Steering Problem

[BeagleRock]

Hi all I've been making pretty good progress on my truck as of late and even drove it to the Dr. on Thursday. Almost had me re-thinking that A/C removal because it got hot,well for this time of year.
 Anyway I noticed that it was pretty difficult keeping her straight today coupled with some of the ever present clunking noise from the front drivers side. But the very noticeable part came when I got back home and had to start and stop with lots of turns either direction,in short the steering feels like a newer vehicle as in stiff steering. I can no longer turn with my index finger,no whining or sqealing or low fluid level.
 Bad pump? fresh grease job done back in Sept.
Thanks Randy

[ArdWrknTrk]

Randy, are you saying it was challenging to keep the truck in your lane?

And that when you got home, making a 37 point turn was like having manual steering?  (even though there's no belt slippage, or leaks)

I mean, you might expect less assist idling than driving down the road, especially if the pump is worn.
It just won't make the pressure it does when the rpm's are up.

If I had a wandering problem, after checking tie rod ends and drag (or center) links for obvious safety matters, I would look at the rag joint (where the steering column connects to the steering box)

It's nothing more than a piece of tire sidewall (canvas reinforced rubber) and after 37 years baking in oil fumes under the hood, probably needs some love and attention.
Replacements are available in the Dorman HELP! aisle, typically.

[Gary Lewis]

I agree with everything Jim said.  But the clunking has me wondering about the pivot arm bushings.  If they are worn it will clunk on bumps and when you hit the brakes, and it will be difficult to keep it going straight.

[ArdWrknTrk]

You have very good points Gary, and know Randy much better than me.

[Gary Lewis]

In spite of our proximity Randy and I've not met.  But we have emailed, texted, and talked on the phone - social distance?  

But I didn't address the hard-to-turn problem.  I don't understand what would make that happen and have no experience with it, so I'll defer to you.

[85lebaront2]

Gary, did the 1983 2WD trucks still have king pins? I am not that familiar with the change points on the Bullnose trucks. I know the F350s had king pins on 2WD through 1986.

[Gary Lewis]

Brownie, the '82 I parted, had ball joints.  But if I remember correctly Paul/Rogue_Wulff's '80 has king pins.  Let me look.......  

[Gary Lewis]

Turns out that's a DEEP subject, and I don't want to fall in.  You have to go through the applications table, come up with the parts list #, and then interpret the parts list in order to figure it out.  

But maybe this will help.  They suggest that the forged axles got king pins and the stamped sheet metal axles got ball joints.  Which fits because Brownie had stamped axles.  As did the '82 white F150 Explorer and it had ball joints.

[BeagleRock]

I must admit it needs aligned and it has new front shocks (forgot to mention that). The  strange thing was that it seemed a wheel or two were out of Balance "at times" then would be smooth. This was observed with cruise control on at 65mph. This prompted me to drive in the 50s the rest of the way home due to me thinking "Ball joints about to go" I just drove it 80mph down the turnpike for 4 miles 2 weekends ago and it did fine.
 I haven't been able to look it over since then as it turned colder and has rained basically every day. I'll report back when it dries up.
 Thanks Randy Brown
 

[BeagleRock]

Gary this truck has had zero front end work. No radius arm bushings which clearly need replacing and are on order. I need new brakes and brake lines on the front as well.
 If you'll recall about a month ago the steering column dropped into my lap. I had it apart 3-4 weeks ago and lubed everything in the column and installed a new turn signal switch while it was apart. The tilt,switch and turn signal all work smoothly and properly now.
 But I fix one or two items and three or four problems pop up and that's just the way it is per wife. LoL
 The front end needs attention without a doubt but the somewhat stiff steering concerns me. Hopefully it's a shot pump as it's Original too. In fact I know the wheel bearings haven't touched in 20+ years.    

[BeagleRock]

Mine has ball joints and they have been greased.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Randy has filled in a lot of details.
My feeling was that (if) the PS pump deficient it might not provide much assist with the engine at idle, making for heavy steering at low rpm and basically no road speed.

I've parallel parked enough huge boats with "Armstrong" steering back in the day.

[Gary Lewis]

Jim - I agree, it may well be the PS pump.  I've just not run into that.  I'd suggest taking the belt off for a test, but as we know, that would just cause the C-II pump to puke fluid all over everything.  So I'm not sure what to suggest.

Randy - I'll bet the clunks are due to the radius bushings.  They aren't all that hard to replace, and sure made a big difference on my '82.

As for fixing one thing and having more pop up, yep.  That's the onion-peeling drill.  Some day you'll have enough for a Bloomin' Onion.

[85lebaront2]

USMC 2 1/2 ton trucks, Armstrong, probably 10 turns lock to lock and took all your strength to turn it sitting still. My 1958 F100 was easy compared to them, even my best friend's 1969 Mach 1 428 CJ with manual steering was easy compared to them. Closest I found to one was an F600 dump truck, 300 HD engine and manual steering.

[BeagleRock]

Gary I 2nd that motion about the clunking which is why I'll have some new bushings by Friday if Rock Auto is correct on their eta. PS Pumps are cheap too compared to today's vehicle's or even 15yo's in most cases.
 Thanks guys and I'll keep you posted on what I find but it looks like a very wet week.
 
Weather starting off like last year Gary,already nearly 6" above normal!

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, and it is raining at the mo and is supposed to rain off and on all week.  

Anyway, good luck on fixing these problems, and hope that resolves the issue as well as doesn't uncover more.

[BeagleRock]

You know as well as I do,they'll be more! In fact it probably won't stop and am limited only by funding  and physicality.
 
 Thanks for helping me out.