I have a 2005 Freightliner FS65 that has a steering issue. It will turn fine to the right but when you go to turn back left it will bind up for a sec and then release and turn fine the rest of the way. I have flushed the system and changed the filter. It seems like a problem with the gear to me but would like a second opinion. Thanks for any help.
Thomasbus24 is 100 percent correct. I had a guy here that wouldn't believe it could be the ujoint on the steering shaft thought he knew everything so he did draglink both tie rods ps pump king pins 2 gear boxes so finally i had enough he went to the restroom so i quick poped the shaft off he got mad me touching his bus i said look mr fix it i told you over a week ago that the ujoint was the problem. Funny thing was i ordered the ujoint the week before and handed it to him and said guess you like killing yourself pounding out king pins huh and walked away.
I replaced the drag link first bc the pitman arm end had a little play and it would bind when I spun it. Still binds only turning left, especially when you try to turn quickly. it will bind for a second then it turns fine. checked for play in the kingpins and tie rod ends, no play felt or seen. I then removed the steering shaft from the gear and inspected the u-joints. no play and felt to be lubed properly. I then found an old steering shaft yoke that fit on the gear and ran the bus and turned the yoke with a vise grip, still have same problem. turns fine to the right but when you turn to the left it binds initially then frees up. pump pressure is where it should be. if I jack the front end off the ground it turns much better but still has a very slight bind when turning left initially.