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I Think I Destroyed My Steering Box

Kingman

By Kingman,
in The Garage

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Kingman NPORA Old-Timer

Kingman

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I think blew my steering box tonight making a U-turn. I was turning at full lock and smacked a pot hole hard on my driver's front tire and heard a pop and now I have no power steering and it feels like its binding up when I turn the wheel. I've driven my old Pathfinder without power steering because the belt was off and this feels much tougher to turn than that. It's been feeling funny for a while now, the steering wheel wobble, excessive play in the wheel when driving straight down the road, and it randomly bound up when turning the wheel when the truck wasn't in motion. It would bind up suddenly and then let go and return to normal. It was pretty rare though.

 

I had my buddy with me so we pulled over and he watched everything while I used all my force to crank the wheel. No leaks, fluid is full, and everything appears 100%. I called MY1PATH and he said he thinks I collapsed a roller bearing inside the box where the steering shaft meets the rollers to turn the pitman arm. So I'm going to go and get a JY unit and see if it fixes it and if it does I'm going to take apart my original box and see what's up.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions or had this happen before and the problem was something different? Thanks... :beer:

Edited by Kingman
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adamzan NPORA Old-Timer

adamzan

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Have fun getting the pitman arm off if you need to.

 

Mine has quite a bit of play as well when you're going straight. Like 1.5 inches I'm guessing. Though my truck has 180k, so is that expected or what.

Edited by adamzan
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nunya NPORA Old-Timer

nunya

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and it randomly bound up when turning the wheel when the truck wasn't in motion. It would bind up suddenly and then let go and return to normal. It was pretty rare though.

 

 

 

 

Had that happen once in a HB, was actually in the steering shaft right before the box. Funny thing was the coincidence of it starting a day after(literally 1 day) I switched steering wheels from a Altima when I started swappign in more color to the interior. Pop it off and make sure the little u-joint at the end (right at the box) isn't froze up.

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Kingman
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Kingman

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3" of play at the wheel driving down the highway seems a little excessive to me. :lol:

 

When I was looking at it last night everything looked like it was functioning as it should... :thumbsdown:

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Kingman
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Kingman

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You know you can adjust it. Look in the fsm

 

I know, but I haven't had time. No point in doing it now until I really figure out what's wrong with it. Hopefully Tuesday I can head over to Tim's house and we can tear in to it. He said that in over 30 years as a mechanic he's NEVER seen a failed Nissan steering pump or box on a Nissan of any sort. He did say there's a little bit of wear on them with 200K+ but that's about it.

 

First thing to do is disconnect the rest of the steering system from the box and see if it's still binding up. If not then it's something else, if so then it's the box, pump, or shaft somewhere. Damn Nissans... P...

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Kingman
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Kingman

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Tim was also talking about his thoughts on swapping in a rack and pinion from a Chevy pickup truck. Apparently it will fit exactly where the factory Nissan steering components do with little modification. Much lighter steering feel (drive a Chevy car or truck) and much more reliable. :aok:

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GrimGreg NPORA Old-Timer

GrimGreg

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[quote name='Kingman' date='14 December 2009 - 01:26 AM' timestamp='1260772005' post='454553'

 

First thing to do is disconnect the rest of the steering system from the box and see if it's still binding up. If not then it's something else, if so then it's the box, pump, or shaft somewhere. Damn Nissans... P...

Or jack up the front and try turning it and see if turns easier...first step, no disassembly required. Hell, with that much play your CL might be shot and binding on the frame when you try to turn.

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adamzan NPORA Old-Timer

adamzan

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Tim was also talking about his thoughts on swapping in a rack and pinion from a Chevy pickup truck. Apparently it will fit exactly where the factory Nissan steering components do with little modification. Much lighter steering feel (drive a Chevy car or truck) and much more reliable. :aok:

Lighter steering feel? Man do you have twigs for arms? I've driven chevy, ford, dodge, and nissan trucks and I don't even notice a difference going from one to another, well maybe the ford, as it was leaking PS fluid.

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Kingman
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Kingman

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The Tahoes and Cavaliers I've driven are so light there's almost no resistance to the wheel at all. You can turn them with your pinky with no effort at all.

 

I'm not driving the Pathfinder anymore. I borrowed my Uncle's '92 Toyota truck. It's rattle canned army green, 33s, and a roll bar in the bed with lights on it. It's a badass little truck. It just sits at his house so I can drive it for as long as I need. :aok:

 

I'll know more when I tear in to it on Tuesday.

 

 

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nunya NPORA Old-Timer

nunya

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The Tahoes and Cavaliers I've driven are so light there's almost no resistance to the wheel at all. You can turn them with your pinky with no effort at all.

 

 

off topic a bit I know, but your really goeing to compare a FWD economy car with a rack in it to a 4x4 SUV with a steerign box? You ever drive a Tahoe with a bad clockspring in the column? There is a trip...

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Kingman
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Kingman

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Update: Took it over to Tim's today and he pointed something out that I kind of noticed but didn't really think about, and that is that the engine doesn't load down whatsoever when cranking the wheels even at full lock with a lot of pressure trying to turn more like it should. He said the pump seems to be just flat not pushing any fluid.

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Kingman
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Kingman

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Well the problem became blatantly obvious yesterday when tearing my engine down to replace the timing belt and tensioner. When removing the power steering belt, the power steering pump shaft and pullet came right out without any pressure at all! Then dumped fluid all over the place. As you can see it sheared clean off the T-key in the back of the pump. I took a rubber plug and plugged the shaft hole so it doesn't leak anymore fluid.

 

The squacking/rattling noise I've been hearing was the pump shaft rubbing around inside as it was being turned by the belt. When I started the engine with all the belts off, there was no noise at all. For added peace of mind I went ahead and dug in further and inspected the belt. The tension is perfect, belt is in perfect condition, and no noises come from behind the cover like I originaly thought. All is well now. :)

 

So now I just need a new power steering pump, and that can wait...

 

IMG00368-20091219-1356.jpg

IMG00367-20091219-1355.jpg

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Kingman
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Kingman

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I am hoping...hydraulic systems and debris don't mix. :lol:

 

The best I can do for now is replace the pump with a good used unit and completely flush the entire system a few times to hopefully remove the debris. It is a completely clean shear though, so hopefully nothing really came off and traveled the system.

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MY1PATH NPORA Old-Timer

MY1PATH

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once you get that fixed you should see about ajusting your box and other stering comonents because you told me your wheel has 3" of play in it and I just saw in the fsm that measuring from the inner diamer of the wheel you should have 1.38" play maximum.

I just replaced all my TRE's today and my wheel has maybe only .75" of play

Edited by MY1PATH
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