Slow speed steering problem (1 Viewer)

[ultimauk]

Today suddenly (no off wheeling, no crashes, no curbs) while coasting through a packing lot at 5 mph I decide to turn into a parking slot but I stop before I get there? My whole LC just dragged to a stop and the tighter I turned the more or quicker I stopped.

I played around in the lot (left/right turns) and it feels as if I'm dragging my brake pads only while turning. I don't exhibit any problems say driving straight down the highway and up to a stop light.

I have to induce steering to experience this and is it ever noticeable. In fact it almost literally sounds as if my tires are super low (37 psi warm), the tires low screaching at 1 mph before the stop.

Now to throw a variable into the fray, I had a wheel bearing tightening about 2 weeks ago, but shouldn't this parking problem shown it's ugly head then and not suddenly now?

Any suggestions?

Also I unsuccessfully tried the search function "steering problem" but I just get hits on "steering" and then later in the post "problem"? I'm doing something wrong here.

 

[landtank]

sounds like driveline windup. This is when the you have the center diff (or more) locked and the different turning radius that the front tires take makes each one travel a different distance. The vehicle responds to that different distance by wanting to go straight, but if you force the truck to keep going it will scrub the tires as the tension builds and then releases through the scrubbing.

On a side note: how is your e-brake handle? Is there a lot of play before you feel tension when pulling up on the handle. If so, your rear shoes are stuck and a BFH will be needed. Search on bellcrank for more on that.

 

[ultimauk]

sounds like driveline windup. This is when the you have the center diff (or more) locked and the different turning radius that the front tires take makes each one travel a different distance. The vehicle responds to that different distance by wanting to go straight, but if you force the truck to keep going it will scrub the tires as the tension builds and then releases through the scrubbing.

On a side note: how is your e-brake handle? Is there a lot of play before you feel tension when pulling up on the handle. If so, your rear shoes are stuck and a BFH will be needed. Search on bellcrank for more on that.

Yes your decription of a sort of center diff locked situation on pavement is correct, but to a lesser degree. Any susgest to what I should check?

Side note: I had the rear e-brake rebuilt (3 months ago) and yesterday I even applyed it (I never use it) while going about 2 mph. I don't know what I was looking for other than anything, something binding in the brake dept. As for the play well there is about 1/4" of handle movement and I even crawled behind the rear diff to inspect the cable, all seems OK. I don't want to say that this isn't the problem, but I'm more inclinded to think it's somehing in the front end.

After I wrote this it dawned on me what a BFH is! I can move the rear brake cable attachments (not rusted), but in the past I couldn't hence the e-brake rebuild; so at the very least I can ID some of these parts.

 

[Darwood]

This makes me wonder if the viscous coupling could be going bad. I know these are similar symptoms as when the viscous couplings in Grand Cherokees go bad.

 

[IdahoDoug]

How about a bit of information on the vehicle here? Like model, miles, year, lockers or no, ABS or no, tire size, any modifications? Kinda tough without the basics to go on. Importantly, were the tires rotated when the wheel bearings were done, and are the tires new, old or unknown?

DougM