Having odd steering problem on 81 Elky

[rogus]

I recently rebuilt the front end on my 81 Elky (including body bushings/coils/shocks/a-arms/power steering pump - all oem spec). When I drive it it likes to turn left but turning right is a bit of a struggle. Never had a car do this to me. Could it be the steering box? I am open to any suggestions on how to fix this.

 

[Drkuhar]

Did it work right before. If so then its probably not the gearbox.
If it had sat open for a while and got moisture in it there could be a stuck check ball. Mine would power steer itself to the right till the pump stalled and burned the belt.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Most of those replacements would dictate an alignment by a qualified shop. Not a "set the toe, collect the dough, and let it go" chain store alignment, one done by somebody that understands the specifications and interaction of the angles involved. Too many places (many tire stores included) do not understand that just because it's in the green does not mean it's correct.

 

[rogus]

Did it work right before. If so then its probably not the gearbox.
If it had sat open for a while and got moisture in it there could be a stuck check ball. Mine would power steer itself to the right till the pump stalled and burned the belt.

No, this thing had this problem since the day I bought it. Unfortunately I don't know much about this vehicles history and neither does the towing company that owned it before me. I believe it was a vehicle someone decided not to pay the towing/storage fees on.

 

[rogus]

Most of those replacements would dictate an alignment by a qualified shop. Not a "set the toe, collect the dough, and let it go" chain store alignment, one done by somebody that understands the specifications and interaction of the angles involved. Too many places (many tire stores included) do not understand that just because it's in the green does not mean it's correct.

Unfortunately this thing needs some transmission work before I take it to far from home. I only tend to drive this thing about 500ft turn around and come back to park it. I only run it occasionally to keep the fluids moving around. Hot rods are quite the thing here so I shouldn't have a problem finding a good front end alignment place here.

 

[rogus]

Did it work right before. If so then its probably not the gearbox.
If it had sat open for a while and got moisture in it there could be a stuck check ball. Mine would power steer itself to the right till the pump stalled and burned the belt.

This doesn't power steer itself, it is just easy to turn this thing left and a struggle to turn it right. However once the wheels are straightened up it goes as relatively straight as you could expect not having had a front end alignment yet.

 

[airboatgreg]

Sounds like a gear box issue to me

 

[rogus]

Sounds like a gear box issue to me

Yeah that's what I was thinking too, just don't have enough experience with them malfunctioning for me to know for sure.

 

[Rt Jam]

I would not worry until a full alignment is done. Scrap road crown and all that bs. Equal setting on left and right. Lots of positive caster.

 

[ELCAM]

Put the front on jack stands and turn the wheels, if it still has problems it is the steering box, If the problems go away it is the geometry or alignment.