[cyprus73]

Hi All.

I have an 88 Suzuki Sierra, initially manual steering box now power steering.
The issue has been there before and after. Car was wheel aligned on Saturday
however still the same issue.

It doesnt seem to return to center when turning the steering wheel. ie when changing lanes,
I need to steer the wheel back. It gets very scary over 60km. Had some friends drive it
and they also agree its not right.

The car is for my son and want to get it right before i hand it over to him


Hope Im making sense. Any assistance would be much appreciated.
Chris.

[MrRocky]

Your steering box is overtight.
Back the adjustment screw off a tad

[alien]

when mine did this it was because the steering damper had shat itself and was all kinds of sticky. I just took mine off and never replaced it and haven't had issues. It's the "shock absorber" that sits under the radiator... Try taking one of the bolts off so it's swinging in the breeze and see how it feels.

[Gwagensteve]

Could also be the uni joint at the bottom of the steering column (under the brake booster) these can bind up.

[cyprus73]

alien wrote:

when mine did this it was because the steering damper had shat itself and was all kinds of sticky. I just took mine off and never replaced it and haven't had issues. It's the "shock absorber" that sits under the radiator... Try taking one of the bolts off so it's swinging in the breeze and see how it feels.

Hi.

Already tried this but makes no difference whether is on or off.
Thks

[cyprus73]

MrRocky wrote:

Your steering box is overtight.
Back the adjustment screw off a tad

Haven;t tried this. Will give it a go.
Thks

[cyprus73]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Could also be the uni joint at the bottom of the steering column (under the brake booster) these can bind up.

Good point Steve.
When I did the conversion to power steering I did notice it was very stiff.
Are these just a standard part from spare parts place, and are they easy
to change?
Thks

[Gwagensteve]

That will be your problem then. No, they can't be changed- they are peened in place. You need to replace the whole joint.

[alien]

Try giving it a decent soak in INOX ?

[Gwagensteve]

I did that for years in my Gwagen.

[fordem]

Gwagensteve wrote:

That will be your problem then. No, they can't be changed- they are peened in place. You need to replace the whole joint.

I haven't done this on a Sierra, but I have replaced them on a GV and they are also peened in place there - the replacement (Toyo ST1640) has been there for four years now.

[Gwagensteve]

I ground the peening out on my Gwagen and replaced the uni, but I wouldn't really recommend it as a diy job, considering the consequences of a failure.