Steering wheel locks while doing a backing maneuver

Loose nut between the seat and steering wheel?

Just teasin'... Relax

 

Could be steering box, dirty filter, pump, bad hoses, contaminated fluid. Also like some one already said, tire in hole, low air pressure in tire, bent components. That has happened to me especially when engine is at low idle, like slowing down to take a turn as soon as you press the accelerator its back to normal.

 

You’re not up against a wall, fence, Swift truck or other physical barrier I hope

 

If you're not jammed up on something then your steering system likely has issues and you should probably go get it fixed.

 

I witnessed another driver several years ago, trying to back into a dock next to me, with the same issues the OP described. Every time he tried to turn the wheel after doing a pull up it was obvious he was fighting a steering wheel that wouldn't turn.

I chatted with him after he struggled into the dock. He said he had reported the problem to his company and had yet to receive approval to put it in the shop.

He spent at least an extra ten minutes fighting his steering than he should have. It was pretty epic.

OP, if I were you I would advise your dispatcher (driver manager) about the problem. If you don't get a good answer (good being defined as "We are routing you for repairs") and IF your company has their own shops, then call ahead to talk with the shop manager at the next terminal you are dispatched to (assuming you are OTR). Explain what's happening. That person might be able to expedite you into the shop for repair.

As others have noted, this can be a bad steering box, low steering fluid, a fluid leak, or any number of things. Don't screw around with this. Get the truck into a shop ASAP.

 

I would not even think about driving it anywhere if the steering locks up, you can seriously injure or kill yourself or somebody else with that kind of problem.

If the steering locks up, the steering gearbox is bad.

 

Same thing happened to me man failed my manuvers hurt my ego. Should of passed got stressed out when I thought it was turned all the way and it was just bad all around now I have to wait 6 days to go again.

 

That would be my first guess. If the steering wheel turns normally as soon as you start moving, then its tge brake pressure. Just caress the pedal, enough to keep from moving but that's it.

Do a little experimenting - with the parking brake set and your foot off the brake, turn the wheel and see how it feels.

Then put a light pressure on the brake pedal and turn the wheel and compare.

Finally put the brake pedal to the floor. If it feels the same all three times, then you have issues with the ppwer steering. If it changes then it's a user issue.

 

If the steering is no good, that truck does NOT move a inch.

You wanna move it? Sure buddy it's your ###. Here you are. Godspeed in case you kill people with it.

Tow or shop right away, anything else dropped. Either fix or new tractor. Or quit. One of the three.

 

Bad the rod ends, or some other sloppy sterring linkage would be where I would start looking.