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Steering Return Valve

68satt

Member
Local time
5:22 AM
Joined
Jan 3, 2025
Messages
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Location
Alberta
Curious if anyone has ever encountered a bad return valve on the steering box - NOT the centering valve, but rather the aluminum valve that the return hose attaches to. I had to buy one when changing my original steering box (OER replacement valve) and have no return to center and a bit stiffer steering that what I think is normal. Thought it was a bad box, so replaced it again with another box and nothing changed. Front end all ok and free when the pitman arm and idler are disconnected, wheel alignment just done, I am losing my mind here. The only thing I am thinking now is it possible the OER return valve is not doing what it should?? OR could have another bad box (insert swear word) OR a bad p/s pump but there is definitely some power assist.

When all is connected you cannot manually turn the wheels by hand to do a sweep, when trying to turn the pitman arm on the box disconnected from the steering linkage it won't budge by hand either, could fluid be restricted to flow properly possibly causing a hydraulic lock of sorts?

All was free before changing the box(s), the original box was old and leaking and causing a pull to the right so instead of messing around with the old box I decided to just replace it - thinking this was a mistake.
 
Any chance the steering column isn't centered properly causing excess drag? A little drag multiplied by the steering gear ratio makes for a lot of drag when trying to sweep the wheels..
 
With the steering coupler disconnected from the box it is still stiff.
 
Just a chance the return line is bad. Try disconnecting the return from the box and turn it by hand, not running. Will make a mess, but will take the return side of the system out of the problem.
 
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