lost steering in 80 series

[lewy]

I was driving through some thick sand when my steering got very tight. It was as though it had ceased. I could hardly move the wheels. I let it cool for 15 min then started to drive it. It was hard at first but after a while it returned to normal. Its a 1994 GXL diesel. Has anyone else had this happen or know what it might have been.

[RV80]

Is it leaking fluid, how much fluid is in it, did a stick or somthing get caught up, is the steering dampner bent?

[lewy]

no there is no leaks the dampener is new the fluid is full and nothing got caught

[runnin4life]

could possibly something that is jamming as it get hot then when it cools it unsticks

it may have become excesivly hot because of the thick sand and caused the jam

just a theory

[pongo]

Maybe the fluid is old. Check the colour of it. You reminded me to do mine tomorrow. Mine gets harder to turn after a while going offroad and the oil seems dirty.

Its a cheap and easy place to start looking, although it may not be the problem. Maybe your front diff got too hot and started to bind. My welded front diff binds up time to time

Cheers

[hackas]

It could be your pump, mine is on its way out, you can tell because the steering can sometimes be non existant at idle sometimes but it becomes better the more the motor is revved. If your pump has ever been starved of fluid or had air in the system than it may be rooted.