BACKGROUNG:
JOR 5” Lifted RWD 2000 Astro with 30” KO2 Tires. My steering was very loose and had major wander to the point I was always adjusting the steering wheel even on a straight line. I got new tires mainly because I definitely needed bigger tires with the lift, but I also thought maybe it might help with the loose ride. It helped somewhat, but didn’t fix anything. Took it to a mechanic and they said the steering gearbox is leaking from the top and that’s the reason why it’s wandering. After reading a lot I went with a REDHEAD steering gear unit, and they installed it.
After the install, they had to fill up with power steering and move the wheel 20ish times, but my van with the new tires does not turn all the way to the end because it rubs against the sway bar. (I don’t wanna mix topics but is that something we just have to live with? The sway bar is in pretty much stock position and I’m out of ideas how to fix the rubbing there) So because they couldn’t turn all the way due to the sway bar, I’m thinking maybe it affected the power steering fill up process?
Anyways, after the alignment the job was done and I got to drive it. Literally 20 feet from the shop the steering locks and I lose my power brakes. Hitting the throttle gives life again to the steering and brakes, but it was insanely dangerous when I was making a turn. Usually I brake and steer into a turn, but this time when I did that the power steering went out again, problem is people are crossing the road, and to regain the steering or brakes I had to give it gas, and that almost resulted in a close call with a pedestrian.
I bring it back to the shop and they say that’s normal and to give it a little gas and it’ll be okay, and the tech fills up a little more on the power steering. The second he said that I regretted the steering box repair, because I thought that now it’s a normal thing to give it gas to gain the ability to brake or steer. Which just sounded like an accident waiting to happen.
I took it for another test drive and there’s no issue of locking up, until 25 minutes later.
it suddenly locks after I steer to make a lane change and apply brakes at the same time (it was a red light). Brakes loss power steering and now I’m rolling towards a red light at 15mph. It was doable to stop at that speed without the power steering, so safely stopped. Then I’m thinking “what if I had to make an emergency stop and they go out again”. Lots of regret thoughts running through my head.
ISSUE:
I spent another 3 days driving around and the brakes / steering haven’t locked up a single time which is great news. But the driving absolutely sucks. Turning has become very hard, and braking has become somewhat harder as well. I used to be able to steer with a finger, even after the KO2 30” tires before this repair. But now it’s become considerably harder to turn, it just feels like my power steering isn’t working at 100%, it’s more like 75%. Which obviously it’s better than the no power steering issue I had the day of install. But still, steering just isn’t as smooth or powered as much as I would like it to be. It just feels like I’m not getting the full support of the power steering (again, feels like 75% lol)
Anyone have insight on this? Nothing is leaking, and with the new redhead unit there’s absolutely ZERO slop and wander. When I’m on the highway giving the van gas, the steering feels a little more responsive. I do hear air whooshing noises when the wheel is centered and I turn it a tiny bit (in park) . I don’t know if that’s normal or not.
is there a break in period for redhead steering boxes? What about KO2 tires? Currently set at 38PSI. I did Raise pressure, but it didn’t help much. Should I go beyond 40 in the front?
It just doesn’t feel like it’s the tires or the gearbox, it honestly just feels like it’s the power steering not being supplied enough to the steering. Are redhead gears more demanding with power steering fluid? I heard it can possibly be 1)lack of power steering fluid, but there is plenty inside 2) low power steering pressure 3) AIR in the power steering system. I did turn the wheel like 100 times in park today, but the issue still stands. I’m not getting bubbles or anything .
JOR 5” Lifted RWD 2000 Astro with 30” KO2 Tires. My steering was very loose and had major wander to the point I was always adjusting the steering wheel even on a straight line. I got new tires mainly because I definitely needed bigger tires with the lift, but I also thought maybe it might help with the loose ride. It helped somewhat, but didn’t fix anything. Took it to a mechanic and they said the steering gearbox is leaking from the top and that’s the reason why it’s wandering. After reading a lot I went with a REDHEAD steering gear unit, and they installed it.
After the install, they had to fill up with power steering and move the wheel 20ish times, but my van with the new tires does not turn all the way to the end because it rubs against the sway bar. (I don’t wanna mix topics but is that something we just have to live with? The sway bar is in pretty much stock position and I’m out of ideas how to fix the rubbing there) So because they couldn’t turn all the way due to the sway bar, I’m thinking maybe it affected the power steering fill up process?
Anyways, after the alignment the job was done and I got to drive it. Literally 20 feet from the shop the steering locks and I lose my power brakes. Hitting the throttle gives life again to the steering and brakes, but it was insanely dangerous when I was making a turn. Usually I brake and steer into a turn, but this time when I did that the power steering went out again, problem is people are crossing the road, and to regain the steering or brakes I had to give it gas, and that almost resulted in a close call with a pedestrian.
I bring it back to the shop and they say that’s normal and to give it a little gas and it’ll be okay, and the tech fills up a little more on the power steering. The second he said that I regretted the steering box repair, because I thought that now it’s a normal thing to give it gas to gain the ability to brake or steer. Which just sounded like an accident waiting to happen.
I took it for another test drive and there’s no issue of locking up, until 25 minutes later.
it suddenly locks after I steer to make a lane change and apply brakes at the same time (it was a red light). Brakes loss power steering and now I’m rolling towards a red light at 15mph. It was doable to stop at that speed without the power steering, so safely stopped. Then I’m thinking “what if I had to make an emergency stop and they go out again”. Lots of regret thoughts running through my head.
ISSUE:
I spent another 3 days driving around and the brakes / steering haven’t locked up a single time which is great news. But the driving absolutely sucks. Turning has become very hard, and braking has become somewhat harder as well. I used to be able to steer with a finger, even after the KO2 30” tires before this repair. But now it’s become considerably harder to turn, it just feels like my power steering isn’t working at 100%, it’s more like 75%. Which obviously it’s better than the no power steering issue I had the day of install. But still, steering just isn’t as smooth or powered as much as I would like it to be. It just feels like I’m not getting the full support of the power steering (again, feels like 75% lol)
Anyone have insight on this? Nothing is leaking, and with the new redhead unit there’s absolutely ZERO slop and wander. When I’m on the highway giving the van gas, the steering feels a little more responsive. I do hear air whooshing noises when the wheel is centered and I turn it a tiny bit (in park) . I don’t know if that’s normal or not.
is there a break in period for redhead steering boxes? What about KO2 tires? Currently set at 38PSI. I did Raise pressure, but it didn’t help much. Should I go beyond 40 in the front?
It just doesn’t feel like it’s the tires or the gearbox, it honestly just feels like it’s the power steering not being supplied enough to the steering. Are redhead gears more demanding with power steering fluid? I heard it can possibly be 1)lack of power steering fluid, but there is plenty inside 2) low power steering pressure 3) AIR in the power steering system. I did turn the wheel like 100 times in park today, but the issue still stands. I’m not getting bubbles or anything .
