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Posted by Will (in IL) [98.215.26.138] on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at 16:54:16 :
OK, a question for those who have experienced Saginaw PS Box Failures. What were the symptoms of the failure?
I ask as this summer late while off-roading with the M I experienced some times of no steering, both while driving and while setting still. The steering would suddenly start again after I stopped and/or moved.
I've had some problems for the past couple of years where the steering was much harder than it should be from time to time. Nothing consistent, but always at the wrong time. It seemed to act like I didn't have enough power in the PS, but some times I swear I could not turn as short as I think I should have been able to. I don't remember if the PS Pump would squall in those cases, but it seems like it might have.
While driving late this summer I just suddenly could no longer turn, left or right, it was like the steering wheel was locked.
While setting still once in a while the exact same, except no wheel movement. In both cases there was no typical PS Pump squall like I was trying to force the truck to turn turn further than it was supposed to (the sound you hear when you hit the wheel turn stops).
As with no PS Pump squall, and the fact that the truck was moving in 4WD, my conclusion was that it was not related to the front axles tracts joints.
I should and probably pull the front axles out, but I've done it so many times before, that the greasy mess has gotten to be such a pain. I'm asking if others have had PS failures like this so as to confirm my suspicion that is was the PS box. I've changed the PS Box and already returned the old unit (core) and am waiting for the paint to dry before installing a new pitman arm (replace the used unit I finished the year out with).
It seems this has been the year of steering problems for me. First I broke a spring pack bolt and the axle slid forward and I could not turn right while off-roading at Flatnasty. Then I broke the ball off a pitman arm while turning around in a parking lot (thankfully not while driving down the road) at the Indiana Rally. Now this last off-road fun at Dukes, this issue (the worst point was while driving down a steep hill and could not avoid a tree because of no steering). I've always worried about (the lack of) brakes more than anything, now I've become steering paranoid.
Thanks,
Will
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