What do you think about these steering symptoms
What do you think about these steering symptoms
I have some odd steering issues that just all at once popped up after changing my power steering pump.
1. There's the noticeable dead spot between 11 and 1 o'clock. Wasn't there, or at least wasn't as pronounced, as before.
2. The steering wheel used to be dead straight on a flat road and now it points off to the left, approximately at 10-11 o'clock.
3. Major shake when braking on an off ramp.
Now, they happened to show up after replacing the pump, but I also don't see how a pump replacement (I've done several on this truck) would cause any of that.
I noticed that one of the lock nuts on the drag link was loose. The passenger side nut was solid, but the driver side nut was loose. I tightened it up, no change in vibration.
All rubber (bushings, ball joints) suspension components are 10K miles old.
Tires were replaced in 2020 and have about 30% tread left. Definitely cracking and showing their age. I'm wondering if perhaps this is all related to those. Again though, odd that it would all happen at the same time.
Last alignment was 2024. I wonder if that loose nut might've caused something going out of alignment?
1. There's the noticeable dead spot between 11 and 1 o'clock. Wasn't there, or at least wasn't as pronounced, as before.
2. The steering wheel used to be dead straight on a flat road and now it points off to the left, approximately at 10-11 o'clock.
3. Major shake when braking on an off ramp.
Now, they happened to show up after replacing the pump, but I also don't see how a pump replacement (I've done several on this truck) would cause any of that.
I noticed that one of the lock nuts on the drag link was loose. The passenger side nut was solid, but the driver side nut was loose. I tightened it up, no change in vibration.
All rubber (bushings, ball joints) suspension components are 10K miles old.
Tires were replaced in 2020 and have about 30% tread left. Definitely cracking and showing their age. I'm wondering if perhaps this is all related to those. Again though, odd that it would all happen at the same time.
Last alignment was 2024. I wonder if that loose nut might've caused something going out of alignment?
Last edited by Brandon318; May 18, 2026 at 03:40 PM.
Haha, I haven't bothered to swap them yet but know I need to. Will do tomorrow.
I got an alignment yesterday and the tech noted that the toe was a 0 degrees. Typically I follow the Land Rover recommendation of negative toe, so he set it to -1.5 degrees. I have a lengthy drive with it this evening and will report back whether that was the fix. I'm doubtful but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Last edited by Brandon318; May 20, 2026 at 11:31 PM.
Just got back and no change in symptoms. Going to rotate the tires and see if that helps. Next step will be taking all the wheels in to check balance.
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If you're feeling that a balance is a good idea (and it usually is, especially with large wheels/tires that have some miles on them), then why not let the shop rotate when they balance? I'm not one to pay anyone for ANYTHING I can do myself, but I also believe in working smarter and not harder. In this instance I could abide writing the check to avoid the driveway dance with 80lb wheels. I also have a 40 year relationship with a good shop so that helps.
If you're feeling that a balance is a good idea (and it usually is, especially with large wheels/tires that have some miles on them), then why not let the shop rotate when they balance? I'm not one to pay anyone for ANYTHING I can do myself, but I also believe in working smarter and not harder. In this instance I could abide writing the check to avoid the driveway dance with 80lb wheels. I also have a 40 year relationship with a good shop so that helps.