Posted by RDavis on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 at 9:57PM :
In Reply to: Re: steering problem , 68 wm 300 posted by Ron on Monday, November 26, 2001 at 1:30PM :
Ron, you say that when you are moving or the wheels are off the ground, there is no noise and everything seems fine.
The problem is that you are putting the steering gears inside the box under much friction and stress when attempting to turn the wheels without some type of rolling motion (however slight).Check your lubrication in the box,keep it full enough to keep the gears coated at all times as they are frictional worm & sector gears only (no bearings).
These parts are not plentiful as far as I know and helping them last will take a deliberate effort on your part.
Try learning a steering method an old trucker taught me when I got my first old truck with manual steering. Start by never attempting to turn your wheels with the truck stopped.Now with the engine running, hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, let
out on the clutch just enough to cause the slightest rolling movement of say an inch or so. Imediately press the clutch in letting the truck return to its previous position if possible.
Do this several times until you learn to ever-so-slightly rock the vehicle back & forth with only the slightest of noticable movement. Now that you have this part down pat,do it again while this time putting pressure on the steering wheel in one direction. Notice how easily the wheels turn and the truck is still virtually sitting still while you ever-so-slightly release and engage the clutch causing a ever-so-slight rocking motion.
So now ,instead of sitting still,fighting the frictional resistance of gears and tires on pavement you can seemingly be sitting still and turn the wheels while saving your arms and your gears.
It can be done in tight places facing up hill or down. So remember, the slightest movement will greatly decrease the frictional resistance to your effort to turn the wheels.