Very odd steering problem

My brother has a 55' M38a1 with the saginaw power steering conversion. He came over yesterday, said he was having steering problems. He said that it wouldn't return to center and that he was having a hard time keeping it on the road. I figured something must be loose. While he was turning the steering wheel I worked my way from the steering shaft down to the box then to the tie rod ends. Nothing was loose. It was the oddies thing I have ever seen. The wheels would turn if you turned the wheel far enough, but when you turned it a small amount it would shift the frame side to side. Flexing the springs and shakles and causing a loud pop poping noise from the spring leafs flexing back in forth. Almost like something was keeping the wheels from turning.

Any ideas?

 

Is the tie rod hitting the leaf spring on the passenger side?

 

No. There was no play in the tie rods. All the steering parts are nice and tight.

 

Check for bad spring bushings, cracked spring leafs, cracked frame, loose u-bolts. Most likely it's one of the first two, the last one, or a combo of these. Nickmil.

 

The axle is a D27. We check for loose box and where the box mounted on the frame. We found nothing. No cracks and nothing broken or bent. There has been no work done to his jeep for quite a few years. It just started after he went out four wheelin. One thought was maybe a siezed trunion bearing?

 

Sounds like you have a leaf spring issue. Possible bad, sloppy bushing, something loose holding the springs on or something loose holding the axle to the springs, maybe even a broken spring. Are the u-bolts tight on the springs, shackle bolts tight? Are the spring mounts still attached to the frame? Does he run springs with a lot of arch?

Kevo

 

hey scott, Here is my take, i would disconnest both outer tie rods and move the tires side to side and check for binding, If it is a bearing you will find out which side it is. Gives you the opportunity to feel for individal component play as well. If nothing there check for binding betweern the passenger spring and tie rod. please post your results as we are all anxious to hear how this TURNS out. Pun intended

 

ANd while you have the tie rods unhooked and when you are finished checking front wheels for free movement, crank the motor and give the steering wheel some turns and see how it doing as well as your front wheels with out the tie rods. You will be able to check 2 components while the tie rods are off.


I am wondering if maybe your power steering is pushing too hard against the bump stops of your wheels. Not all that sure, but just a thought. I never had a power steering system on a jeep. So I really don't know what I am talking about..... :>)

 

Found out today what it was. He bent a steering stabilizer shock. He must of hit it when he was out wheelin.

 

Well that was an easy fix,Thanks for the info