhere in the front end.

Northwoods Snowman

If you are holding the wheel over as far as it goes in "sharp turns" you're going over relief in the steering gear and that's normal to make a whine noise. Have you checked your ball joints?

my89xj

More than the normal squeal. What ball joints?

Northwoods Snowman

If the squeal is more than normal, check the tension of the serpentine belt. It could be loose or warn and slipping when the power steering is at full lock.

The ball joints that hold the steering knuckles to the front axle. Perhaps one is failing and binding?