Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
During taxi for departure from Runway 28; I noticed the use of the tiller for steering required more force than usual. As a result; we paid close attention to our pre departure checks especially checking the rudders and flight controls. We did not detect any abnormalities. Therefore; we continued with our takeoff preparation and were cleared for takeoff. After lining up with the Runway; I started to advance the thrust levers but before I was able to ask for Takeoff Thrust; I noticed that the aircraft [was] drifting to the left. While I started to apply right rudder to correct the movement; there was no response at all. The aircraft continued to the left; at which point I aborted the Takeoff.We cleared the Runway; did our checks; advised the cabin and asked ground for a parking spot to trouble shoot the problem. At which point I [had] regained the rudder control. We consulted with our flight mechanic and investigated a sound coming from the left side of the aircraft. Assuming it might have been an issue with the left main gear (brakes; blown tire) we elected to check it out. We shut down the left engine and our mechanic climbed down the lower EE compartment to check on the gear. He returned with everything appearing okay.After completing all our checks; no abnormal indications and nothing appearing to be wrong we decided to attempt another Takeoff. Considering we still had plenty of gas available. During our taxi for another takeoff; we checked again; our steering with rudders only. Not using the tiller. That is when we noticed that the problem had reappeared. I even let the First Officer try from the right side and he could only agree with my observation. At that point; we elected to return to the ramp and let maintenance do [their] job.
B767-300 Captain reported that during takeoff roll the aircraft seemed to drift to one side; using the rudder pedals did not correct the steering problem.