2014 Steering binding/loss of power

[GP_the_Builder]

Hey guys,

My name is George, this is actually my first post. I wish I could have started off on a better not, but I almost died today because of my ram!

I'm driving down the highway, and go to change lanes, and all of a sudden my steering locks up and doesn't center. It felt almost like I lost power steering for a second, but the wheel just wanted to stay in a turned position. I could turn the wheel back to center with enough force, but when you don't know its about to happen its super freaking dangerous.

All day I have been trying to diagnose the problem and I've got nothing. It keeps happening intermittently now. It can be fine on one turn, and tighten and bind on the next. It can happen at low speed or high, it happens going forward or in reverse. There doesn't seem to be any pattern to it. The only time it believe it doesn't happen is while parked and turning the wheel.

I checked all the suspension parts, the rack, and steering column. While parked everything seems to rotate and move with no issues. It only bind while moving, and obviously I can't check.

I see there are recalls for various years and for various steering problems but my VIN for a 2014 doesn't seem to have a recall. The truck only has 55,000 miles for god's sake. That is way too soon for this type of epic and dangerous failure.

 

[Brandon-w]

This is 100% your steering shaft. The u joints that connect it seize up. Had it happen to me last winter. I took mine out lubed it worked it and it's good now. Scares the hell out of a guy though. If you're mechanically inclined. Bunjee ur steering wheel to your seat so it can't spin around take the shaft out I Beleive it's a 15 or 16 mm bolt on each end mark your shaft on one end so u know which end goes where and lube and work it. You have to take a small screwdriver and pull the little rubber boots away from the u joint to get the lube passed it. Hope this helps.
Brandon.

 

[GP_the_Builder]

This is 100% your steering shaft. The u joints that connect it seize up. Had it happen to me last winter. I took mine out lubed it worked it and it's good now. Scares the hell out of a guy though. If you're mechanically inclined. Bunjee ur steering wheel to your seat so it can't spin around take the shaft out I Beleive it's a 15 or 16 mm bolt on each end mark your shaft on one end so u know which end goes where and lube and work it. You have to take a small screwdriver and pull the little rubber boots away from the u joint to get the lube passed it. Hope this helps.
Brandon.

Hey Brandon, thanks for the reply.

I also suspected the U joints because of the way it binds, but they seemed to turn just fine when stationary. Then again the forces on them while at speed are certainly different than standing in place.

Why couldn't you just lube the U joints in place, they are visible? Or maybe I am misunderstanding which one. There are 2 U joints, one is inside right under the steering wheel, and one is on the intermediate shaft.

 

[Brandon-w]

There should be one on the lower half of shaft outside and one on the upper shaft inside. . Or atleast that's what mine had. I could not tell it was tight u joints until I disconnected it and actually felt the rough spot. I wouldn't lube it on the truck as you'd want to work it back and fourth until it loosened up and worked the lube in.

 

[Brandon-w]

When mine went it'd just flop lne way or the other and not straighten up at all. I had to grab the wheel and yank it then it'd go back to normal until turned again.

 

[Brandon-w]

This is the lower shaft. I took the bolt out of the bottom where the u joint is and then the one out of the middle and slid it out. That way I didn't have to disconnect the one inside.

 

[GP_the_Builder]

When mine went it'd just flop lne way or the other and not straighten up at all. I had to grab the wheel and yank it then it'd go back to normal until turned again.

The bolts were stuck and I didn't have time to real take it apart, but I did lube the crap out of the inner U joint under the steering wheel, and I sprayed some penetrating oil on the outside one to dissolve some of the rust. I spun the wheel to its max point left and right many times to try and work in the grease. Took it for a quick test, and I didn't feel anything. By tomorrow the penetrating oil will have mostly dried out, so if it comes back it might be the outside U joint in which case I will grease that one up and see what happens.

I think you are right though, its definitely the U joint, I just don't understand how they can go bad in such a short amount of time. I've had cars with 300,000 miles and these types of parts never seem to fail.

Thanks for the advice, I was looking at a new rack, hopefully this solves it.

 

[Brandon-w]

Hey no problem happy I could be of help. Yeah I'd definately say it's the outer one. Mine went out of the blue, awhile I was driving actually. I was 400 miles from home and all of a sudden my steering was all wonky scared me pretty good as I almost hit the curb. I was wondering if it was my steering angle sensor or something like that but it turned out to be really simple. I was contemplating drilling a hole in two of the u joints and adding a grease nipple so I could grease them yearly but it hasn't given me any more issues so no need to take it off yet.

Hopefully you won't need to mess with it any more, atleast now you have piece of mind knowing what it is.