Wobbly/Loose steering wheel and A/C question

Complextinction · #1 03-21-2012, 06:29 PM

I just picked up a 1990 regular cab ranger today and I noticed a few issues, the biggest of which being that the steering wheel has some wobble/looseness to it. Now before I take it into a garage and they tell me all the things I "need", what do you guys think?

I've read that it could be the tie-rod ends and I'd check now but to be honest, I don't even know what I'm checking for and its dark out right now. I've also read something about a steering gear but I'm not sure if its relevant for my model. If I have to replace the tie-rod ends how much would that run?

The other issue is that my truck has no A/C. I'd like to try and add it if possible but I'm wondering just how difficult it would be.

Let me know what you guys think. If I don't hear anything positive I'll just take it to the garage in the AM.

Complextinction · #2 03-22-2012, 10:13 AM

Bump... No ideas? I really don't think its the tie rod ends as it feels as though the wheels do move slightly when it feels like the steering wheel is loose. Is there a way to just tighten up the wheel?

RoberticusMaximus · #3 03-22-2012, 10:18 AM

does it 'wander' or 'dart' from side to side while driving?

(free bump)

Complextinction · #4 03-22-2012, 11:17 AM

When I hit bumps the wheel moves a bit but I can't tell if its just because the wheel has like no resistance or if its because of something else.

I did notice today that its pulling left a little and when coming to a hard stop the wheel cuts a bit.

RoberticusMaximus · #5 03-22-2012, 12:10 PM

as soon as possible, jack the whole front end up with jack stands securely. pull the wheels off of the rotors.
Check these parts:
1. lower ball joint,
2. upper ball joint,
3. outer tie rod, and
4. inner tie rod (the tie rods are also forms of ball joints.)

what you'll need to do is check to see if there is any slack/play in these joints. if there is any slack, replace them soon. search youtube for videos of 'loose ball joint/tie rod' demenstrations. you'll see what to look for.

pulling to one direction or the other is one of many signs that there are issues with one of these joints.

edit: pulling like that can also be a brake sticking.

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oh yeah, about replacement parts:

tie rod ends are like $15-$30 each, ball joints run $20-$50. all depends if you get the cheapies or good ones. i think tie rods are very easy to do yourself, so are ball joints - you just need to get the bj press to do it.

Complextinction · #6 03-22-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertmcclure

as soon as possible, jack the whole front end up with jack stands securely. pull the wheels off of the rotors.
Check these parts:
1. lower ball joint,
2. upper ball joint,
3. outer tie rod, and
4. inner tie rod (the tie rods are also forms of ball joints.)

what you'll need to do is check to see if there is any slack/play in these joints. if there is any slack, replace them soon. search youtube for videos of 'loose ball joint/tie rod' demenstrations. you'll see what to look for.

pulling to one direction or the other is one of many signs that there are issues with one of these joints.

edit: pulling like that can also be a brake sticking.

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oh yeah, about replacement parts:

tie rod ends are like $15-$30 each, ball joints run $20-$50. all depends if you get the cheapies or good ones. i think tie rods are very easy to do yourself, so are ball joints - you just need to get the bj press to do it.

Sweet, thanks for the help. I'll see if a buddy can get me into his garage and pop the thing up on the lift. He could do all this work for me but he's recovering from knee surgery right now and will be out of work for quite some time. I think I can handle the tie rod's but I'd want to borrow his tools, mainly the pneumatic stuff and a torque wrench as I don't have one at the moment.

Is there an easier way than jacking this thing up with a lift? I once had jack stands but gave them to a buddy that was doing an drum to disc conversion and never saw them again.

RoberticusMaximus · #7 03-22-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Complextinction

Sweet, thanks for the help. I'll see if a buddy can get me into his garage and pop the thing up on the lift. He could do all this work for me but he's recovering from knee surgery right now and will be out of work for quite some time. I think I can handle the tie rod's but I'd want to borrow his tools, mainly the pneumatic stuff and a torque wrench as I don't have one at the moment.

Is there an easier way than jacking this thing up with a lift? I once had jack stands but gave them to a buddy that was doing an drum to disc conversion and never saw them again.

i used to use concrete blocks with a 2*6 board between the block and the frame of the truck. not as convenient as jack stands, but does ok.

Complextinction · #8 03-22-2012, 02:48 PM

not a bad idea. My big fear is that this truck has no e-brake because the PO snipped the cable. If I keep it in gear it sits still but I don't want the car to roll on me... (had a car come off a jackstand on me once, got my head out of the way before it killed me)

RoberticusMaximus · #9 03-22-2012, 05:12 PM

yeah, i always scotch the tires with bricks or 2*4 boards or somethin

Complextinction · #10 03-25-2012, 05:16 PM

So I crawled under the truck today to take a look at what was going on. The way the motor is laid out I have a pretty clear look at the steering column and steering box which was nice.

I grabbed hold of the tie rods in an attempt to see if their loose. They actually seem to be fine. I inspected the joints and even they looked okay but I honestly don't know what a bad tie rod end looks like. Anyone have a picture to give me an idea?

I had someone sit in the car and turn the wheel as it sat on the ground to see what would happen with the tie rods. The inch or two of looseness in the wheel is translating fine down the shaft and into the steering box but it almost appears as though it doesn't translate the same out of the box. Like the inch or so of looseness may be a full turn of the shaft but it only gives a slight push to the left or right. This may be a good thing because it shows its at least catching. I know its not 1:1 when it comes to this but I was just curious if I should even be concerned at this point. The PO swears he had it looked at and they couldn't figure out why it was loose so I might chalk it up to the box.

Now I didn't have the car up on jacks so should I still try it that way though?

RoberticusMaximus · #11 03-26-2012, 07:24 AM

oh definitely. have to take the weight off of the front suspension. then you can remove the boots (bellows) on the INNER tie rod to see what it looks like (you will need another clamp or a zip tie to re fasten the boot). still, bad tie rods may not be the problem. sounds like it could be in the rack. i've never taken a rack/pinion apart to see what the culprit might be.

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here is a vid of a bad tie rod end (inner)

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bad outer tie rod

Complextinction · #12 03-26-2012, 10:12 AM

I didn't think my truck had rack and pinion. Steering column goes to the steering box with runs out to the tie rods. They definitely didn't seem to have that kind of give but again, this was with the tires on the ground. I'll jack them up and check it out. Maybe I'll just replace them anyway.

I found tie rods for pretty cheap. Outers are like 30 for a set and Inners are about 30 each. 100 total bucks for that repair is easy to come by and getting them apart shouldn't be so bad. I gotta get the truck up to replace the thermostat anyway as it appears to be stuck open.

RoberticusMaximus · #13 03-26-2012, 10:30 AM

oh, i didn't realize what truck you have. put a detailed signature like mine and people will more likely chime in and give you better help than i am able to.

well, in that case, i guess yours in non power assist right?

FYI, you'll need to get the toe-in aligned at an alignment shop after replacing the tie rods, unless you know how to get it close yourself. before you replace anything, try taking it to a shop again. i like to go to firestone, when they balance my destinations, the give me a print out of all the overly worn parts. then i do it myself.

Complextinction · #14 03-26-2012, 11:06 AM

EDIT: I'm an idiot. I'm used to rack and pinion so I didn't even think that the steering box would be receiving its power steering from the motor. If this is the part that is bad I'll be extremely disappointed.

RoberticusMaximus · #15 03-26-2012, 11:58 AM

lol - i'm no help now, but i'd really like to know how this turns out