Power Steering Question
 

I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
out, but it's not quite the same.

I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
gear box I'm all ears.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Hi Will,
Good luck. I'll tell you my Bronco will do that when it has sucked
air, turning to the left only, not to the right. Like you used up the
valve clutches and we get a hesitation before the assist kicks in.
Anyway, I loosen the four bolts of the plate that adjusts the sector
shaft enough to bleed it bass it's O ring. I don't think you'll find a
problem with the Recirculating balls as they're always in a new
position, nor on the teeth of the piston and shaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Will Honea wrote:
>
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Hi Will,
Good luck. I'll tell you my Bronco will do that when it has sucked
air, turning to the left only, not to the right. Like you used up the
valve clutches and we get a hesitation before the assist kicks in.
Anyway, I loosen the four bolts of the plate that adjusts the sector
shaft enough to bleed it bass it's O ring. I don't think you'll find a
problem with the Recirculating balls as they're always in a new
position, nor on the teeth of the piston and shaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Will Honea wrote:
>
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Hi Will,
Good luck. I'll tell you my Bronco will do that when it has sucked
air, turning to the left only, not to the right. Like you used up the
valve clutches and we get a hesitation before the assist kicks in.
Anyway, I loosen the four bolts of the plate that adjusts the sector
shaft enough to bleed it bass it's O ring. I don't think you'll find a
problem with the Recirculating balls as they're always in a new
position, nor on the teeth of the piston and shaft.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Will Honea wrote:
>
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
locknut, on top of the steering box.
__
Steve
..
"Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
locknut, on top of the steering box.
__
Steve
..
"Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
locknut, on top of the steering box.
__
Steve
..
"Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> out, but it's not quite the same.
>
> I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> gear box I'm all ears.
>
> --
> Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

I'll try that but I've never had much luck with adjusting the lash -
it seems that anytime I've tried it the box has been too far gone
anyway. At least it's a cheap fix if it works. Anything to avoid
pulling that pitman arm!

On Tue, 7 Oct 2003 03:19:20 UTC " Stephen Cowell"
<scowell@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
> help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
> locknut, on top of the steering box.
> __
> Steve
> .
> "Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
> news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> > I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> > I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> > at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> > position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> > the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> > the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> > me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> > or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> > end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> > duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> > ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> > for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> > feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> > gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> > out, but it's not quite the same.
> >
> > I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> > I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> > was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> > that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> > gear box I'm all ears.
> >
> > --
> > Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

I'll try that but I've never had much luck with adjusting the lash -
it seems that anytime I've tried it the box has been too far gone
anyway. At least it's a cheap fix if it works. Anything to avoid
pulling that pitman arm!

On Tue, 7 Oct 2003 03:19:20 UTC " Stephen Cowell"
<scowell@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
> help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
> locknut, on top of the steering box.
> __
> Steve
> .
> "Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
> news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> > I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> > I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> > at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> > position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> > the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> > the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> > me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> > or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> > end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> > duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> > ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> > for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> > feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> > gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> > out, but it's not quite the same.
> >
> > I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> > I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> > was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> > that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> > gear box I'm all ears.
> >
> > --
> > Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Power Steering Question
 

I'll try that but I've never had much luck with adjusting the lash -
it seems that anytime I've tried it the box has been too far gone
anyway. At least it's a cheap fix if it works. Anything to avoid
pulling that pitman arm!

On Tue, 7 Oct 2003 03:19:20 UTC " Stephen Cowell"
<scowell@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Will... loosen up the lash a little and see if it don't
> help. That's the adjustment with the allen key and
> locknut, on top of the steering box.
> __
> Steve
> .
> "Will Honea" <whonea@codenet.net> wrote in message
> news:JxX2tWiP5BNp-pn2-H4HkZ4QodPoy@anon.none.net...
> > I've got an 88 MJ, 4.0L with power steering. For quite a while now
> > I've been noticing a small "catch" or bind, for lack of a better term,
> > at a spot about 1/8 of a turn, maybe 30 degrees, from centered
> > position of the wheel, if I make a slow turn while I'm moving. Does
> > the same thing at the same place in both directions, more noticable to
> > the right. OK, steering gear is going. Couple of things that bother
> > me, tho. At a dead stop, I cannot find the bind no matter how lightly
> > or slowly I turn the wheel. I've tried taking weight off the front
> > end and checking at several spots on the way up but I still can't
> > duplicate the problem sitting still, even with the wheels off the
> > ground. The other oddity is that this doesn't show up until I run it
> > for a few miles and warm up the ps fluid. When it's happening, it
> > feels just like a bad worm gear or a cracked ball in the steering
> > gear. I've had a similar issue with older GM cars when the spool wore
> > out, but it's not quite the same.
> >
> > I thought I'd ask for ideas before I just swap out the steering gear -
> > I would hate to replace that (damned pitman arm!) only to find that it
> > was really something in the suspension. This is the same front end
> > that is under the 87+ XJ so if anyone has any better ideas than the
> > gear box I'm all ears.
> >
> > --
> > Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>
>
>


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>