steering column in a KW

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by rollin coal, Aug 21, 2014.

  1. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    Go back and slowly think this situation through. When exactly did this trait of not returning to center begin? What work was done just prior to this problem. Toe-in has a great deal to do with how a truck steers. Remove the steering shaft at the firewall. Does the steering wheel bind? I cannot believe the problem is in the column between the the firewall and the nut behind the wheel. Stranger things have happened. Good luck . Keep us dummies posted.
     
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  3. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    Kingpins were replaced in late April. That is when the issue reared it's head. In fact as soon as we left my ol lady was following and called asking why I was all over the road. I thought pitman arm bolt needed re-torqued. Turns out it did so I tightened it. Still the problem was there. Drove it like that cause the work was there and I needed to bank money would deal with the problem when freight slowed... Replaced steering box several weeks ago. Didn't really think that would change anything and of course it didn't. It was sloppy as hell so i put a reman one one... again, the problem since kingpin install was the same as with the old steering box... this all started with the new kingpin install and they did in fact adjust the caster with a bronze shim when they did the kingpins. I'll know exact specs on that tomorrow but he said everything was "in spec". They re-did the right side kingpin this week because it was kind of binding when you worked the tire/wheel back and forth... still the problem is there it will not center it's self. I'm having someone else take a look at it and see what they think.
     
  4. bigguns

    bigguns Road Train Member

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    I read an article in a trucking magazine that said aligning a truck to "within specs" is not the answer. The manufactures use generic settings to be sure that the truck is at least reasonably close. A truck aligned to run Boston to L.A. does not require what a dump truck would or a regional p&d truck needs. I can relate to that because I bought many many steer tires over the years even though I had the truck aligned to "within specs" by more than one shop. I finally went to Truck and Trailer of Macon and had them do an alignment. These are the FIRST steer tires that I have ever had that appear to be going to last a reasonable number of miles.
    I have read about a shop in the central states that many owners rave about. The name has MD in it. Just very recently someone mentioned a class shop in Baltimore. I did not pay much attention to this info because I don't travel either area.
    This I can vouch for: if you want a set of steer tires to wear properly buy B.F.Goodrich. I bought a used 2006 W9. It had BFGs on it and they wore as evenly as any tire I have ever seen. I never got another pair of other brands to do the same despite good maintenance and several alignments. I should go back to BFGs even though I cannot buy them at a good price in my area. It would probably be money well spent. (pay me now or pay me later as the saying goes)
    I will see if I can come up with any info for you. I know just how you feel owning a good truck and it will not steer correctly.
     
  5. Cat sdp

    Cat sdp . .

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    In spec is code for good enough..... Not best settings.

    I know kw dealers will not touch that tilt column. All they do is replace the whole thing..... I think it's like $1200 !!
     
    dirthaller Thanks this.
  6. Joetro

    Joetro Road Train Member

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    I did the column in my '07 last year. Near as I could tell, it really isn't rebuildable. Replacing was my option, but it was a stipulation in the purchase contract, so I didn't have to spend any money.
     
  7. magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

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    I had similar issue on my 2015 t680 I was scared to drive it I couldn't keep it in my lane turned out to be steering was toed out after the 2nd shop aligned it I can drive with 2 fingers now before it would dart side to side constantly
     
  8. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    This is how it measures:

    L. Caster 2-1/2 +
    R. Caster 3 +
    L. Camber 3/8 +
    R. Camber 1/8 -
    Toe in 1/32"

    Steering column is ok nothing wrong with the u-joints or bearing in that. It's in the steering gear. Only thing that it can be. Had it looked over by another shop that's their opinion also.
     
  9. dirthaller

    dirthaller Heavy Load Member

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    If it were my truck, I would remove the taper wedges between the axle and spring and go to a suspension parts store and get 2 degree more tapered wedges try to get both sides closer to +5, buy new ubolts, reasseble then run it for a week (let everything settle) retourque ubolts then have the cross caster adjusted properly. Unless it pulls to one side then I would align immediately.
     
  10. dirthaller

    dirthaller Heavy Load Member

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    T600 have long front springs. If it's @2 1/2 deg. unladen, then it's probably closer to 2 deg.with an extra 1000K on the steers. 2 degrees is TOO close to zero IMHO.
     
  11. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    For right now I'm going to go with swapping out the steering box. It cost me nothing but my time to do it. These guys at both shops have told me sometimes you get reman boxes that are a-ok but every once in a while you get one that just isn't right. Even when it was reman'd by reputable builder - TRW in my case. From my own experience if that sort of thing can happen it does happen to me. They said it was not unusual at all for them to send one back because it was bad and have to swap on another. I'll swap it and see what happens. I can handle that but I'm not too comfortable working on the suspension. If it the box doesn't work out I'll get back up there and have them do as you say, and get the caster closer to 5, run it, re-torque, etc.

    And let me ask you this. Can sagging springs affect caster? I had already been planning on getting new leaf springs this winter. They're original to the truck 1.25 million miles. About 4 years ago I had them put a spacer block under the left side because my trailer was leaning over to the right. That leveled it up.... ....until around the beginning of this year when the trailer was leaning over to the left. I had them swap that spacer block over to the right side Tuesday and that leveled things out again. Just seems like it went from one way to the other over the past few years I guess because the springs? They didn't seem to know, yeah maybe it is they said. I dunno.
     
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