Steering Problems

LAWMAN65

MEMBER
1994 DODGE RAM
83,000 MILES

I have a 1994 Dodge Ram 250 Van 3.9L V6 automatic with 83,000 actual miles. About six weeks or so ago I began having steering problems with this Van. Whenever I tried to make a turn it seems as though I lost my power steering and was steering in manual steering. I just started out of the blue and lasted a few days and then went back to normal. Then it started again. I figured the power steering pump was simply going out for I had no leaks and the front end was aligned and just fine. I installed a new (autozone) power steering pump, new power steering pulley, new pressure line and new return line. I bleed the air out of the pump and lines by running the engine and steering left and right for about 4o minutes. I then test drove the van and again it felt like I was manual steering when trying to turn. Regardless of wether I was just idling or racing the engine up. I figured it was just some trapped air in the pump or lines. I went ahead and greased the front end and all the tie rods which everything was in good shape. I drove the van around for a few days and then it worked perfectly. Steering was perfect. This lasted for about a month and now the steering is back to the way it was before I replaced the power steering pump. When I try to make a turn it is as if I have no power steering. Its like manual steering. I dont understand it. There are no leaks, the fluid level is fine in the pump. When I drive down the highway there is no shimmy or shaking nor does it vibrate or pull left or right and the tie rods and front end seem just find, so I have ruled out any problems with the tie rods or suspension. Surely the new power steering pump cannot have gone bad in this short amount of time. I just don understand what the problem could be. My Dodge dealer said they would replace the power steering pump and the power steering gear box to eliminated all possible problems. Another words drain the pocketbook for $3,000 as they quoted for the repairs. Money I just dont have and cannot possibly get, for I live on a fixed income. I have done alot of mechanic repairs on my vehicles over the years but this situation has got me stumped. I dont know if the problem is in the power steering gearbox mounted on the frame or what it could be. I have never messed with a power steering gearbox before. Any help or suggestions anyone could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank You very Much and God Bless.

Sincerely Ann

2 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

It sounds to me like something is binding in the linkage. I would check the ball joints.

Roy

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Friday, March 30th, 2012 AT 1:38 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

Sounds like there's wear on the control valve lever in the gear box. When you turn the steering wheel, you really aren't turning the steering linkage. All you're doing is pushing or pulling on the lever which opens the valve one way or the other to direct pressurized fluid to one side of the power piston. That fluid pushes on the piston which tugs on the steering linkage. The mechanical connection between the steering shaft and steering linkage is simply for a backup for safety in case power assist is lost for any reason, in particular a stalled engine.

What you might try first is to tighten the large threaded ring on the gear box right where the steering shaft goes in. If that has worked loose, (which would be unusual), the lever won't move enough to open the valve.

A rebuilt gear box from an auto parts store typically runs about $750.00 as I recall. You can find one in a salvage yard too but they had a very common problem on full size vans where the pitman shaft would get out-of-adjustment leading to very much play in the steering wheel and wander on the highway. That is adjustable but over-adjusting it even a little can make it worse by causing the steering wheel to bind when it wants to come back to center. It's real irritating to drive it like that.