Hi bricksters! I wrote a few months ago about heavy steering on my 89 240 DL wagon. 214k, seems like the front tires are low. replaced tie rod ends and both ball joints. PS fluid is up and doesnt smell burnt. seems to "strain" when wheel is turned all the way to lock, like I think it's supposed to.

At speed it seems ok, and with those new steering parts it's pretty tight now, but when turning a (tight) corner at slower speeds, steering doesn't return to center. Just keeps going! Whoa! I soaked down the steering U joint with WD40 and it seems a little better. Could I need a new U Joint? Seems a long shot, but it does have 214k on it. And if yes, what is involved in the replacement? Thanks all in advance. Dave

 

Are you confident the wheel alignment is right?

 

Blue- well I put the tie rod ends on about a year and a half ago and this stiff steering thing just started about 2 months ago. seems to track straight just fine, although after installing the Tie rod ends, the steering wheel is not perfectly centered. I'd say the alignment is good. D

 

When was the last time the fluid was changed? I know you said it didn't look burnt, but it might be dirty or started to break down. I just changed mine and was surprised what a difference it made to steering feel.

What I did was use an oil transfer pump ($20 or so from autozone) to pump all the old fluid out of the reservoir. Then refill with new fluid, and while running the car, turn the steering wheel lock to lock a few times. Then pump all the fluid out again, and refill with new.

 

It could be the strut mounts or the steering u-joint,I'm betting on the u-joint.Unbolt the steering shaft and see if you can move the joint by hand.I replaced one of these in a customers car last week,same symptoms as yours,U-joint was about 70 bucks.


Dan

 

Thanks for the input-

ososinsk- That fluid change would be an easy thing to try, I'll do it this weekend. maybe with a big syringe or turkey baster.

turbo- Someone suggested the U joint, and that might just be it. Kinda hard to swallow that a steering U joint would wear out. And wouldnt it get sloppy with wear, not tight?
Does the whole steering rack have to come out to replace the U joints?

Thanks!! Dave

 

Well they really don't wear out,the little needle bearings in the cups usually get rusty and corroded.The steering shaft is at such a steep angle that two u-joints are required,upper and lower.The lower one is the easiest to remove,loosen and remove the lower and upper bolts.Take a hammer and a punch and peck the u-joint up the steering shaft just enough to remove from the rack assy.Now see if you can rotate the joints up and down and side to side,if they are hard to move they need to be replaced.The one I replaced the other day was so stiff,it couldn't be moved by hand.The only way it would move was by securing it in a vise and peck it with a hammer.I included a couple of pic's that might help you,these were taken with my phone so the pic quality is low.



Edit: I just seen post #3. Did you have your front end aligned after you did this work? A camber issue will cause a slow or no return to center.If your sure your alignment is correct,check your steering u-joints.

Edit: pic #2 is upside down,the round part in the bottom right is the brake booster.

Dan

 

Dan-
Thanks for the note. Well I did both tie rod ends about a year and a half ago, when I did it, I didnt move the lock nut, just spun off the tie rod end. Never got it aligned, it tracked straight and steered fine. So I just drove it. The tight steering thing just started a couple of months ago. Seemed to correspond to several trips to a friends house for buckets and recycle bins full of free gravel. I loaded her (evenly) down pretty well. Did I mess something up? beats me, It still tracks straight and true, so I dont think it's an alignment deal.

Makes sense about rusty needle bearings. I priced them at fpc- yikes! suppose I pull them out one at a time (lower then upper) and evaluate em.

My other question is- could this be a bad steering rack? It's 20 yrs old, heard when the seals go the steering gets hard. One place I saw will rebuild mine for 135 with free shipping. Not that I want to drop 135...

I went to high school with a guy we called "Turbo Dan". You're not from Cincinnati are you?

Dave

 

F.Y.I. Different car but I just finished replacing the steering shaft on my 2002 V70. U joint was seized solid. Even out of the car I needed to put it in a vice just to move it! I had the same issue on my 2004 Toyota Sienna but they are known for it.
Hope this helps.