Stearing wheel not turning smoothly

[TheRedRooster]

So my stearing wheel wont turn smoothly anymore. It sort off catches and clunks as im turning it. When it catches, sometimes a gentle, and sometimes a firm tug is requierd to make it turn all the way. Some one told me it can be the bearings. Any one have a similar experience?
-The Red Rooster

[BubbaGreen]

most likey the gear box. p/s or manual steering.
disconnect the rag joint from the gear box and try turning the wheel....if that feels smooth, gear box and/or front end linkage issues. If it still feels like its binding while disconnected, then you may have bad bearings in the steering column itself...soak the lower bearing with wd40 or similiar while turning the steering wheel...may be enought to extend its life....

[Gordo]

I don't know the condition of your ride but, I have seen some cabs "settle down" because of rust/rot problems with the cab/frame mounts/bushings and put stress on the steering column which in turn causes binding. I bet some of you guys have seen standard shift trucks in poor shape actually lift up the cab in the left front when you depress the clutch peddle.

[pjmoreland]

I had a manual steering box about 10 years ago that slowly went bad. It finally got to the point where my steering locked up completely. Fortunately I was in a parking lot pulling out of a parking place when it happened. I'm glad I wasn't flying down the interstate.

I think the reason it went bad was because I problaby overtightened the adjusting screw on the top of the gear box in an effort to reduce the play in the gears.

[Broken_down?]

I actually have this problem right now. I have power steering and mine sticks like yours. But I can actually hear it grinding once in awhile. I yanked the column apart this weekend right before member "Smitty" and I met up here in Oroville CA. Mine turned out to be the bearing in the column. I took the wheel off and put the bolt back on and tryed to turn and the bearing housing was just bending all over the place. When I first looked at it, it looked like the bearings balls where ready to fall out. Just my opinion. Start at the easy stuff first.

Rich

[TheRedRooster]

Thanks for the reply. I have a automatic steering wheel been used as a manual. I dont belive its the gear box because I feel and hear the crunch sound comming from the column area. I will take it apart and check the bearings this weekend. Thanks again everyone.
-The Red Rooster