No previous PS issues before performing some basic work.
Put the 1993 80 up on the lift to do a few things. I replaced the relay rod end attached to the pitman arm. Also at the same time, swapped out front third member (chipped ring gear teeth and worn pinion bearing).
With the wheels on the ground, engine running, power steering works as it should when turning to full lock passenger. Works fine returning to center, but at about half way through turning full lock driver, it binds...bad.
Up in the air, with no load on the tires, steering works fine.
I initiated the process of elimination starting with areas that had been disturbed by the work that was done. First, I disconnected the tie rod end on the right side (had to disconnect it to remove third member), thinking it may have been binding (mainly because one of my guys who was doing most of the work used a pickle fork to separate it). This also eliminates the left wheel from the steering system. Put the truck back on the ground, and the steering worked fine from lock to lock. Thought I had it solved...nope! Even though I replaced the TRE and buttoned it up, it was back to how it was initially. For the record, both wheels turned lock to lock by hand when the tie rod was disconnected.
Just to rule out any TRE issues, I removed them both from the rod, reinstalled each af them on the truck and made sure they moved freely, with no binding. They were fine.
Removed completer relay rod/stabilizer assembly and installed a known good one from another truck, still binding.
Also flushed the PS pump, still binding.
Confirmed crank bolt was torqued correctly at 304 pounds. It is. Still binding.
Belts are tight.
It seems like a pump issue. But why would it only affect the steering half way through a left turn?
I'm stumped...
Put the 1993 80 up on the lift to do a few things. I replaced the relay rod end attached to the pitman arm. Also at the same time, swapped out front third member (chipped ring gear teeth and worn pinion bearing).
With the wheels on the ground, engine running, power steering works as it should when turning to full lock passenger. Works fine returning to center, but at about half way through turning full lock driver, it binds...bad.
Up in the air, with no load on the tires, steering works fine.
I initiated the process of elimination starting with areas that had been disturbed by the work that was done. First, I disconnected the tie rod end on the right side (had to disconnect it to remove third member), thinking it may have been binding (mainly because one of my guys who was doing most of the work used a pickle fork to separate it). This also eliminates the left wheel from the steering system. Put the truck back on the ground, and the steering worked fine from lock to lock. Thought I had it solved...nope! Even though I replaced the TRE and buttoned it up, it was back to how it was initially. For the record, both wheels turned lock to lock by hand when the tie rod was disconnected.
Just to rule out any TRE issues, I removed them both from the rod, reinstalled each af them on the truck and made sure they moved freely, with no binding. They were fine.
Removed completer relay rod/stabilizer assembly and installed a known good one from another truck, still binding.
Also flushed the PS pump, still binding.
Confirmed crank bolt was torqued correctly at 304 pounds. It is. Still binding.
Belts are tight.
It seems like a pump issue. But why would it only affect the steering half way through a left turn?
I'm stumped...
