PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
#914778
01/26/11 09:28 PM
01/26/11 09:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,446 Indiana
YO7_A66
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I replaced the ps hose on my Challenger and after I had the motor warmed up, I was moving the steering wheel back and fourth and watching for leaks. That is when I saw the ps box moving back and fourth (1/4" - 3/8" or so towards/away from the motor)as I turned the wheel. I have not checked the bolts yet as the motor was too warm but that will be my first check. Is this normal or do I have an issue with the mounting of the ps box?
Note: Since I changed out the ps hose, the steering wheel moves MUCH easier now. I was surprised by how much easier the steering wheel moved and I thought it was odd. Maybe the old hose was weak and was ballooning?
Thanks
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: BlakDak]
#914781
01/26/11 09:53 PM
01/26/11 09:53 PM
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"the box had broke the mount loose"
Do you mean that the mounting pad seperated from the frame rail or that the ps unit had a broken mount tab?
Thanks for the replies.
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: YO7_A66]
#914782
01/26/11 11:22 PM
01/26/11 11:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,589 Norwich CT USA
moparts
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I Live Here
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If you look at the way the mount is spot welded in There is a LOT of flex there, noticed it on my challenger, spend just a few minutes running beads of weld on the sides of the mount and stiffened it all up But I had the K member out with no box on it when it was welded up
Tom ,
2011 Ram 3500 C&C Diesel 2009 Challenger R/T 1971 Challenger Conv. 511/4 speed 1970 Challenger R/T 503/727
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: YO7_A66]
#914783
01/26/11 11:28 PM
01/26/11 11:28 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 609 a cornfield near you
BlakDak
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mopar
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Posts: 609
a cornfield near you
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Quote:
"the box had broke the mount loose"
Do you mean that the mounting pad seperated from the frame rail or that the ps unit had a broken mount tab?
Thanks for the replies.
I just glanced at the box, and it was moving quite a bit.
this was 20 years ago... So its not so fresh in my head.
I do remember being asked to weld it to fix it, and I was not comfortable doing it at the time.
I know its not much help.
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: BlakDak]
#914784
01/27/11 03:16 AM
01/27/11 03:16 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN
Evil Monkey
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I've had my PS box start moving on me on two different occasions, caused by both things being discussed here, so I can tell you what I saw with both issues.
When the welds broke on the steering box bracket: This happened about 10 years ago as I was leaving home. When that happened, I didn't completely lose my steering, but it was close - the car pretty much went whatever way it wanted to. I was able to get it back into my driveway, popped the hood, and moved the steering wheel through the open window (with the motor off) while I watched what was happening to the steering box. When I moved the steering wheel, the box would move an inch or so in either direction, and it was also moving upwards an inch or so - it was easy to tell something was broken, as the box was moving all over the place. An inspection showed that the welds had broken between the K frame and the steering box bracket, and re-welding the bracket fixed the issue.
When the steering box bolts loosened up: This happened 2 summers ago. I noticed some slop in the steering, and it was gradually getting worse. Again, I popped the hood and moved the steering wheel while watching what was happening to the steering box. This time, the box moved a much smaller amount - only maybe 1/4 inch each way, and just a little upwards also. I could tell this time that something was still holding the box in place, but it was loose. I found that both bolts had loosened up, so I cleaned them up and installed with a little locktite, and the slop in the steering went away.
1974 'Cuda 360/TKO
1990 Ram Van
1998 Neon
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: Evil Monkey]
#914786
01/27/11 08:41 AM
01/27/11 08:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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YO7_A66
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Thank you all for the quick responses.
I did notice the box moving side to side & now that it was mentioned, it moved upward a littel bit too. The box is securely in place and I could not move it just by pushing on it. Tonight, I will put a pry bar against the box to see where the movement is coming from and check back in.
Does the ps box bracket attach to the frame rail or the k-frame? I am trying to think what that area looks like without the ps box attached. Could someone post a picture of this area without the ps unit bolted up? Thanks again.
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: Challenger 1]
#914788
01/27/11 09:28 AM
01/27/11 09:28 AM
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So it appears that the ps box bolts onto the kframe. Do you have another picture showing the side where the mounting holes are for the ps box? My luck: I moved this past Summer and got rid of two extra k-frames. Thank you for the pictures. ----------------------------------------------- What would be the explanation as to why the steering wheel moves easier now after the new ps hose and fluid change? Thanks
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: YO7_A66]
#914789
01/27/11 09:46 AM
01/27/11 09:46 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
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Quote:
So it appears that the ps box bolts onto the kframe. Do you have another picture showing the side where the mounting holes are for the ps box?
My luck: I moved this past Summer and got rid of two extra k-frames.
Thank you for the pictures. ----------------------------------------------- What would be the explanation as to why the steering wheel moves easier now after the new ps hose and fluid change? Thanks
I think the wheel moves easier now because the whole box is moving instead of moving the wheels. Don't have side shots available right now, I do have a couple K at home I could take pictures of if you need them. It got blasted again before paint.
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: Challenger 1]
#914790
01/27/11 10:38 AM
01/27/11 10:38 AM
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YO7_A66
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Thank you once again. I hope to find something out tonight.
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: YO7_A66]
#914791
01/27/11 04:51 PM
01/27/11 04:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Ref: I found a picture of the ps mount bracket from one of my old k-frames.
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: Montclaire]
#914793
01/27/11 05:32 PM
01/27/11 05:32 PM
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If I find the bracket welds to be broken, and if I remove the ps box, can I weld up the bracket with the k-member on the car?
Thanks
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: YO7_A66]
#914795
01/27/11 06:15 PM
01/27/11 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 893 Tustin, CA
pishta
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My '65 A cracked a steering box bracket and I about soiled my shorts when the car started to get "speed wobbles" at 40 MPH. Front end shook side to side violently so much that I laid on the brakes pretty good and wrestled it to the side of the road. Limped it home at 10mph and investigated and found the bracket completely broke way from the frame in 2 of 3 spots. I just got a new K for 50 bucks but could have welded the old one with a few gussets if I had to. I have the motor out now and will lay a bead on the bracket after reading this agian. Look at your idler arm too while you are down there, lots of flex on old cars down there.
12 Grand Caravan 06 T&C 02 T&C 96 Breeze 65 Barracuda "S"
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Re: PS Box Moving While Turning Steering Wheel
[Re: 62maxwgn]
#914797
01/27/11 09:19 PM
01/27/11 09:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
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After thinking about the replies all day I had my game plan together by the time that I got home. I even had a buddy with a portable welder that was going to let me borrow it if needed. I first took my 2' crowbar the started pushing against the side of the steering box to see where the movement was coming from. It didn't take long to see that today, I was a lucky guy! The movement was coming from the mounting bolts. I got down under the car and found each of the three bolts were 3/4 turn from being tight. After tightening them back down, I used the crowbar again and did not see any more movement. Then I turned the steering wheel (engine was off) both ways and did not see any movement!! I am still surprised how much movement was there due to some slightly loose bolts. The clearance holes must be huge. I inspected the welds that I could see and they looked as good as the original weld could look on a 40+ year old k-member. I just want to thank you all again.
1970 YO7 A66 [Canadian Export] F8 Challenger 340 (Currently in shop for stroker assy.)
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