Offroad steering question, "dry steering" and other bits
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 7
From: United States
Offroad steering question, "dry steering" and other bits
So a while back when I was learning to drive big trucks, some people who appeared to be wise told me that the wheels should always be moving while I'm steering. If I wasn't, this was "dry steering"
They also said do not hold the wheel in lock position (all the way left, or all the way right) --at this point, the steering pump changes its tone to something that sounds strained in most vehicles. Something about a valve closing off and the pump running dry or something. The noise most PS pumps make at full lock seem to validate this.
The last piece of advice...don't "palm" the wheel. Shuffle steer and never cross your hands or arms in front of an airbag, always have both hands on the wheel when you can.
The reasoning was that dry steering or holding the wheel at lock puts unnecessary strain on the steering rack, steering pump, etc. Moving the vehicle and backing off just slightly from full lock is much easier on everything and prevents stuff from being broken if the wheels are moving.
The airbag safety piece is kind of a given..shuffle steering has its advantages in everyday driving, so I don't think that's disputed. It also goes along with the "thumbs up for offroading" rule about the myth of breaking fingers or getting a wrist twisted in a steering wheel that's forced about by rough terrain.
I passed my drive test in a big truck with flying colors and apparently committed this to memory as I still use this today even when I drive my Jeep.
My buddy was yelling at me on the trail when we last went out. "Why do you need to move the Jeep when you're steering it?!" --specifically in regards to a tight space where he was spotting me and telling me to crank my wheels all the way to the left. I was letting the Jeep roll back ever so slightly as I cocked the wheels over. "NO, just turn your wheels!!!" I told him about this after and he thinks its bullshit.
But I think there might still be some sound advice there. I don't want to be bending tierods or breaking steering linkages because the wheels can't move because of a rock.
What say you?
They also said do not hold the wheel in lock position (all the way left, or all the way right) --at this point, the steering pump changes its tone to something that sounds strained in most vehicles. Something about a valve closing off and the pump running dry or something. The noise most PS pumps make at full lock seem to validate this.
The last piece of advice...don't "palm" the wheel. Shuffle steer and never cross your hands or arms in front of an airbag, always have both hands on the wheel when you can.
The reasoning was that dry steering or holding the wheel at lock puts unnecessary strain on the steering rack, steering pump, etc. Moving the vehicle and backing off just slightly from full lock is much easier on everything and prevents stuff from being broken if the wheels are moving.
The airbag safety piece is kind of a given..shuffle steering has its advantages in everyday driving, so I don't think that's disputed. It also goes along with the "thumbs up for offroading" rule about the myth of breaking fingers or getting a wrist twisted in a steering wheel that's forced about by rough terrain.
I passed my drive test in a big truck with flying colors and apparently committed this to memory as I still use this today even when I drive my Jeep.
My buddy was yelling at me on the trail when we last went out. "Why do you need to move the Jeep when you're steering it?!" --specifically in regards to a tight space where he was spotting me and telling me to crank my wheels all the way to the left. I was letting the Jeep roll back ever so slightly as I cocked the wheels over. "NO, just turn your wheels!!!" I told him about this after and he thinks its bullshit.
But I think there might still be some sound advice there. I don't want to be bending tierods or breaking steering linkages because the wheels can't move because of a rock.
What say you?
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,470
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Kalifornia
"It also goes along with the "thumbs up for offroading" rule about the myth of breaking fingers or getting a wrist twisted in a steering wheel that's forced about by rough terrain."
Not a myth, old Jeeps with no power steering like my old Jeepster could really generate some force at the steering wheel if you ran into a rock or whatever. I dont know about broken thumbs but it wouldnt surprise me.
As for moving while turning yea do it when you can but there are going to be times when a line wont allow it and could be downright dangerous. Yes its harder on the components but all those components are wear items anyways, you should be inspecting them regularly, especially if you wheel.
Rob
Not a myth, old Jeeps with no power steering like my old Jeepster could really generate some force at the steering wheel if you ran into a rock or whatever. I dont know about broken thumbs but it wouldnt surprise me.
As for moving while turning yea do it when you can but there are going to be times when a line wont allow it and could be downright dangerous. Yes its harder on the components but all those components are wear items anyways, you should be inspecting them regularly, especially if you wheel.
Rob