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Steering locked up

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Slick Willy

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I have been working on my wife's 68 sprite. Ive got the carbs and ignition done. Started the car all went well. I went to pull out of the garage but no steering! It will turn left and right about an inch each way. I checked nothing seems out of place or in the way. The car has set the last 2 years do to medical troubles. Ive done the clutch, fuel system and top end while it was down but it hasnt left the garage. Any ideals to what it may be? Or how to get it unstuck? Ive never had a car steering just seize up. Thanks for any advice.
 
Did you mess with steering rack? There are shins in rack needed and without the correct thickness things will lock up.
 
The rack does have a zerk on the right side that you can try lubricating -- I believe it takes the same kind of gear oil that the rear diff uses.

If that doesn't work, did you mess with the trunnions at all? I know I accidentally put one on backwards. Besides giving the car a terrible amount of camber, I think it screwed up my steering, too. The other thing may be something stuck on the rack or the pinion?
 
Did the pinch bolt come loose where the column meets the rack?
 
Put front end up and clean and grease fittings. There might be a zert on the rack body. Up in the air you can wiggle steering as you greas to see if it loosens up from sitting. You can also see if stops are adjusted correctly.
 
A good inspection with it up on jacks is the first step.
My guess is it is not the rack but the swing axle/Kingpin upright. The rack does not tend to freeze up after sitting unless someone messed with it.
If it has been sitting for several years there is a good chance that the stub axles are semi frozen to the Kingpin/swivel upright. The grease can set up not allow the Stub axle to swivel on the Swivel to move.
I had this when I first bought my BE in 67, It had been sitting outside for a bit and the front end was semi solid.
As Larry said, jack it up and check out the grease fittings. If it is difficult to add more grease to the upper or lower fittings on the Axle the grease may have "set up"
You may have to pop the Tie rod end to find out which side is the problem. If it is the grease hopefully you can force enough new grease in to free everything up. If not you need to disassemble the parts and clean out the old grease.
 
Locking steering column? If so,try the obvious -
turn the key while turning the steering wheel back & forth.
 
Thanks guys, i havent messed with any of the steering. It has set, as ive been ill. Ive been out of town. But im gonna try dropping the tie rod ends to see what happens. I noticed it has a broken grease fitting on the kingpin.
 
Turns out to be the rack. The driver side rubber gator boot busted and allowed water in. I took it out, cleaned it up and got it Steering again. Im gonna put new boots on for now and replace it later in the fall. I plan on doing the complete front end late fall. Thanks for the help guys.
 
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