4X Steering Effort

Due to a snapped LBJ, I've gone through most of the wear components of my somewhat new to me 96 Xcab. LBJs, LCA bushings, CVs, wheel bearings, rack, tie rods, etc. Truck also got replacement coilovers and maintained previous 2.5" lift. Truck runs on 35's. After all that, it got an alignment. Now, in 4 Hi, there is pretty significant steering effort. Truck really wants to center up. Hadn't used 4X much before this work, but this steering effort is much more than I'm used to in other vehicles. Truck is fine in 2X.

Things I've checked are toe which is zero. Alignment shop said they couldn't get much caster but that shouldn't cause this, right? Upper control arms are Total Chaos and seem tight. We hoisted the truck and ran it with the wheels off the ground. Noticed movement of the front diff so replaced those bushings (thanks Plastics Guy). Also noticed binding of the Autozone CVs at full droop. Don't seem to notice that on the ground but it concerns me. One other thing is the transfer case shift lever felt hot in 4X. Seemed to have cooled off in 2.

I suspect something funky with the CVs. I've heard that a limited slip front diff can cause this behavior but can't believe it's got that. Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

Are you testing this on dry pavement? You definitely don't want to attempt much steering in 4X on dry pavement.

EDIT...reading comprehension...obviously you're off the ground. I can't help you there.

 

Thanks for the reply, Adamant. I should have mentioned the hard steering is on gravel roads. That's what led to hoisting it up and noticing the apparent CV axle binding. It's going back up today for more investigation. I'm now sensing some binding even on the ground while turning. Anyone know of reliably good CVs with better than average angle tolerance?

 

Maybe a clue? Poking around reveals the vacuum ADD actuator looks fubar'd. One side holds vac, the other doesn't. Vac signals at the VSVs seem OK, vac switch valves between 4H to 2H. Spinning the wheels on a lift shows the pass side axle is not hooked up with the front driveline. It looks like the side of the diff actuator that would pull in 4X leaks. Funny thing, though, is the 4X indicator light works correctly. I'd have thought it needed a signal from both the TC and diff to light up. I'd also have thought that driving just one side would lead to an imbalanced steering effect. Don't have that. Both CVs are definitely tweaked too. They bind even when not at full droop. Duralast's don't.