DEL65
Of The Morons
I have about 4K miles on my rebuilt suspension. It includes new UCA's, LCA's, roller idler arm, roller spring perches, springs/shocks, tie rods, strut rods. Manual steering box is original.
About a year ago, while driving on the freeway, I noticed the steering was starting to bind. I would turn the wheel, feel resistance, and the the tires would turn. It was 'jerky' and not smooth. Over time, this started happening during street driving, and when I turned the wheel, the front end would also make a creaking sound.
None of this occurs when the front end is hanging/off the ground. I put jack stands under both LCA's and turned the steering wheel back and forth. The binding can be felt in both tires, but it has been hard to isolate which part of the suspension is binding. I am pretty sure I did not feeling anything in the steering box.
I pulled off the front tires and realized I never lubed the upper ball joints. I also noticed one of the LCA zert fittings was not attached property and that ball joint was also dry. I have regularly lubed the rest of the suspension. I pumped a bunch of grease into the ball joints and the problem went away for a few weeks, but returned and worsened.
I can only guess that the dry ball joints may have worn out and are somehow galled. Any other ideas or ways to narrow the search for the problem? Thanks a bunch.
About a year ago, while driving on the freeway, I noticed the steering was starting to bind. I would turn the wheel, feel resistance, and the the tires would turn. It was 'jerky' and not smooth. Over time, this started happening during street driving, and when I turned the wheel, the front end would also make a creaking sound.
None of this occurs when the front end is hanging/off the ground. I put jack stands under both LCA's and turned the steering wheel back and forth. The binding can be felt in both tires, but it has been hard to isolate which part of the suspension is binding. I am pretty sure I did not feeling anything in the steering box.
I pulled off the front tires and realized I never lubed the upper ball joints. I also noticed one of the LCA zert fittings was not attached property and that ball joint was also dry. I have regularly lubed the rest of the suspension. I pumped a bunch of grease into the ball joints and the problem went away for a few weeks, but returned and worsened.
I can only guess that the dry ball joints may have worn out and are somehow galled. Any other ideas or ways to narrow the search for the problem? Thanks a bunch.
