Binding in steering

[Lin]

I complained to my mechanic about constantly having to compensate while steering.  He drove it today and said that the problem seemed to him to be that the steering is too stiff.  It therefore sticks and does not return to the neutral position on its own.  He believed that it may be in the steering column itself.  The book shows that there are several bearings and u-joints in the column but does not say how to lubricate them.  Does anyone know how to do this or other ways to solve this problem?

[HighTechRedneck]

Sounds like a front end alignment issue to me.  If there isn't enough positive caster, the wheels won't return to center on their own and the steering will be "giddy", constantly trying to wander.

Of course, that doesn't address any stiffness in the steering.  It could need lubrication as well.  Someone else should be able to elaborate on that better.

[boogiethecat]

My Crown is so old (1962) that the gear in the steering box is somewhat worn.  There is an adjustment nut that allows tightening it up, but since the wear is in the middle (from mostly driving straight all those years) and not so much on either side, the adjustment these days is a compromise... too tight it gets rid of all the slack when turning but sticks in the middle going straight, and loosen it a bit, now it's fine driving in a straight line but sloppy when steering off-center.  The only fix is to change the gearbox.

My first bus had a similar problem but a different reason- as Redneck mentioned, Caster.  Many older school and city busses that don't have power steering are set up with very little caster on the front axle, which makes it super easy to make turns, although at anything above 35 MPH or so it also makes it super unstable and very difficult to stay in a straight line.  The fix in the case of that bus was to add 7 degree caster blocks between the springs and the front axle, which angled it 7 degrees back.  It became much more difficult to steer in the city but on the freeway you could let the wheel go and it would track in a steady straight line all on it's own.

So there's two possibilities, I'm sure there's more...

Gary

[TomC]

Most all steering boxes are designed so that the gears mesh the tightest when it is centered, so you have tight steering going either left or right just off center.  As you turn more the gear lash is relaxed since on a turn the wheels are pressing against the gears not allowing any play to be noticed.  So it is very important that when you get the front end aligned, make sure that the steering box is centered (if the wheel is not, remove the wheel from the shaft and recenter on the shaft), then have the steering box lash tightened to eliminate as much play as you can-course testing it first going left to right to left to make sure it doesn't bind.  Good Luck, TomC

[Sammy]

Have your mechanic check the king pins at the front axle. Make sure they are greased properly too.