Sudden difficult steering

[Jonniejonner]

Hey all, need some help fixing the tough steering in my 2005 town car. One morning, the steering was noticeably stiffer.

I assumed it was the power steering pump, so I replaced it, flushed and replaced the fluid, and it is just as tough to drive.

Then, I looked in the Town Car's service manual and it says the first thing to check is the intermediate shaft. Mine looked gnarly, so I replaced it. There is a SLIGHT improvement in steering, but it is still not easy. This leads me to my questions:

The service manual says next thing to check are steering column bearings.

The step after that is the ball joints.

My question is would the steering column bearings or ball joints more likely to cause a sudden difficulty in steering?

I am going to jack up the control arms and check for play for ball joints.

The car had been in a minor front end collision when i bought it- the steering veers to the right and the front tires are worn in the inside of the tread. These are all signs of bad ball joints, but the fact the steering became tuff overnight is the part that has me confused.

Which do you think is the culprit? Am I missing something? I don't like to throw parts at cars, so I want some feedback before i make my next move

Thanks

 

[oktowncar]

Hey all, need some help fixing the tough steering in my 2005 town car. One morning, the steering was noticeably stiffer.

I assumed it was the power steering pump, so I replaced it, flushed and replaced the fluid, and it is just as tough to drive.

Then, I looked in the Town Car's service manual and it says the first thing to check is the intermediate shaft. Mine looked gnarly, so I replaced it. There is a SLIGHT improvement in steering, but it is still not easy. This leads me to my questions:

The service manual says next thing to check are steering column bearings.

The step after that is the ball joints.

My question is would the steering column bearings or ball joints more likely to cause a sudden difficulty in steering?

I am going to jack up the control arms and check for play for ball joints.

The car had been in a minor front end collision when i bought it- the steering veers to the right and the front tires are worn in the inside of the tread. These are all signs of bad ball joints, but the fact the steering became tuff overnight is the part that has me confused.

Which do you think is the culprit? Am I missing something? I don't like to throw parts at cars, so I want some feedback before i make my next move

Thanks

Go get you some Fluid film or Kroil penetrant oil and start spraying down things to find the source of the stiffness rather than just throwing parts at it and wasting money.
Spray down one joint/bearing at a time and see what loosens up..

 

[Jonniejonner]

Go get you some Fluid film or Kroil penetrant oil and start spraying down things to find the source of the stiffness rather than just throwing parts at it and wasting money.
Spray down one joint/bearing at a time and see what loosens up..

Thanks that's a good idea. I tried WD40, but it didn't do shit. I only sprayed the intermediate shaft, which wasn't the problem

I am going to buy these lubricants you suggested--do you recommend doing the whole shaft?

Like starting by the firewall and greasing one point at a time?

 

[04TC]

Did you check to make sure nothing is wedged in the steering system? It's a long shot, but I had similar symptoms with my car and the cause was one of the heat shields fell off and got wedged in there.

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[Jonniejonner]

Did you check to make sure nothing is wedged in the steering system? It's a long shot, but I had similar symptoms with my car and the cause was one of the heat shields fell off and got wedged in there.

I'll check. When the front wheels were off the ground the wheels turned seamlessly

 

[oktowncar]

Thanks that's a good idea. I tried WD40, but it didn't do shit. I only sprayed the intermediate shaft, which wasn't the problem

I am going to buy these lubricants you suggested--do you recommend doing the whole shaft?

Like starting by the firewall and greasing one point at a time?

Every joint, every bearing.. Do one at a time so you can narrow it down from gearbox to steering wheel

 

[KWIC]

I just replaced the power steering sensor on my TC, when they fail there can be odd steering behavior. They are fairly cheap at auto parts stores.

 

[Jonniejonner]

I just replaced the power steering sensor on my TC, when they fail there can be odd steering behavior. They are fairly cheap at auto parts stores.

did it give you a code?

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[KWIC]

did it give you a code?

No dash light or code. It had a small leak and the car was also making noises during low speed parking maneuvers, like 'shhhhish-shiiish' as the wheels were turned.
Some of the other symptoms of a bad steering pressure sensor (switch) are shown here: The Importance of Power Steering Oil Pressure Switches | FPS Distribution

 

[Jonniejonner]

I just replaced the power steering sensor on my TC, when they fail there can be odd steering behavior. They are fairly cheap at auto parts stores.

Did your power steering feel like it was kinda there, but was stiff to drive? Did this change happen suddenly?

 

[Jonniejonner]

Every joint, every bearing.. Do one at a time so you can narrow it down from gearbox to steering wheel

Done every one except the middle one. I even unbolted the 2 nuts from the inside of the car where the steering shaft goes through the rubber bearing. Sprayed the shit out of it and no difference.

Now I just have one more part of the linkage to spray

The part that has most confused is how sudden the difference was. One morning steering didn't feel like it had as much assistance

I Also wonder if I may have got a bad power steering pump from Napa. I bought a bad coil from them even though it was brand new.

Please keep helping me with ideas. I really miss driving this car

 

[KWIC]

Did your power steering feel like it was kinda there, but was stiff to drive? Did this change happen suddenly?

I don't drive that car much, then I noticed the low speed maneuvering noise as I stood in the garage when my wife backed the car out. That was when I noticed the first drops of steering fluid on the garage floor. I stopped her and looked under the car at the steering rack and spotted the leaking Sensor. The next day I drove the car to the shop and had the power steering sensor replaced and fluid topped off.

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[Jonniejonner]

I don't drive that car much, then I noticed the low speed maneuvering noise as I stood in the garage when my wife backed the car out. That was when I noticed the first drops of steering fluid on the garage floor. I stopped her and looked under the car at the steering rack and spotted the leaking Sensor. The next day I drove the car to the shop and had the power steering sensor replaced and fluid topped off.

Thanks I tried the sensor. Prob is still there. Gonna inspect the ball joints next

 

[rifleman56]

I had the same problem with my GMC truck. It ended up being the steering box.

 

[Jonniejonner]

Narrowed it down to the steering rack. How do I remove this solenoid?

 

[Jonniejonner]

IDK if anyone is following me, but I'll update anyway. Put in the steering rack- same issue, tight steering. The mechanic advised me to try another pump

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[dave42]

Well dang.