What is this steering issue?

[RealJakeMalloy]

Suddenly the truck is really hard to turn - and there is something flaking out from the steering column up by the steering wheel - like some kind of dust or metal? Is it possible a bearing is slipping from inside the column? How do I check?

 

[phred]

We need a little more information:
Is it manual or power steering
Dana 30 or 44 front axle
Does the steering wheel move up and down or back and forth.
Has anyone recently tried the adjust the steering box.

 

[WILDHORSES]

Flaking out from the steering column up by the steering wheel? Please elaborate on that.

If you are saying it gets hard to steer when you hit the gas I would venture a guess that the issue is frame and body flex and a solid connection from the steering wheel to the box with no flex joint or collapsible shaft. A hand full of photos would go a long way to help you diagnose this.

 

[thegreatjustino]

Steering wheel grinding on the column? Would cause the difficulty of turning as well as the debris.

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

Steering wheel grinding on the column? Would cause the difficulty of turning as well as the debris.

I will try and get some photos.

I had a shade tree mechanic put on a new steering wheel - there was a gap up by the wheel when he got it assembled that has mostly been closed. He told me there was a bearing that was "slipping". The metal dust is new.

 

[steelworker77]

I had the same thing happen. Had to adjust the steering column away from the steering wheel adapter. There is also a small spring and spacer behind the steering wheel nut that I was missing.

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

I had the same thing happen. Had to adjust the steering column away from the steering wheel adapter. There is also a small spring and spacer behind the steering wheel nut that I was missing.

I am not mechanical, unfortunately. Does this involved removing the column? Is this something I could do, potentially? It was suggested that the column is so old it is worth replacing...

 

[steelworker77]

You would need to remove the steering wheel to verify if the spacer and spring are there. To move the steering column down some so its not rubbing on the adapter:
Loosen the two bolts under the dash and the clamp holding it to the bracket in the engine compartment and you can slide it down. Also loosen the clamp on the steering shaft in the engine bay near where you loosened the clamp and slide it down some. It will need to be adjusted back tight to hold the bearing in the end of the column after you are done adjusting it.

Its been awhile since I had to mess with mine but pretty sure that solved my issue when I was changing wheels.

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

Here are three pics of the steering column. I am not mechanical enough to know what I am looking at re: potential cause.

The symptoms once again - when I turn the wheel there is a creaking sound and the car is hard to turn - not like zero power steering, just not as loose as usual. I was told a bearing was "sliding down" but no idea if that is the case. This all started when the column was messed with while putting on a new steering wheel and trying to close the gap between the wheel and the column. The person doing the work said the column was so old that the bearing slid out but could be pushed back in? He also said at some point a new column is needed.

https://imgur.com/a/DhIih6N

 

[thegreatjustino]

Here are three pics of the steering column. I am not mechanical enough to know what I am looking at re: potential cause.

The problem is at the other end of the column, in the cab where the steering wheel is. These photos don't show anything that would have to do with the steering wheel being replaced.

 

[Brush Hog]

Missing spring or steering wheel nut too tight. Or both.

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

Missing spring or steering wheel nut too tight. Or both.

What is the repair for these?

 

[thegreatjustino]

What is the repair for these?

1. Install the missing spring.
2. Don't tighten the nut so tight.

 

[admin]

I had a shade tree mechanic put on a new steering wheel - there was a gap up by the wheel when he got it assembled that has mostly been closed. He told me there was a bearing that was "slipping". The metal dust is new.

95% of the time the cause of some new mystery problem is related to the last thing done on the vehicle, so this makes sense. As others have noted, the steering wheel is probably grinding on the column because it's missing a spring or spacer or the nut is just cranked down way too tight.

Here's a video showing the area in question and how to remove the steering wheel to check. This shows an aftermarket steering wheel, which may or may not look like what you have, but the process is the same:

A screenshot showing the spring:

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

Thank you so much! Btw, the wheel in the video is the same as the one I have. I will check these two things. The guy who installed the wheel is a pretty good mechanic, although an older guy, but I would be surprised if it was this simply. Fingers crossed!

Btw, if I don't have the spring - can that just be picked up at an auto parts store? Or is it specific to the Bronco?

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

I loosened and reapplied the nut. I think the flaking is when the aluminum collar/ring (not sure the formal name) is grinding on the similar collar piece closer to the column. There was slight overlap that I think I was able to fix.

However, the bigger issue is when I turn the wheel to the left, even just in park, I hear and feel the grinding. Not idea where or what is causing that issue. It does not happen when I turn the wheel to the right.

 

[Brush Hog]

My new steering wheel had a meta trim ring with a counter sunk Allen head screw that held it in place. I had to loose it and adjust it to the correct gaps to keep it from rubbing.

 

[Yeller]

Something is amiss with this set up. It has an anomaly causing the steering shaft to be too short. Please pardon my poor highlighting, but the purple areas should have the pins stick through the slots in the steering shaft. The green rubber part should be fairly straight and not massively wavy looking. That is pulling on the shaft inside the steering column and aggravating the grinding feeling. The bearings in the column are probably dry and/or failing causing the grinding sensation. I would replace the steering shaft with a collapsible steering shaft. Here's link to Wild Horses Collapsible Lower Steering Shaft. I would replace this and the column with either a direct fit unit or a rebuilt unit from Wild Horses or Tom's Offroad unless you feel you have the skills to rebuild it, both of those suppliers stock the parts to rebuild your column, they are not super complicated just takes time and patients. Not sure what part of the country you are in but Duff's and Denis Carpenter have all of this available as well if you are in the east.

The rag joint should like this:

 

[RealJakeMalloy]

Something is amiss with this set up. It has an anomaly causing the steering shaft to be too short. Please pardon my poor highlighting, but the purple areas should have the pins stick through the slots in the steering shaft. The green rubber part should be fairly straight and not massively wavy looking. That is pulling on the shaft inside the steering column and aggravating the grinding feeling. The bearings in the column are probably dry and/or failing causing the grinding sensation. I would replace the steering shaft with a collapsible steering shaft. Here's link to Wild Horses Collapsible Lower Steering Shaft. I would replace this and the column with either a direct fit unit or a rebuilt unit from Wild Horses or Tom's Offroad unless you feel you have the skills to rebuild it, both of those suppliers stock the parts to rebuild your column, they are not super complicated just takes time and patients. Not sure what part of the country you are in but Duff's and Denis Carpenter have all of this available as well if you are in the east.

View attachment 929682

The rag joint should like this:
View attachment 929683

Thank you. The more I get feedback and research this the more a new column seems to be the answer. This column is at least 25 years old. I noticed that the piece you are highlighting looked old and off but didn't know enough to know much more. Having owned this truck for 25 years when it runs well, mechanically, which it has been doing for most of its life, you hate to mess with just about anything. Even when it looks off if it is working, it is working....until it isn't. Anyway, who knew what a new steering wheel would start?

Taking it into a local shop here in CA to get some feedback. More update coming soon.

 

[dmoses42]

Something is amiss with this set up. It has an anomaly causing the steering shaft to be too short. Please pardon my poor highlighting, but the purple areas should have the pins stick through the slots in the steering shaft. The green rubber part should be fairly straight and not massively wavy looking. That is pulling on the shaft inside the steering column and aggravating the grinding feeling. The bearings in the column are probably dry and/or failing causing the grinding sensation. I would replace the steering shaft with a collapsible steering shaft. Here's link to Wild Horses Collapsible Lower Steering Shaft. I would replace this and the column with either a direct fit unit or a rebuilt unit from Wild Horses or Tom's Offroad unless you feel you have the skills to rebuild it, both of those suppliers stock the parts to rebuild your column, they are not super complicated just takes time and patients. Not sure what part of the country you are in but Duff's and Denis Carpenter have all of this available as well if you are in the east.

View attachment 929682

The rag joint should like this:
View attachment 929683

So, to me, looking at this first pic, it looks like a 73-75 upper shaft connected to a 76-77 lower (or intermediate) shaft. One side should have the flange and the other should have the actual rag joint, like the bottom pic. But the top pic has a flange on both sides. Wild Horses has good info on identifying steering column shafts and components on their website. I don't know if this could cause the OP's issues, but that connection is definitely not right.