Stiff Steering

[georgeinphx]

Mine was defintley out of spec, which is what prompted me to get them, plus I needed new upper ball joints anyway. however, I still have that returnability issues along with vague steering in the 11-1 o clock range. The only thing up front I have not replaced at this point is my lower control arm bushings.

I found the play from 11-1 to be in the slip joint in the steering shaft. I put a couple tack welds and problem solved. I still have issues with nervous steering and not returning to center.

If you replace LCA bushings, go OEM or poly. I went with O' Reilly's and had issues so replaced everything else only to return to the LCA bushings and replaced them with Poly and then that was good.

 

[Brad_Leroy]

I think there's very good chance you have a power steering fluid supply issue. Have you ever done any type of renewal of your power steering fluid? [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] have a video we made of doing a renewal of the fluid with a Turkey Baster. There's a fine mesh metal screen on the bottom of the power steering reservoir and it can become clogged with black gunk. We noticed this when replacing a steering rack for someone. The screen was really blocked up with crud. I wish I had a video for you to show you how to remove the reservoir and clean it but we haven't made it yet. However, we do plan on making video very soon because a local kid with a 3rd Gen is also having power steering issues and we're going to help him out.

Edit 01/10/2018
[MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I now have a video that shows a more complete power steering flush procedure and includes pulling off the reservoir and cleaning out the filter screen.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k61KXRK8bM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks so much for the link to this video! Gotta luv Tim to Tool guy! I'm going to do a flush this weekend. Hoping I find a plugged up screen, leading to an easy fix to my stiff steering problem.

 

[ericfromspace8]

I also have stiff steering on my 2000. But only when it's cold. I've flushed the system with new fluid and cleaned the screen. Most of the junk came out with spraying brake cleaner. I used semi stiff brush on the screen to get the rest out. Thought for sure this was gonna solve the problem. Unfortunately, I still have rock hard steering in the cold mornings. But it does lighten up alot quicker once I get moving and the truck warms up. I don't know what to do next. Any suggestions?

 

[Kanoe]

I also have stiff steering on my 2000. But only when it's cold. I've flushed the system with new fluid and cleaned the screen. Most of the junk came out with spraying brake cleaner. I used semi stiff brush on the screen to get the rest out. Thought for sure this was gonna solve the problem. Unfortunately, I still have rock hard steering in the cold mornings. But it does lighten up alot quicker once I get moving and the truck warms up. I don't know what to do next. Any suggestions?

Did you use a good synthetic? Makes a difference for sure.