"Pulls to the right" fix?

[Texas1971]

71 C-10 was a no engine, no upper a-arms and no springs sorta rolling chassis when I started bringing it back to life nearly 5 years ago. It's together now and I got that long awaited inspection sticker. It pulls to the right...I mean the steering wheel starts spinning if you let it go as soon as you start moving. I thought it might be the misalignment of the a-arms or something like that since I just "eyed it up" and bolted them in. But now I'm thinking it might be something in the steering gear box or a hydraulic problem. Your interest and recommendations are appreciated. Thanks, Scott.

[steelhorse]

Three things.First switch the front tires and see if it goes the other way,if so its a bad tire.Second has it been aligned?Severe misalignment will cause pulling.Third would be a bad steering gear.If it tries to move even stopped it is probably a bad steering gear.

[68gmsee]

I agree with steelhorse.. Also, insure the brakes are not grabbing or a bearing binding.

With proper precautions, the best way to determine if the steering gear box is the problem is to jack the front end up and start the engine. You can grab the steering shaft and slowly turn it one way or the other. If it seems to grab and try to turn on it's own, you know that the problem is the gear box.

[Texas1971]

Yes, the wheel starts to turn quick and easy as soon as you move out. Steering gear, huh?

[Texas1971]

Now you mention bearing and I do have a new "chirping" sound coming from up there. ??

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by Texas1971

Yes, the wheel starts to turn quick and easy as soon as you move out. Steering gear, huh?

Actually, that's the way it's supposed to work. What I meant to convey is that it shouldn't try to keep turning on it's own. I had one that was defective many years ago on another vehicle and it would grab and turn like yours. It was more pronounced with the wheels off the ground.

I swapped it out with a junkyard replacemnt.

[68gmsee]

Forgot to mention... On the defetive one I had, it would continue to turn on it's own and then bind or lock up. Only way to get it back was to turn the engine off and manually force the steering wheel straight again.

[wood]

take it down to a shop and have them do an alignment. If it had no upper controls arms when you started then the only way to align it is with a alignment machine. If it hasn't been aligned then it can be out enough to pull hard.

[70rs/ss]

And be dangerous to drive!! Get it aligned, and be sure the front tires are good/new and match size and tread.

[Texas1971]

Thanks to all who replied. I'll try the alignment first, then the gearbox.