1/4" of Steering play at highway speeds???

[cumminbighorn06]

Just like the post says, My steering is tight up until I get to higher speeds around 55 MPH or so and then it seems to wander like I have about a quarter inch of play in my steering wheel, but it is only at higher speeds?






2006 G56 CCSB 3500 SRW / Borgeson dodge box, dodge off road steering brace, 08.5 steering upgrade, carli ball joints

 

[HankC]

While my front end was all stock, back 60K miles ago, I had to hold my steering wheel about that much or a bit more to the left to keep me running straight, most of the time (highway and around town). I didn't mind that much. A bunch of mods later, including the 09 steering linkages, steering brace, bigger tires, suspension, yada yada yada...my steering was way better then before but still kind of had some slop but not enough that it made me feel unsafe. Figured because of the bigger tires I was still going to get some slop in the steering wheel. I bought the high mount Bilstein Steering Stabilizer as just another upgrade. Believe it or not my steering became a lot tighter. Not perfect, but so much better!

I've asked a bunch of mechanics, that I trust, before I installed the Bilstein Steering Stabilizer about adjusting the steering box. Universal answer I got is "you can but I don't recommend it." I've also thrown around the idea of replacing the steering linkage to the steering box. I try to practice what I preach "if its not broken, don't fix it." Doesn't work all the time and for everything, but its saved me a few headaches over the years. So far mine is working fine. (Knock on wood).

As for the wobbling on the highway, the last time I experienced that was when I owned an old 91 Ford F-150 with the 5.0 in it when I was 17. Don't judge, I didn't know better and couldn't afford the truck I have now haha. Just about every joint you can think of was bad on that Fords front end, so bad that I barely drove it on the highway it wobbled so much. And when I did I was white knuckling it. But I made a killing for a 17 year old plowing and hauling things around town with that truck. SO glad I got rid of it!

That's just been my personal experience with my trucks wobbling and wandering. Someone else may have more knowledge. I'd suggest going through the motions of having all the joints, alignment, etc checked out. It wont hurt. I still have a bit of slop in my steering on my 07, like I said its not perfect. Its a big diesel truck, not a tin can prius, and that's what I love about it! Good Luck!

 

[K9Kodi]

Some things I would try first, how is your alignment. I'm going off memory from my 3rd gen, but a little more neg is not bad. I'll try and find the posts and info on it. Also, I run larger tires, 35-38" and I find as they age and get worn or dry they have much more flex and less stability. I forgot how bad it got till I got new tires and it feels like I got s brand new steering set up. *I'd say if it's tight slow speeds then I'd look at alignment first and tires then steering issues

 

[cumminbighorn06]

The alignment was just done. My truck is stock height so I'm not sure what the high mount stabilizer will do. I just can't figure out why my steering would turn sloppy with about a quarter inch of play when the speed of the wheels turning increases? Like the steering pump can't keep up, but from what I gather if the pump can't keep up, I dont feel the steering would get sloppy, I feel as if it would be harder to steer.

 

[K9Kodi]

Stabilizers are awesome when they compliment a steering set up, they should not be used as a bandaid. I know you say you just got an alignment, but I would jump under my truck and add 2 degrees negative and then test it. *Mark where you started so you can always go back but I think I remember hearing Carli or someone say the trucks like 4 degress negative. That's the only think I can think that would cause high alert steering lightness. *Too much positive caster and steering gets light, add some negative and it tightens up. I think that's the right way it's been a while. I'll look

 

[cerberusiam]

You have the t-type steering, one of its drawbacks if things are not perfect. Tires are always a good source of problems, what are you using, what are their weight rating, how old? Shocks are what and how old?

 

[AEdelheit]

Stabilizers are awesome when they compliment a steering set up, they should not be used as a bandaid. I know you say you just got an alignment, but I would jump under my truck and add 2 degrees negative and then test it. *Mark where you started so you can always go back but I think I remember hearing Carli or someone say the trucks like 4 degress negative. That's the only think I can think that would cause high alert steering lightness. *Too much positive caster and steering gets light, add some negative and it tightens up. I think that's the right way it's been a while. I'll look

DO NOT RUN NEGATIVE CASTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These trucks like around 3.7-4.5 deg positive caster. I would not assume the alignment is right and there is a good chance you have too much toe in and this is why the feeling is only at speed. 0.00-0.05 total toe in works well on these trucks.

 

[K9Kodi]

There ya go. That's what I was meaning*