creaking steering

Sunny the Model A

Sunny the Model A

Senior Member
Hello all, this isn't a major issue, but I thought about asking yall your thoughts on this. [this is a 31 with a two-tooth steering box btw] When I turn my steering wheel at low speeds it will make a metal-on-metal creaking sound and get a bit tighter. I jacked up the front wheels and went from full left to full right, it then only creaked when getting close to either extreme. I also am having the lights turn off when I make a turn. I think these are related in some way. I made sure everything is lubed and the axle is straight, the toe-in is right and the steering box is full of 600w. What the dickens is going on with it? thank you for any advice and ideas.
 
hmm, might be. but where would the metal-on-metal sound and feeling come from? it sometimes feels like the box, but when I jacked the wheels off the ground, it made a very faint sound from center to almost either side. It sometimes feels like a bearing gone dry, but I don't know where it would be making that sound. it is stiffer than other a's I've driven no matter the speed. it might be worn, but I'll give adjusting it a try. Postscript, is it possible to adjust the steering box while it is still in the car? I really am not a fan of taking half the truck apart just to remove the column.
 
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Could be a bent steering shaft. The dry feeling could be at any of the shafts bushing/bearing points or the worm and the sector gears teeth. Are the balls round at all the ball locations?

Regards
Bill
 
well, to be honest, I haven't had the linkages apart yet, but they are lubed and look to be in pretty good shape. I am tempted on checking the knuckles for roundness. I know the kingpins are in fine shape and there doesn't appear to be any slop in the system. you might be right on the bend, but I watch the wheel and it doesn't wobble as it is being turned. It has 600w at the spec level, and it seems to be decent. I am wondering about the little bolt and jam nut on top, the last guy might have started taking it off before realizing it wasn't the fill cap. I have owned the truck since June of last year, so I am still sorting everything out so I can daily it.
 
Might be, but when this sound occurs, it also gets hard to turn the wheel, it acts like it never had been lubed. I might try pulling the horn rod up a bit in the morning and turn the wheel and seeing if it still makes the sound. I am starting to think it might be the shaft, the box or the horn rod.
 
Is there any play in the sector shaft?
Get someone to turn the wheel back and forth while you watch for movement in the sector shaft.
If the sector bushings are worn, it would change the sector / worm mesh
 
I did a little experiment of setting the wheels dead straight and placing the car on the ground. there is about an inch of free play before the sector engages. I think I might try adjusting it to take up the slack so I can use my truck until I save up for a rebuild kit. Btw, that a 31 indented firewall i see? love the fact we got very similar trucks
 
the upper column bushing? tried it multiple times, no cigar. Sunny is playing ring around the rosie and I am starting to get the feeling I need to adjust the box. when the sound shows up, it feels like it's coming from under the dash, not in the wheel. I also will feel a faint vibration coming up the shaft. All signs are pointing towards the box needing a rebuild or at least an adjustment. whoopie.
 
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