Wtf happened to my steering?

I cant find a thread that addresses my problem specifically, but today on the way back from school I noticed my steering wheel sits at about 10 o'clock instead of 12 when I'm going straight. I also noticed that after making a turn for more than a couple seconds, or a really sharp turn, my steering wheel kinda sticks in that position and slowly inches its way back to 10 o'clock. Also, when at a stop, I can slowly inch my steering wheel either direction with my wheels barely moving. Whats causing all this play? Worn bushings?? Anyways, heres a pic of my steering wheel:

 

And before anyone asks, I haven't hit any big bumps or ditches or anything recently and I just noticed this today.

 

Alignment, bent steering rods, low fluid, etc.

 

Sounds like alignment to me but if it happened out of the blue then I'm not real sure.

 

A random failure that big sounds like your rack and pinion maybe. I don't know a lot about these things, but I know if the rack goes bad, the alignment won't hold and road pressure will cause the alignment to consistently change while driving. Not good.

 

Hmm. I guess ill have it checked out when I take my truck in for the TOB fix. Hope it doesn't get worse before I make it there. This is kind of a dumb question but how would I check my steering rods? I don't know much about the anatomy of our steering rack, sorry

 

That was one of my fears. What happens if it fails?

 

You will SHOULD still steering just no power to assist you...

 

Wait what? Are you saying ill just have no power steering?

 

By any chance did you park it in the morning with your wheels turned so they were sticking out? Any chance that someone parking next to you could have hit a wheel that was sticking out? I'd look closely at the wheels & tires for any signs that someone hit them...marks, scuffs, etc.

 

I blew both my inner seals on the rack all fluid leaked out and still drove 75-100 miles home like that.

It sounds like your alignment is out though. And not the rack.

 

Jack up your truck under each lower control arm. Hold the tire by each side and try to wiggle it side to side. If there's play, have some one look at the innner and outer tie rod ends for movement.

 

Nah I live on a private hill so theres nobody around to hit me lol.

I sure hope so. Maybe just rack bushings?

 

Ok. Your original post made it sound like it was parked at a school all day and you noticed it after you left school. I figured school = parking lot = opportunity for someone to bump your wheels/tires and screw things up.

 

Oh I see what your saying, my bad. I dont think I was hit, I parked between two cars that didnt move all day. And I go to a very very small school someone would've told me right away lol

 

when was your last alignment? i had a guy align my old truck with the steering wheel crooked and it took me like a day to notice. well i wont lie i noticed as soon as i jumped on the freeway and was pissed but the point is it could happen

 

About a month or two ago when I replaced my tie rods. I hope its just an alignment issue, but would that explain the steering wheel sticking after turning?

 

A comon problem is the the lower steering universal joint(or rag joint).It's located at the steering rack.The poblem is the universal joint rusts and starts binding.If you turn the the wheel to your left and right at idle and you feel the wheel binding the rag joint is most likely the issue.I think toyota calls it the lower steering shaft.

 

- Get the alignment checked out.

Before any alignment, the tech should shake the front end down to feel for loose/worn out components. Tie rods are easily felt by raising the front of the vehicle and wiggling the tire(s) back and forth. Everything should be tight and move together.

You drive your truck, so you're used to it. Over time, the aligment goes out and you just kind of get used to it as it slowly gets worse and worse until it gets to a point where you're at.

-You'll notice a total loss of power steering. Be hard as hell to turn the wheel.

-With the inching the steering wheel and the tires barely move, again, not uncommon. Something like what you've done here is called a "dry park test". Usually someone else is under the vehicle while one person lightly moves the steering wheel back and forth a little. Person underneath is looking for bascially a delayed reaction from a steering component, indicates play and a bad part.

 

Check the steering shaft coming out of the firewall from inside the truck into the engine compartment. Look just under the brake booster, and closer to the engine. There is a coupling /clamp that joins the steering shaft together. It would be very rare for that to come loose, but if it did, you would cause the experience you are describing.