Steering wheel jerks when trying to make a slight right steering adjustment.

[Bill_Clinton69]

I have a 2015 RAM 1500 with about 164500 miles. What I've noticed driving recently is when merging into the right lane or following a right curve on the interstate, the steering wheel will turn a very small bit, like possibly 10 degrees. After that 10 degrees is a bunch of resistance, and when I overcome the resistance, the steering wheel jerks like 25 degrees. The jerk in the steering is only really noticeable at higher speeds, mostly above 40 mph. It is not noticeable when making a proper right turn, such as turning onto a street.

 

[hunterdan]

Do you get a steering wheel symbol light up on the dash? To me, it soundsike a symptom of the electronic steering rack going bad. There's a possibility it may just need a steering angle reset. There are recalls on them, so you'd have to crawl under the truck and verify the part number on the tag and see it crosses up with one of the recalled part numbers. If it does end up being the rack, they are in short supply (and expensive through the dealer). I bought one through Rockauto (rebuilt) for much cheaper. Installation really only takes about 1-1.5 hours plus you'll need an alignment.

 

[Bill_Clinton69]

Do you get a steering wheel symbol light up on the dash? To me, it soundsike a symptom of the electronic steering rack going bad. There's a possibility it may just need a steering angle reset. There are recalls on them, so you'd have to crawl under the truck and verify the part number on the tag and see it crosses up with one of the recalled part numbers. If it does end up being the rack, they are in short supply (and expensive through the dealer). I bought one through Rockauto (rebuilt) for much cheaper. Installation really only takes about 1-1.5 hours plus you'll need an alignment.

My power steering has been dead since 150k miles. And yeah, it has the flashing steering wheel light on the cluster. I decided against replacing the rack for the time being due to the cost and the fact I can steer my truck, though the jerking on a slight right is a safety issue and I'd want to get that fixed.

I actually replaced a perfectly good clockspring and steering angle position sensor because of how soon power steering failed after replacing the original clock spring. Power steering failed on the 20 mile trip to Auto Zone to return the steering wheel puller and has been out since. Luckily I wasn't turning when it decided to go.

 

[hunterdan]

My power steering has been dead since 150k miles. And yeah, it has the flashing steering wheel light on the cluster. I decided against replacing the rack for the time being due to the cost and the fact I can steer my truck, though the jerking on a slight right is a safety issue and I'd want to get that fixed.

I actually replaced a perfectly good clockspring and steering angle position sensor because of how soon power steering failed after replacing the original clock spring. Power steering failed on the 20 mile trip to Auto Zone to return the steering wheel puller and has been out since. Luckily I wasn't turning when it decided to go.

Rockauto has/had a rebuilt rack for about 550 after core charge. I'm not sure how you manage to steer yours with no power steering. Mine was so bad that it felt like it was fighting against me when trying to make turns. It was absolutely dreadful. I've driven tractors and such that had failed power steering or lacked power steering and I'd gladly drive those over my truck. But, it sounds like the symptom you're having is in regards to the steering rack. Maybe try unplugging the main power wire off the fuse to see if it keeps it from twitching the steering.

 

[Bill_Clinton69]

Rockauto has/had a rebuilt rack for about 550 after core charge. I'm not sure how you manage to steer yours with no power steering. Mine was so bad that it felt like it was fighting against me when trying to make turns. It was absolutely dreadful. I've driven tractors and such that had failed power steering or lacked power steering and I'd gladly drive those over my truck. But, it sounds like the symptom you're having is in regards to the steering rack. Maybe try unplugging the main power wire off the fuse to see if it keeps it from twitching the steering.

I unplugged the power terminal that goes to the EPS fuse, and it seemed to fix the jerking. However, the truck really does not like how I did that. The service power steering dings on sharper turns instead of just once when I start the truck.

 

[EdGs]

Rockauto has/had a rebuilt rack for about 550 after core charge. I'm not sure how you manage to steer yours with no power steering. Mine was so bad that it felt like it was fighting against me when trying to make turns. It was absolutely dreadful. I've driven tractors and such that had failed power steering or lacked power steering and I'd gladly drive those over my truck. But, it sounds like the symptom you're having is in regards to the steering rack. Maybe try unplugging the main power wire off the fuse to see if it keeps it from twitching the steering.

Isn't it amazing that in a vehicle with no power steering, it is very easy to steer once you are moving, BUT, in a vehicle with power steering that goes out, it is like trying to wrestle a steer.

 

[Bill_Clinton69]

Isn't it amazing that in a vehicle with no power steering, it is very easy to steer once you are moving, BUT, in a vehicle with power steering that goes out, it is like trying to wrestle a steer.

I'd imagine the steering rack on a vehicle without power steering is designed to be operated without it. It also helps on that those older trucks and cars had large and thin steering wheels. Pretty much any modern vehicle, even the cheapest of the cheap Nissan Versas, have power steering and are designed to be operated with power steering.

 

[hunterdan]

I'd imagine the steering rack on a vehicle without power steering is designed to be operated without it. It also helps on that those older trucks and cars had large and thin steering wheels. Pretty much any modern vehicle, even the cheapest of the cheap Nissan Versas, have power steering and are designed to be operated with power steering.

To a point, I've driven vehicles that had power steering and lost it either because of a belt of leak. Those were no where near as hard as my ram was when the rack went bad. It's almost like the motor was fighting you.

 

[BeachGirl]

I have a 2015 RAM 1500 with about 164500 miles. What I've noticed driving recently is when merging into the right lane or following a right curve on the interstate, the steering wheel will turn a very small bit, like possibly 10 degrees. After that 10 degrees is a bunch of resistance, and when I overcome the resistance, the steering wheel jerks like 25 degrees. The jerk in the steering is only really noticeable at higher speeds, mostly above 40 mph. It is not noticeable when making a proper right turn, such as turning onto a street.

Did you figure it out? Mine is jerking some regardless of speed. Not all the time like a bearing or alignment would be.

 

[Daw14]

Did you figure it out? Mine is jerking some regardless of speed. Not all the time like a bearing or alignment would be.

Could be the steering intermediate shaft , use the search to view others who have had success. As always please share findings .

 

[BeachGirl]

Could be the steering intermediate shaft , use the search to view others who have had success. As always please share findings .

I did a search and this thread was closest to my issue. When I find out I will post

 

[Jeepwalker]

I had something almost exactly like that on my Hummer. I thought it was the rack too. Turned out to be a stiff (semi-rusty) intermediate shaft U-joint. And Ram Ujoints do get stiff too.

Try raising your front wheels off the ground and put on jackstands. Then put a few squirts of oil on every u-joint bearing cap...where the cap meets the cross-piece. Then get in and work the steering wheel back/fourth 20 times. Try to work the lube into the joint. Then maybe apply a little more oil and repeat another time or three.

I would do that before I would buy an aftermarket shaft. Keep what you have ..it's probably just stiff and needs a drink. The aftermarket ones are crap IMO. Could also be a slipping belt inside the EPS. But start with the easy cheap fix attempt first.

Let us know what the secret formula to fix it was....

 

[04fxdwgi]

Ford F150 did the same thing. In a pinch, I had a grease gun needle. I stabbed it through the rubber seal and pumped grease in each cup. Had truck another 11 years and it never had a problem with those joints ever again.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Ford F150 did the same thing. In a pinch, I had a grease gun needle. I stabbed it through the rubber seal and pumped grease in each cup. Had truck another 11 years and it never had a problem with those joints ever again.

Good idea

 

[BeachGirl]

I had something almost exactly like that on my Hummer. I thought it was the rack too. Turned out to be a stiff (semi-rusty) intermediate shaft U-joint. And Ram Ujoints do get stiff too.

Try raising your front wheels off the ground and put on jackstands. Then put a few squirts of oil on every u-joint bearing cap...where the cap meets the cross-piece. Then get in and work the steering wheel back/fourth 20 times. Try to work the lube into the joint. Then maybe apply a little more oil and repeat another time or three.

I would do that before I would buy an aftermarket shaft. Keep what you have ..it's probably just stiff and needs a drink. The aftermarket ones are crap IMO. Could also be a slipping belt inside the EPS. But start with the easy cheap fix attempt first.

Let us know what the secret formula to fix it was....

Well today I took it to a local shop hoping it was something simple like a u-joint, bearing, etc. They think it's probably the rack. Had me take it to the local alignment shop which is all they do, and everybody agrees is the most knowledgeable in this area for that kind of work. And he also said wreck and he said there's only the dealership can do it because they have to program it. He told me that there was a recall on some of them for this. But when I look the recall up it was for 2015 and newer, and mine's a 2013. But he said I needed to get it fixed right away because when it stops working I won't be able to steer at all. And there won't be any thing that tells me that it's going out. He said it's something to do with the electronic control for it. So I drove it to the dealership today, it has an appointment for 10:00 Monday. We'll see what they say. I'm hoping if it is something like this that they'll fix it since I've only had it a couple months. But I know it wasn't under warranty etc. So we'll see.

 

[BeachGirl]

I did just find that there's potential class action lawsuit getting ready to happen starting with 2013 for this issue. And a recall for 2500 & 3500. Of course they looked up my truck and all the recalls had been taken care of. I'm hoping if I show this to them this might help strengthen my claim for them to look at it and if it's this issue, to fix it without me paying for it.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Does yours "jerk" just going straight down the road? No turning? Or jerk when making turns? Is it jerking from your hands, or just feel 'funny' as you turn (greater resistance)?

If it only does it during turns, then I would have them remove the intermediate shaft from the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) Unit....and have them feel it by hand. Lot of owners have had to replace the intermediate shaft b/c of a rusted U-joint. It's simple to remove the lower end and check out. What happens is if one side of a Universal Joint get 'stiff' ...from, say, water intrusion (or engine heat), then as you rotate the steering wheel, the U-joint tends to bind in one spot. That's what can cause it to feel 'jerky' during a turn.

Another issue you could be having is the small belt inside the EPS could be worn/loose... and as the drive mechanism is calling for 'assist' during turning, a slipping belt would not be able to transmit continuous rotational force as is called for during a turn. Those belts can be replaced, but I doubt any dealer would do any diagnosis on an EPS unit other than replace the whole unit. Not very many owners have found a loose or broken belt, and if it was slipping I doubt you'd have much power steering at all, so it probably isn't the belt. But just thinking out loud.

If it's not the intermediate shaft u-joint, then probably something to do with the steering module inside the EPS unit. There are some fuses up by the battery terminal I would visually inspect to make sure they weren't somehow corroded.


Get ready, a new EPS unit won't be cheap.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Isn't it amazing that in a vehicle with no power steering, it is very easy to steer once you are moving, BUT, in a vehicle with power steering that goes out, it is like trying to wrestle a steer.

Kind of changes the mental picture of steer wrestling at the Rodeo!