1976 Dart power steering - “ratcheting”

[Tool.Man]

The problem came on all at once. The symptom is when turning the steering wheel, it moves freely for a few degrees and then it hits a tight spot then free again for a few degrees. Rinse and repeat. Both left and right have the same symptom with left being a little more pronounced.

With the front tires off the ground and the engine running I don’t notice the problem. There are no leaks or noises. The belt is tight. The pump is filled correctly.

Who can say whether it’s the pump or the box?

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Re adjust the box. Many times people tighten the adjuster to eliminate play without it being centered. There is a high spot on the sector to prevent wonder when going straight. Once past that high spot in either direction it should steer easy unless it was over tightened when not centered. It is critical when a alignment is done that the box is centered. so when steering in either direction it comes down off the high spot. The high spot like I said is to prevent wonder when going straight.

 

[Kendog 170]

My dad was old school mechanic. He would have me turn the wheel back and forth while he tightened the adjuster. Once I felt the bump he would back off a smidge. FSM would have the correct way to adjust it.

 

[Tool.Man]

Re adjust the box. Many times people tighten the adjuster to eliminate play without it being centered. There is a high spot on the sector to prevent wonder when going straight. Once past that high spot in either direction it should steer easy unless it was over tightened when not centered. It is critical when an alignment is done that the box is centered. so when steering in either direction it comes down off the high spot. The high spot like I said is to prevent wonder when going straight.

Thanks for replying.

I don’t recall having ever adjusted the box. This “tight“ spot occurs multiple times turning either direction, so it would seem that it couldn’t be the high spot on the sector.

It’s as if there was a chip in a small gear that turns multiple times while turning a larger gear. I don’t quite have it clear if the box includes an arrangement like this.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Thanks for replying.

I don’t recall having ever adjusted the box. This “tight“ spot occurs multiple times turning either direction, so it would seem that it couldn’t be the high spot on the sector.

It’s as if there was a chip in a small gear that turns multiple times while turning a larger gear. I don’t quite have it clear if the box includes an arrangement like this.

Could be a bad box. The only thing to do is replace it

 

[Tool.Man]

Could be a bad box. The only thing to do is replace it

Thanks for replying,

It certainly could be a bad box. I was trying to build up my confidence before tearing it out.

The only thing I can surmise is that the ball track is chipped and every time a ball crosses that place it jams slightly.

 

[TrailBeast]

Thanks for replying,

It certainly could be a bad box. I was trying to build up my confidence before tearing it out.

The only thing I can surmise is that the ball track is chipped and every time a ball crosses that place it jams slightly.

Sounds like you are on the right track.
Never ever have I seen a pump do that.
They either pump or they don’t.

I would make sure the steering linkage isn’t hitting anything, but binding in multiple places while turning seems to eliminate that.

 

[Tool.Man]

I suppose there’s nothing to do but wash it down and pull it out

 

[Tool.Man]

I'm starting to remove the box. The book calls for completely removing the steering column. I'm trying to shortcut that pulling the pot coupling off the spline. I need about anther half inch. The clip prevents pulling the steering column any further up. The clip does not sit in a groove. It is held by friction, a LOT of friction. Has anybody ever dealt with this?

 

[AJ/FormS]

My Barracuda did that once.
It had a Federal pump on it.
I switched to a Saginaw and it was gone and in 20 odd years has not come back.
I took the Federal pump apart to see if I could learn something, but it looked perfect inside.
My thought was the the pressure relief was faulty, but IDK, maybe yours has dirt in it, maybe the spring broke, IDK.
BUT
I'm pretty sure it ain't in the box .........
Maybe your BJs are tight requiring more pressure than the pump can keep up with. But I doubt it.
I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure it ain't the steering box.

 

[Tool.Man]

Thanks for replying.

So that I'm for sure clear, the symptom was a sudden, stiff spot that happened multiple times, turning lock-to-lock. The stiff spot might be described as a "snap".

Getting the box out is a big job and a rebuilt one is ~$200.