1985 W150, 318 automatic. I replaced the power steering pump, and in the process had to removed the steering gearbox to replace the pressure line (which also needed replaced, was shooting out more fluid than the pump). Upon getting it back on the road my steering is too easy/light. The wheels turn so easy that I am afraid that a small twitch is going to send me into the ditch. There is some slop in the steering coupler, and some in the box itself, but when going down the road it feels almost like the front end is floating or driving on ice. I am not sure the best way to describe it, but the play in the steering doesn't bother me at the moment as I am already planning on the Borgeson shaft and probably gear box. I have heard that there is some adjustment in the steering box itself, but I'm not sure if that will tighten up what I need.

 

are you sure the slop in the box and not in the drag link? you can adjust the box but most of the time the slop is in the drag link or steering coupler and these 2 together can make for a very scary ride.

 

Yes, the slop is in the box. I held on to the outside of the coupler and turned it while watching the splines on the box move. I will not be able to re-build the coupler until tomorrow afternoon. But I am planning on doing that once the parts come in.

 

i wouldn't waste time rebuilding the coupler. once you dig the mud out of it you likely just make the steering worse. best to just get a new steering shaft even if it is just one of the cheap ones off ebay or amazon that are $40. they are still way better than a rebuilt stock coupler on the 4x4's. if the steering box has pay then adjust it. it only takes a few minutes and only requires a Allen key and wrench.

 

I'm not a fan of adjusting the nut on the steering box. The middle range typically gets the wear, so when you take up that slack, you put the rest of the steering range into bind.

The effortless/squirrelly steering may be partly due to the caster being erased from spring sag and bushing compression. You can make up a set of 5" shackles and get some caster back. Truck should steer itself (straight) at speed.

 

It may very well be from a lack of caster. The front leafs are parallel to the ground with absolutely zero arch or curve to them. It may not be the right answer, but I’m going to try pulling the drive belt off the power steering pump and see if it makes it easier to control on the road. I’m cool with having to work a little harder if it means I can control it going down the road. I’ve only got two days before I’m going to have to either drive the truck or leave it where it sits for the next six months to a year.

 

When the power steering pump failed on my truck, it made it almost impossible to control. Steering effort was thru the roof.... I fixed the same afternoon... it was horribly unsafe to drive.

 

I appreciate the concern. As of now I have only done a couple laps of the driveway (couple miles on rough dirt). While driving it without the pump being driven by the belt I could definitely tell that it was harder to drive, but it felt much more controllable. At this point I need to bleed the brakes again before I put it back on the road and I won't be able to do that until later this afternoon. I found on a different forum that someone mentioned a "poppet valve" being stuck open could cause the light steering, but I haven't been able to find a way to unstick the valve. I need to have this truck back together and ready to drive tomorrow night or early Wednesday morning. I have found a parts store a couple hours away with a steering box in stock for a couple hundred dollars as opposed to all my local stores that can get them pretty quick for 700+. However, I know that the pitman arm currently installed is seized like hell to the box. I tried PB Blaster, a torch and a couple different pullers and only succeeded in bending a puller, and the same with the drag link. If I can find a new pitman arm and drag link I am considering replacing all three components and hoping that will fix my issue.

 

After doing some looking I can get everything but the pitman arm by tomorrow morning, and if I had to I can just cut the shaft off of the old box and but the pitman arm in a press. I am trying to drive this truck 800 miles over the course of two days, and would love to have power steering; but if it comes down to it I'm not opposed to using my youth while I've still got some and musceling it all the way there.

 

The flow control valve is in the pump, so, changing the pump should put a new valve into the mix. It's also possible something in the box itself is kinda wonky.... giving you the super-powered steering.