steering is really stiff

MarkVIIIS

MarkVIIIS

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I bought my 97 lsc almost 3 years ago and the first thing I noticed was that the steering wheel was stiff to turn and doesn't staighten out quickly when coming out of a turn. I've never actually driven any other Mark VIII's so I didn't know if this normal. So I've been thinking about changing the pump or maybe the rack and pinion the fluid level is fine and the pressure hose has a small leak but I don't think its a big enough leak to make a difference since the fluid level is fine and I already bought the hose so I'm going to try that first was just wondering if any of you had any ideas
 
I'll check them but I've had them checked before when I got it aligned last year but that was at Town Fair Tire where I use to work and some of the people there aren't the smartest
 
thanks for the advice the boots are ripped on the upper ones any way so I've benn thinking about replacing them. If they they are bad that probably has something to do with it
 
a binding ball joint will PASS the wiggle test everytime.

they dont show the classic "looseness" which most attribute to ball joint wear.
 
Good to know it never even crossed my mind that it was the ball joint but it makes sense.
 
He is 100% right ask silver 94. We did his this weekend and it passed all the balljoint tests.
 
Does it make any noises at all?
A tough steering would normally be blamed on the pump, but the straighten back out, like if you are in a turn, and let go of the wheel and it continues to turn...would be in the rack
and binding ball joints can also cause this

if you replace the ball joints and it continues to do this, tap the left rear tail light with a 10 lb hammer..and make sure you have Summer air in all your tires
 
its not the tire pressure cause its driven like this for the last 3 years and I don't really understand why I would tap my taillight with a 10lb hammer
 
Sapperfire said:
Does it make any noises at all?
A tough steering would normally be blamed on the pump, but the straighten back out, like if you are in a turn, and let go of the wheel and it continues to turn...would be in the rack
and binding ball joints can also cause this

if you replace the ball joints and it continues to do this, tap the left rear tail light with a 10 lb hammer..and make sure you have Summer air in all your tires
Click to expand...
You must be safe. :lol:
 
Cold be the shaft to rack seal. There is a "hat" seal at the base of the steering shaft on the rack itself. I had mine go. REALLY thought ball joint. It was so tight that it would never return.

Anyway, I lifted the booted and added high temp grease. Instant smooth control again. Just something to check out if you are sure the ball joints are good.
 
well if I don't see any play how else would I be able to tell if the ball joints are bad
 
loose and or play is only one aspect of ball joint failure.
frozen/stuck is the opposite end of the spectrum
 
^ Yup. And if they get too frozen/stuck they will become loose in a bad way.
 
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