steering shudder

[RPerformance]

I have a buddies 1999 mountainer and I notice the steering wheel shudders horribly bad from 0 to say 20mph. I put it up on the hoist and turned the wheel left to right, no issue then from lock to lock and the wheels shake like I have never seen and would not stop until I shut the truck off. It looks like the power steering system hit its natural frequency. As anyone else had this problem is it the pump or the rack?

[RPerformance]

anyone??

[shorod]

Is it AWD or 4WD? If 4WD, is this shudder present when the truck is in 2WD (Auto) or just when in 4WD?

Have you checked the level and condition of the power steering fluid? Is the power steering pump whining like it's starved for fluid?

-Rod

[RPerformance]

It is a AWD. Fluid looks fine and the pump doesn't whine (surprisingly).

[shorod]

I wonder if you maybe have an issue with the transfer case or front differential rather than the power steering system.

You may want to check the condition of the gear oil in the front differential and in the transfer case next.

-Rod

[RPerformance]

I am fairly positive it is the steering system.

The tires shake when they are lifted off the ground and not rotating. It is triggered by merely tiring the wheel, it is like the hydraulics are hitting a resonate frequency and the pressure is not equalizing across the rack. I have never seen anything like this. Similar to the Dodge death wobble at 0 mph. What are symtoms of a bad steering rack?

[shorod]

Very odd, I'm not sure what you should consider next.

-Rod

[RPerformance]

I picked up a rack. My thought is one of the seals in the valving of the rack my be shot and is causing fluid leakage intrernally and is fighting it self. Does this sound reasonable? I don't see that it could be the pump since the wheels oscilate.

[RPerformance]

It appears as though it sucked air into the hydraulics. Prior to pulling the rack, I cylced it from lock to lock in a parking lot and now it seems to be fixed. thank goodness, that looked like a bear to replace.

[shorod]

Interesting to know. Thank you for posting what you found to fix it. That info could come in handy for others in the future, and glad it was apparently an easy, inexpensive fix for you!

-Rod