2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Loose steering and or wander saga!

[dieselshu]

Well I took the truck into the stealer this morning and you probably know what happened next...

They did there checks and came back with everything tight and before the tech will replace the steering box, they want me to do TSB 02-003-02 and told me I had to get an alignment done. I overheard a discussion between service adviser and the service tech about the cost of the steering box ($700). I asked if warranty covered the alignment and of course not! I am past the 12, 000 mi that would cover alignment. I explained to the service adviser that the truck does not pull when steering... only that it has allot of play and I am having to over-correct. Basically, I can move the steering wheel a few inches in either direction before the wheel itself moves. I told the service adviser I didn't think alignment would fix it and if alignment didn't fix it I would be back for them to replace the steering box and they can pay me for the alignment. I questioned the service adviser on what the tech checked and he said the box, arms, ball joints etc... and all was tight, well I checked the steering shaft from the wheel to the box and it moves side to side and appears the steering box cover is leaking as well. Just more fuel for the fire I will be lighting under someone rear.

Any thoughts?

David:--)

 

[Dheadington]

steering wander

Check your trackbar make sure that it isn't loose on drivers side on ball joint. I changed mine after taking it to dealer and they replaced steering box and that didn't help at all. Replaced mine with a DT trackbar and truck steers better now than it did when it was new. Oo.

 

[CFAR]

If you have a wanderer, it probably wandered from the factory, on mine I could turn the wheel 2 inches either way with no tire movement,



If you get the right angle, with the window rolled down, truck running, standing by the drivers door you can move the steering wheel and see both the steering shaft and pitman arm.

On mine, move the steering wheel and the steering shaft moved but the pitman arm did not.



No output shaft play either.



Or you can get someone to help while looking under the truck yourself, dealer did the over the center alignment, and end play alignment twice, helped but it still wanders, its about as tight as I want it to be any tighter and it will start to bind.



Check out the thread called "STEERING PROBLEMS" and "2002 STEERING BOX" in this forum.



And don't forget to sing your song "I'm a wanderer, I roam from town to town... "





Woody

 

[Dane]

I just did a DT tracbar and Borgeson steering shaft. The steering is better than the day I brought it home from the Stealer



Those mods ought to be a stealer installed option. Or better yet, factory stock. Really makes a difference imo. Bump steer is completely gone.



Cost me around $550 + a few hours.



I've seen the output shaft of my steering box move, so once one of our fellow researchers (TDR Members ) finds a company who can put a box together right, I'll addd that to my suspension/steering bomb list.

 

[RHoblitt]

I had to argue with the local dealer about my gear box play. The steering wheel would move two or more inchs without any tire movement. They were so dumb they took two days to dx the problem that i told them about when i went in, Then it took them two days to change it. I got home and crawled under the trk and the steering shaft was about to come off, they had run the pinch bolt over the end of the input shaft and gauled the splines , so much for impack wrenches in the hands of kids. Also they had the over center adjustment bolt set so tight that the wheel would not return after going around a corner. I wouldn't let any dealer touch my trk again. Richard