Steering System—Service

Drive vehicle to determine exactly what condition exists. Refer to the Steering System Diagnosis charts and service as required.

STEERING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS

Condition	Possible Source	Action
Wander — Condition Where the Vehicle Wanders Side-To-Side on the Roadway When it is Driven Straight Ahead While the Steering Wheel is Held in a Firm Position NOTE: Evaluation should be conducted on a level road (little road crown).	Check tire size and pressure.	Be sure tire sizes are correct and adjust tire pressures.
	Check if vehicle is unevenly loaded or overloaded.	Adjust load.
	Loose/worn tie rod ends or ball socket.	Replace tie rod end or tie rod assembly as necessary.
	Steering gear mounting insulators and/or retaining bolts loose or damaged.	Replace bolts. Refer to Section 11-02.
	Loose suspension struts or ball joint(s).	Replace arm and ball joint assembly. Refer to Section 04-01.
	Column intermediate shaft connecting bolts loose.	Tighten at gear and at column. Refer to Section 11-04.
	Column intermediate shaft joints loose/worn.	Replace intermediate shaft assembly.
	Improper wheel alignment.	Adjust as required. Refer to Section 04-01.
Pulls to One Side — A Condition Where the Vehicle Tends to Pull to One Side When Driven on a Level Surface	Improper tire pressure.	Adjust tire pressure.
	Improper tire size or different type.	Replace as required.
	Vehicle is unevenly or excessively loaded.	Adjust load.
	Improper wheel alignment.	Adjust as required.
	Damaged front suspension components.	Refer to Section 04-01 for front suspension replacement.
	Damaged rear suspension components.	Refer to Section 04-02 for rear suspension replacement.
	Steering gear valve effort out of balance.	Place transmission in NEUTRAL while driving and turn engine off (coasting). If vehicle does not pull with the engine off, replace the steering gear valve assembly. Refer to Section 11-02. If vehicle does drift with engine off: Cross switch front tire/wheel assemblies. If vehicle pulls to opposite side, cross switch tire/wheel assemblies that were on the rear to same side on the front. If vehicle pull direction is not changed, check front suspension components and wheel alignment.
	Check front and rear brakes for proper operation.	Adjust if necessary.
	Check for bent rear axle housing and for damaged or sagging springs in the front and/or rear suspension.	Replace if necessary.
	Check rear suspension for loose/worn shock absorber struts, suspension arm retaining fasteners.	Tighten all retaining fasteners.
Feedback (Rattle, Chuckle, Knocking Noises in Steering Gear) — Condition Where Roughness is Felt in the Steering Wheel by the Driver When the Vehicle is Driven Over Rough Pavement	Column intermediate shaft joints loose/worn.	Replace intermediate shaft assembly.
	Loose tie rod end(s) and/or tie rod inner ball joints.	Replace tie rod end(s).
	Steering gear mounting insulators and/or retaining bolts loose or damaged.	Replace retaining bolts and tighten.
	Column intermediate shaft connecting bolts loose.	Tighten bolts to specification at steering gear 19-27 Nm (14-20 lb-ft) at column intermediate shaft 27-40 Nm (20-30 lb-ft).
	Loose suspension bushings/ fasteners or ball joints.	Tighten suspension fasteners, replace worn bushings, or replace ball joints.
	Check column conditions.	Refer to Section 11-04.
Poor Returnability, Sticky Feel — Condition Noticed When the Steering Fails to Return to Center Following a Turn Without Manual Effort From the Driver. In Addition, When the Driver Returns the Steering Wheel to Center, it May Have a Sticky or Catchy Feel	Improper tire pressure.	Adjust tire pressures.
	Improper tire size or incorrect type.	Replace as required.
	Misaligned steering column or column flange rubbing steering wheel and/or flange.	Align column. Refer to Section 11-04.
	Column intermediate shaft universal joints binding.	Replace intermediate shaft assembly.
	Check for boot tears and/or evidence of binding or damage to tie rod ends or ball joints.	Replace as necessary.
	Damaged/worn front suspension components.	Inspect control arm ball joints. Refer to Section 04-01 for replacement.
	Improper wheel alignment.	Adjust toe as required.
	Column bearing binding.	Replace bearing.
	System contaminated.	Flush power steering system.
Heavy Steering Efforts, Poor Assist or Loss of Assist — Condition Recognized by the Driver While Turning Corners and During Parking Maneuvers.	Low pump fluid.	Fill as required and check for system leaks.
	Gear assembly external or internal leak.	Refer to Section 11-02.
	Pump external leak.	Replace pump.
	Improper drive belt tension.	Adjust belt tension.
	Hose or cooler external leak.	Service/replace as necessary.
	Improper engine idle speed.	Adjust idle.
	Pulley loose or warped.	Replace pulley.
	Pump flow/pressure not to specifications.	Refer to Section 11-02.
	Hose or cooler line restriction.	Clean or replace as necessary.
	Check steering gear adjustments.	Refer to Section 11-02.
	System contaminated.	Inspect system for foreign objects, kinked hose, etc.   —Flush system.   —Refer to Section 11-02.
	Plugged valve screen.	Prior to rebuilding a pump, examine the valve screen for contamination. Replace all valves which have plugged or contaminated valve screens.
Fluid Leakage	Overfilled system.	Correct fluid level as required.
	Component leak.	Locate suspect component, and refer to appropriate section for service.
Power Steering Belt Squeal	Check belt for proper tension or glazing.	Tighten or replace belt as required.
Pump Noisy	Low fluid level and possible leak.	Refill to specified level. Purge air from system. Check for leaks. Service as required.
Swish Type Noise	Fluid flow into the bypass valve of the pump valve housing with fluid temperature below 54°C (130°F).	Normal noise.
Whine Type Noise	Aerated fluid, vacuum leak in system.	Purge system of air.
	Check valve cover O-ring seal.	Replace pump.
Clicking Type Noise	Excessive pump wear.	Replace pump.
Power Steering Pump Leaks	Excessive fluid fill.	Adjust fluid to proper level.
	Dipstick missing, loose, damaged or missing O-ring.	Service or replace, if required.
	Broken/cracked reservoir.	Replace reservoir.
	Loose or damaged hose fittings.	Service or replace.
	Leakage at shaft seal:	Replace pump.
	1. Shaft seal not pressed in flush   with housing surface.	Use an appropriate seal installation tool to correct installation; if not possible or still leaking, replace seal.
	2. Seal damage.	Replace seal.
	3. Rotor shaft damage, such as   helical grooving or the OD has   an axial scratch.	Replace shaft and seal.
	4. Shaft bushing worn.	Replace plate and bushing assembly.
	5. Plugged drainback hole.	Disassemble pump and clean drainback hole. If hole is not drilled through, replace plate and bushing assembly.
	Damaged or missing reservoir O-ring.	Replace O-ring.
	Damaged or missing outlet fitting O-rings.	Replace O-rings.
	Loose outlet fitting.	Tighten as required.
	Outlet fitting damaged.	Replace outlet fitting.
	Excessive pump assembly bracket vibration.	Correct bracket alignment and tighten bracket bolts.
	Plate and bushing reservoir seal groove porosity/damage, metal chips or foreign material on seal or in seal groove.	Clean groove; replace plate and bushing assembly if damaged.

PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS

Condition	Possible Source	Action
Belt Squeal (Particularly at Full Wheel Travel and Stand Still Parking)	Loose belt.	Adjust belt tension to specification. Refer to Section 03-05.
Chirp Noise in Steering Pump	Loose or worn belt.	Adjust belt tension to specification or replace belt.
Swish Type Noise	A noise created by the flow of excessive fluid into the bypass port of the pump valve housing (with temperature below 130°). The shearing effect of the cooler (heavier) oil is not detrimental to pump operation.	A normal condition. Noise will diminish with fluid temperature increase.
Power Steering Pump — No or Poor Assist	Contamination can be caused by foreign objects in the reservoir or pump, or metallic particles being generated by cam pack discrepancies.	System must be flushed thoroughly when installing a serviced or new pump.
Moan or Whine Type Noise	Fluid aeration.	Purge the power steering system to reduce aeration noise. Refer to purging procedure as outlined.
	Pump brackets loose or misaligned	Tighten or align as required.
	Low fluid.	Check fluid level.
	Hose grounded.	Check for hose being grounded.
	Column grounded.	Check column alignment.
	Damaged internal components.	Replace pump.
Gear Hiss	Check column intermediate shaft and gear for alignment and binding.	Adjust column and/or intermediate shaft. Refer to Section 11-04.
	Check for grounded or loose boot at dash panel.	Align boot or tighten fasteners as required. Refer to Section 11-04.
	Input shaft and valve assembly.	Replace—Only if noise is extremely objectionable. Refer to Section 11-02 for Rack and Pinion Power Gear Diagnosis.
Noise/Rattle (Steering Column)	Loose bolts/attaching brackets.	Tighten.
	Looseness of ball bearings or insufficient lube.	Lube or replace bearings.
	Steering shaft insulators cracked or dry.	Replace or lube insulators as required.
	Flex coupling compressed or extended.	Reposition shaft assembly to flatten flex coupling.
Noise/Squeak or Cracks (Steering Column)	Dry bushings.	Lube shaft seal and shift tube seal
	Loose or mispositioned shrouds.	Tighten or reposition shrouds as required
	Steering wheel rubbing against shrouds.	Replace shroud(s) or wheel or reposition shrouds as required
	Dry shift lever grommets.	Lube grommets.
	Insufficient lube on speed control slip ring.	Lube slip ring.
	Upper or lower bearing sleeve out of position.	Reposition bearing sleeve.
Excessive Travel of Shift Lever Out of Park Detent with Steering Column Locked	Shift cane spacer clip too small or missing.	Replace or add spacer clip.
Ignition Lock Cylinder Binds in Lock and/or Accessory Position	Shift cane spacer clip too large.	Replace spacer clip.
Chatter Type Noise	Chipped corners on rotor outside diameter or distorted slipper ring.	Replace rotor assembly.
Other Causes of Noise	Improper assembly of components such as slippers.	Rebuild pump and replace components as required.
	Imperfections on rotor outside diameter or rotor end surface.	Replace rotor assembly.
	Damaged rotor splines.	Replace rotor assembly.
	Hairline crack on cam inner surface.	Replace cam rotor assembly.
	Interference between rotor and cam.	Replace rotor assembly.
	Excessively worn or scored pumping elements and pressure plates.	Replace rotor assembly and pressure plates.