Hard steering

[Livin_The_Dream05TJ]

Had a leaking gear box. Replaced the gear box. Went for test drive and the steering wheel is Still hard to turn. So i replaced the pump. Replaced the fluid. Went for test drive and wheel still hard to turn. The pump makes a whining noise well trying to turn. checked fluid it is good and no air bubbles in the fluid. Was wondering what else to look for to free up the steering.

[ZAEDOCK]

Did you check the u-joints in the steering shaft? How long has the steering been hard to turn?

[johnsxj]

Dents in the steering stabilizer?

[Livin_The_Dream05TJ]

It has been hard steering since the gear box started leaking. it almost feels like, when the power steering fluid is low. But the fluid level is good. No dents in the steering linkage.

[beaker]

Ball joint(s) going bad?

[nostaw]

Maybe the pump is going...

Any chance you could have connected the pump backwards to the new box?

JW

[ArticRubi]

Try removing the steering stabilizer (what John was thinking) and see if it alleviates the problem. If you're lined up good you shouldn't need one anyway, I haven't had one on my rig for months.

[ChrisD]

Unless it is a trail rig only, would NOT ditch the steering stabilizer.

[Livin_The_Dream05TJ]

Just replaced the pump. But will have to check on the lines to see if backwards. Never though about the lines. No not a trail only rig. But it is slso not a daily driver.

[ArticRubi]

Unless it is a trail rig only, would NOT ditch the steering stabilizer.

I've ran without one for over 5,000 miles. Plenty of highway use as well as on the crappy Boston streets, no problems here...in fact, lots of guys don't run them. Use Google, learn how to do a proper alignment.

[ZAEDOCK]

I haven't run a steering stabilizer in 15-16 years. Even out in Moab when we drove out to the desert (20-30 miles), the highway drive was smooth. That's with 31" of tire width on the pavement.

Keep in mind too, that a stabilizer is an additional drag on your steering off road. If you want the best of both worlds, a ram assist would help turn and help keep you straight. Reminds me to get off my azz and finish mine (my forearms still hurt from Fall Crawl).