The steering is very tight on my MUTT. The center is real tight and if I jack it up and turn it it wants to fall hard to either side. If I am making a turn I can pretty much let go of the wheel and it doesnt self center. Any ideas befor I tear it apart? Thanks
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Steering question...
- Thread starter progun
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- 3,120
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- Pemberton, N.J.
Someone adjusted the box to tight. The adjustment should be made while jacked up and at the center point of the travel. You may also have alignment issues in addition to that. Too much caster angle will cause the non centering and falling off to the side.
- 3,120
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- Pemberton, N.J.
OK, You have to adjust it to spec while it is in the air. You want to tighten it until you just start to feel resistance and then back it off just a hair. You want to be able to turn right to left through center without feeling a bind at center. You can tighten it a little and try that test again. You may have a worn out box and no adjustment is going to help. A lot of times they lost a seal and nobody noticed and they were used for years with no lube in them. Mine was and still is filled with grease that was put in there when the seal failed and the oil ran out. It is starting to get loose and I have a replacement ready to go in. An A is a royal pain because the box and steering shaft are one complete unit and everything has to be changed at once. Your A2 is much easier since you can change just the box. Get that adjustment right and then have someone rock the wheel back and forth while you are under there looking at everything and make sure all the joints are tight. Look at the pitman arm coming out of the steering box and see if it is moving side to side, if it is then the box is bad.
Rick
Rick
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If you have not already done so take a gander over on the g838.org site. It is a M-151 only site and there is a lot of information there. There is a member there, Mr. Recovery, who is from Fla. and always seems to come up with needed parts. He may be able to help you out. You could also try Red River Surplus in Texas. Keep in mind that it has to be an A2 box.
Rick
Rick
nattieleather
Well-known member
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Yep an A1 box wont work because the column on the 151 an151A1 is part of the box where as the M151a2 column is seperate. Also check to see if the box has been lubed. A dry box will do strange things also. And of course the alignment and all the joints need to be checked as well as the ball joints etc. Good luck.
- 3,120
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Here is a steering box, NOS, 100.00. I know this guy, good guy to deal with.
http://www.g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6658
http://www.g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6658
cobra5
Active member
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- Stevensville, Montana
Did you ever resolve the issue with your warming up problem?
Ok, I have an update. Right now the vehicle is jacked up under the suspention and the outer tie rods are disconnected. The steering box seems to be adjusted and is full of oil. The left side wants to go to full lock either way if I move it from center. The right side is not as bad. It's like it is compreesing the suspension either way I turn it. This is why I think it is tending to wander. Any ideas?
- 3,120
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- Pemberton, N.J.
How are the axle u-joints out at the wheels? It is sounding like you have a binding u-joint or a binding ball joint.
Rick
Rick
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- Pemberton, N.J.
I guess I don't know what you are trying to describe here. Can you pm me a phone number and I will try to give you a call tomorrow evening.
If the tie rods are disconnected the steering box will turn beyond the point it would normally hit the steering stops. This will not cause damage as long as you do not force it. There is only one other component in the steering system we have not talked about and that is the idler arm. It is bolted to the frame opposite the steering box. It would not be causing this issue you are describing here. It could cause wandering but you started out with a loose steering box. At this point you need to do a comprehensive check of ALL of the front suspension and steering parts. You need to know what is good and what is bad. Any small amount of play in ball joints, "A" arm bushings, tie rods, idler arm, steering box, rag joint, steering shaft bushings, alignment or wheel bearings can give you a wandering scenario. Until you know all of this stuff is good you are chasing your own tail. Positive camber will give a wander, a snap to the turn and a no return steering scenario.
Rick
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- 3,120
- 1,589
- 113
- Location
- Pemberton, N.J.
Sorry,I didn't see your post from the 18th. Yes camber is adjustable. The body being bent down will affect steering going down the road but not in the way you describe. You seriously need to look at the underbody and check the uni-body rails! If they are rotted out, which is what will cause what you describe, then you have no structural support and you should not drive it.
Rick
Rick