Steering issues. Need your thoughts. (1 Viewer)

[KSTN]

So the cruiser all of a sudden became hard to make a right turn. It is the original manual steering and it's a 76 40. It will still turn right but not a hard right. Jacked it up to see if I could see anything and nothing is really looking fouled up. But I marked the ground to see where the wheels would stop during a turn. Blue tape marks the center of the tire in the direction it would turn. Steering wheel was turned until it stopped. Any thoughts?

 

[My4x4FJ40]

How much play do you have in your bell crank when turning your steering wheel from side to side about 2 inches each way

 

[KSTN]

Probably close to 2 maybe a little more.

 

[My4x4FJ40]

Have you tried tightening the Bell crank adjusting screw and grease it and see if that takes care of it

 

[KSTN]

I have greased it I will definitely try tightening the bell crank, thanks for the suggestion. I'll report back.

 

[Subterranean Nik]

Were you wheeling when this happened or just driving? Anything weird with tie rod/drag link or tie rod ends? Reason I ask, i had damaged a tie rod end once and it wouldn't let me turn full left. Do you know whats making it physically stop turning right, i.e. - is it hitting the steering stop on one side, but not the other or is it stopping while turning right without the steering stops making contact?

 

[Subterranean Nik]

Not sure if you are going to C+C on Sunday, but i could give it another look for you if you would like. I still run manual steering on my primary 40.

 

[KSTN]

That would be awesome. I will be at cars and coffee.

 

[KSTN]

I wasn't wheeling or anything when it happened. I had the tie rod ends replaced about a year ago.

 

[Subterranean Nik]

Any progress?

 

[KSTN]

Hey Man, sorry for such a long delay. I haven't logged in for awhile. She is turning in both directions again! After all the troubleshooting I ended up ordering a new steering gearbox and it did the trick.

Kyle

 

[bluehawk]

That's awesome Kyle, congrats.