In a right turn my steering wheel won't return, also the truck drifts to the right. I just had the power steering pump & ball joints replaced and everything was re-alinged. The tires only have around 1700 miles on them and both of these problems existed prior to the work being done. I guess its possible that the ball joints caused the tires to wear and thats why it drifts to the right but why wont the wheel return?

 

Air in the system maybe?, not sure about that one.

 

My guess, (for what it's worth), is that you have a bad steer gear. Our gears have a "ricurculating ball" setup. The ps pump is pumping fluid, but metal fragments are probably lodged in the gear assembly. That would greatly increase the amount of effort needed to turn the wheel. If it's only in the one direction, then somethingcould bestuck in the valving.

After running the truck for a while, pop the hood and feel the ps pump...WARNING...lol... IT MAY BE HOT!!!


Feel the lines, and the top of the steer gear. If it's extremely hot like major burn hot, then you have a flow restriction. The ps pump keeps the pressure in line around 1600-2000 psi (hydroboost setup). The pump pumps not matter what. If the fluid doesn't flow, the pump has a relief vavle that opens and dumps excess pressure.


If the flow is blocked or reduced, the pump just spins and that little valve opens and closes like a piston working in the cylinder. Obviously not that fast...lol. Because the flow stops or slows down, the pump is pumping the same fluid for extended amounts of time before it leaves the pump and heads down to the steer gear. That will create major heat that kills the fluid, makes o-ring explode.lol. It does a lot of damage in very little time.

I get off on tangents sometimes. I apologize.


If you need a new steer gear, get the AGR Superbox 1 (not the 2). It's a heavy duty steer gear. I use it. It's been flawless. Just make sure if you use the exsisting pumps and lines,....I would flush the sh*t out of the system. Go all out, add an AGR Superpump. I have the Rockram pump and I can turn the wheel with a stiff pinky, and apply the brakes with a big toe. I'm spoiled........lol.


Anyway, hope this helps.


Good luck with your ride.

 

I have almost the same problem. There isMEGAslop in the sterring (4 to 6 inches), and it won't return to center (I can make a right hand turn let go of the wheel and just keep going in circles. This box only has 15k miles on it. Alignment, trac bar and ball joints are good, tires have 500 miles on them. I have installed 3 gear boxes on my truck (2 in the past 6 months) and I'm certain that my problem is again, the gear box. If there really is a good aftermarket box, please let me know. I also installed the PSC motor sports steering stabilizer on the last gear box replacement.

One gear box only lasted a week, then blew thepitman arm lower seall. All of the fluid leaked out and I had no PS going to the interstate. The parts store replaced it for free, but I still had to do the labor.