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Steering wheel won't return to center... #1484189 08/13/13 10:35 PM 08/13/13 10:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Okay, I've been chasing this for a while now. Keep hearing it has to be alignment or ball joints or steering column alignment or... Well, I've checked everything, and everything looks good, so knowing that this problem came about after I swapped out the yet another parts store steering box I decided to see what happens when I take the power steering pump belt off, and found that other than losing the assist everything went back to normal, and the steering wheel centered itself. Anyone heard of this happening before? I've learned my lesson with parts store boxes, but I'm just wondering is there any way I could have screwed this up? I haven't decided what to do just yet. Thinking about Firm Feel Stage 2, but just don't really have the money to spend on that right now. Would love to go AlterKation, but well... Just for the record you can turn the wheel to any position and it will stay right there regardless... up/down hill, over bumps, etc... Last edited by closer9; 08/13/13 10:38 PM. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484190 08/13/13 11:15 PM 08/13/13 11:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas	Loosen the adjustment on the steering gear box.

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484191 08/13/13 11:16 PM 08/13/13 11:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Well, I've checked everything, and everything looks good, so knowing that this problem came about after I swapped out the yet another parts store steering box I'd jack the front wheels off of the ground & start it & let it idle. slightly loosen the 2 bolts that hold the fitting on the top of the box & tap the fitting forward or backward till the wheels stay centered straight ahead. I'm not sure exactly on this procedure so if someone else can help further live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: RapidRobert] #1484192 08/13/13 11:23 PM 08/13/13 11:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	I've already loosened the adjustment one full turn with no effect. I can go more, but not sure it will do anything. and I don't think the valve needs adjusting. From what I understand that only centers the steering if you have "tool much" assist in either direction. That's not my problem. I can jack up the front, start the car and turn the wheel lock to lock stopping anywhere along the way, and it will stay put. Same thing happens when driving. Not any tighter towards the center or near either lock. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: RapidRobert] #1484193 08/13/13 11:24 PM 08/13/13 11:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas	If it doesn't try to go one way or the other then messing with the valve isn't going to help. It sounds like the gear box is too tight. http://www.freeasestudyguides.com/steering-gear-adjustment.html

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: stumpy] #1484194 08/14/13 12:07 AM 08/14/13 12:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	I would think if the gear box was too tight I would have the same issue when the pump wasn't being driven. My driveway has washed out some in front of the garage leaving a roughly 4" drop. With the pump driving I can back out while turning and the wheel stays put. When I pulled the pump belt and tried again it almost pulled the wheel out of my hand while backing out. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484195 08/14/13 12:34 AM 08/14/13 12:34 AM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn. 7 71birdJ68 master
71birdJ68 master 7 Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn.	No car will return to center when jacked up. The weight of the car along with the alignment centers it. Do you have a service manual? It will tell you how to adjust the valve.

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484196 08/14/13 12:58 AM 08/14/13 12:58 AM
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA E ek3 top fuel
ek3 top fuel E Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA	Quote: Okay, I've been chasing this for a while now. Keep hearing it has to be alignment or ball joints or steering column alignment or... Well, I've checked everything, and everything looks good, so knowing that this problem---- What problem---? came about after I swapped out yet another parts store steering box I decided to see what happens when I take the power steering pump belt off, and found that other than losing the assist everything went back to normal, and the steering wheel centered itself.-----so the steering wont center it self----? Anyone heard of this happening before? I've learned my lesson with parts store boxes, but I'm just wondering is there any way I could have screwed this up? I haven't decided what to do just yet. Thinking about Firm Feel Stage 2, but just don't really have the money to spend on that right now. Would love to go AlterKation, but well... Just for the record you can turn the wheel to any position and it will stay right there regardless... up/down hill, over bumps, etc... ---so the steering will not stay centered with power assist---?

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: 71birdJ68] #1484197 08/14/13 01:02 AM 08/14/13 01:02 AM
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA E ek3 top fuel
ek3 top fuel E Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA	the right amount of caster is what centers the steering and also lets the steering "naturally " return to center. Quote: No car will return to center when jacked up. The weight of the car along with the alignment centers it. Do you have a service manual? It will tell you how to adjust the valve.

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: ek3] #1484198 08/14/13 01:14 AM 08/14/13 01:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Maybe I'm not explaining it clearly. So here was my first test that made me think it is the steering box. Start the car drive it down my bumpy hill turning wheel lock to lock. Never once did the wheel try to center itself or even move from where I put it. Backed up to top of hill, turned engine off, put car in neutral, rolled down hill and steering centered itself just like any other car would. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484199 08/14/13 01:34 AM 08/14/13 01:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA E ek3 top fuel
ek3 top fuel E Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,899 MYRTLE BEACH SOUTH CAROLINA	check the caster. on a smooth highway it should pull back towards the center . if you don't feel a slight resistance when turning away from straight ahead ,then my bet is there is not enough caster in it. you stated it was fine without power hooked up? will it return as it should with the power /pump un-hooked? if it does, then it almost has to be in the assist valving .

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: ek3] #1484200 08/14/13 12:04 PM 08/14/13 12:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Quote: will it return as it should with the power /pump un-hooked? if it does, then it almost has to be in the assist valving . Yes, as I stated above for my first test. With the engine off steering was more difficult since I lost the power assist, but operation was correct. The wheel centered itself. I can't think of anything other than something messed up in the box. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484201 08/14/13 01:03 PM 08/14/13 01:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	either the valve needs to be adjusted on top of the gearbox or you have no positive caster. Since you replaced the gearbox recently, that would be my bet unless it has a new front end under it, then it would be caster possibly.

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: Challenger 1] #1484202 08/14/13 02:03 PM 08/14/13 02:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,102 Western Md. skicker "The Champ"
skicker "The Champ" Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,102 Western Md.	I think your missing where the adjustment needs to be made. It is not the set screw with the jam nut. The two bolts that hold the supply and return hose fitting is actually an adjustment that slides front to rear. You don't see it to look at it and would never know it exists without removing it. As stated earlier with the wheels centered jack the car up and start it. If the adjustment is off it will turn left or right all by itself. If it does you will have to slide it either front or back a little to get it set correctly. Stay away from the steering wheel when you start it! I have seem them fly to one lock (usually left) when the adjustment is really bad. The adjustment seems to be a preety fine increment, it may take a couple tries to get it right. Maybe mark it accurately before making any changes so you know how much it moves. ...FAFO...

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1484203 08/14/13 03:33 PM 08/14/13 03:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Quote: I can jack up the front, start the car and turn the wheel lock to lock stopping anywhere along the way, and it will stay put. Same thing happens when driving. Not any tighter towards the center or near either lock. That isn't the problem. It doesn't pull either direction. It simply doesn't move from where I put it regardless of anything else, UNLESS the pump is NOT being driven. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1845322 06/09/15 10:01 PM 06/09/15 10:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Figured I'd bring this back from the dead, since I never figured it out. Just left the car parked till I recently decided to sell. Had tried another steering box a friend loaned me. He bought it as a core, but turned out to be rusty inside and worse than what I had. I needed to put my old box back in, so decided why not try one more parts store warranty box. After waiting 2 months for them to find one, it's no different than the previous. I've read up as much as I can find on the issue online. Seems there are others out there with the same problem, but if they find an answer they never reply. Just out of curiosity, I pulled the spool out of the control valve thinking maybe it was bad and blocking flow, but it didn't change anything. As I'm typing this though, starting to wonder how that circuit is run. Can the problem be fluid flowing back and equalizing pressure somehow. Can't seem to find a circuit diagram for these. There is a cutaway in the service manual, but I'm either too stupid to figure it out, or it doesn't give enough info. Just for those that may not want to read up to this point. I swapped a steering box a while back, and now my steering will not return to center. I am unable to jack the car up and turn the wheels by hand while it is running. I can however, pull the steering pump belt, and get somewhat normal function. I think I have guy coming to look at the car this weekend. I figure if I haven't sold the car by fall I'll call up Firm Feel and order one of their boxes. Maybe run the issue by them before I do. Make sure there isn't something stupid I'm doing to cause this that would affect their box as well. Just very frustrated... Last edited by closer9; 06/09/15 10:03 PM. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1846101 06/10/15 09:10 PM 06/10/15 09:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	this is exactly where i'm at. wheel won't return to center, wants to wander while driving it. works ok in 'beast' mode (belt off). i've been fiddling, and fiddling with that valve location, nothing except i've stopped the wheel from turning on its own at a stop. amazingly frustrating and the FSM is little help. and the carpenter bees didn't help! PLEASE let me know if you find out something from Firm Feel. my next step is to rebuild my lower control arms and the steering coupler. why? i don't know what else to do. it was a working unit until the original pump went south and now i'm not so sure i ever had a problem with that one!

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1846118 06/10/15 09:19 PM 06/10/15 09:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,587 md M mopars4ever I Live Here
mopars4ever I Live Here M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 13,587 md	Try contacting Firm feel and ask them what the issue may be. It is worth a shot.

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: mikemee1331] #1846527 06/11/15 11:51 AM 06/11/15 11:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO closer9 OP top fuel
closer9 OP top fuel Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,190 SW MO	Originally Posted By mikemee1331 this is exactly where i'm at. wheel won't return to center, wants to wander while driving it. works ok in 'beast' mode (belt off). i've been fiddling, and fiddling with that valve location, nothing except i've stopped the wheel from turning on its own at a stop. amazingly frustrating and the FSM is little help. and the carpenter bees didn't help! PLEASE let me know if you find out something from Firm Feel. my next step is to rebuild my lower control arms and the steering coupler. why? i don't know what else to do. it was a working unit until the original pump went south and now i'm not so sure i ever had a problem with that one! I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but it's somehow a huge relief to actually hear from someone with the same problem. I've got one more trick I want to try before I give up and contact Firm Feel. Just not sure when I'll be home long enough to try it. Daily: '19 Frontier 4WD Belle: '67 Belvedere Convertible, 318/727 in Go ManGo! Other: '64 C10, 283/3 on the tree

Re: Steering wheel won't return to center... [Re: closer9] #1846547 06/11/15 12:34 PM 06/11/15 12:34 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,906 IL, Aurora A ademon master
ademon master A Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,906 IL, Aurora	I thought if this problem arises and the box seems fine it's an alignment problem and you may need the moog problem solver upper control arm bushings.

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