2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission no luck with steering

[Big_Daddy_T]

Im in over 3 grand with the problem still unresolved. It drives bad. New ps pump. New steering box. DT track bar. Upper and lower ball joints. Sealed bearings. Drag link and tie rods. Pitman arm. shocks are fairly new. I tried a drop pitman arm. Bad call.





When i go over a bump the wheel may turn. The truck sways with 800#s in the back when changing lanes. Steering leaves alot of guesswork. Stock tires and wheels.





Im going to have a nervous breakdown. Im gonna need prozac if I dont get it fixed soon.





HELP ME PLEASE:{ :{ :{

 

[Sticks]

Big_Daddy_T



I just did some work on a car that had some of the symptoms that you are talking about. Turns out the tires were the source of the problem. Is there someone local to you that you could exchange tires with for a couple of hours and take it for a drive?



How is the trucks alignment?



EDIT - By saying "stock tires and wheels", I am working on the assumption that they have not been replaced.

 

[willyslover]

did you look at the steering brace thread ?. . it helped my wondering 3500 '01. 5



crawl under your rig and have some one turn the wheel left/right and watch for flex where there shouldn't't be any. .



there are many threads on the topic. . a couple have alignment spec's that are way different from factory that have cured the issue. . sorry I'm not home right now so do not have a link as it's on my desk top



agree borrow someone elses tires for a drive... .



how about front axel plumb/square to frame ?... I know of a factory OOP'sed rig where the front axel was 1/2 " off and aligned wrong to boot. . was a very bad handeling rig. . turned out to be a frame rail issue

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Big_Daddy_T



It's probably the tires. I have the stock Goodyear tires on for the winter and the steering is vague. Everything is tight.

 

[johnjackson]

My earily 98 has 170K on it and drives like a large sports car. Not bragging, just agreeing that something is very wrong with your truck. You have prety much covered all the bases in the front end department in spades. I suspect the rear spring U-bolts. Had a truck that drove like you discribe and the problem was loose U-bolts.



John

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Thank all of you for the good input. My next mission is to replace all the bushings front and rear. I ordered the steering box brace but its not here yet.

I suspect both the front being untrue and the rear springs. The tires are expensive imports for our winter roads. Ive had incredible luck with this brand. I have a 99 so i can just swap rubber for a day or two. the 99 drives like a dream.

 

[Dheadington]

terrible steering

I had terrible steering completed all the same repairs you had done including steering box found that steering box bracket corrected problem of flexing. The truck steers great after installing Darins bracket. I'm not convinced that the frame wasn't flexing on drivers side and after tying both passenger and driver frame together this stopped all flexing truck steers GREAT!!!!

It has been terrible since new until now.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Just received darrins bracket today.



I think the problem has been located. The track bar does something very weird. When you turn the wheel. It lifts the drivers side of the frame 3 inches. Then engages the tires for turning. Why does my frame lift before the tires turn? it is a dttrack bar. Had it installed by the best 4x4 shop round these parts. I bought a stock bar and am going to call dt tomorrow. Does anyone have their home webpage bookmarked?

We will see how it goes.

For reference I threw money at it rather than having it diagnosed. So who is to blame? The front end needed some work anyways I just went a little overboard.

It always seemed to work before. LOL.

 

[big barney]

Here you go.

http://www.dtprofab.com

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Well I got it off and had it aligned. And its shown a 300% improvement. I still have some bump steer though and its got more play in the wheel than a truck with a rebuild gearbox ought to.

 

[Chipstien]

BDT, try adjusting the over-center adjustment on the top of the box. The box may feel loose because it came out of adjustment.

 

[TFabian]

Well, if someone figures this out, let me know. I have been trying to get rid of this problem for months on my 96 with 130K. I have gone down the same road. Everything in the front end/steering has been replaced except the front axle, springs, and sway bar bushings. Alignments don't make any difference.



I have been through the rear checking to make sure everything is ok. I can't see anything in the back that is bent, missing, loose, etc. New tires and wheels to boot, still the problem persists.



The truck seems to track straight on smooth roads (not many around here), but as soon as you get on a road that has ruts, dips, etc it wants to go left or right. You can feel the pressure on the steering wheel go from nothing to pressure either left or right.

When going around a corner, it feels like the truck delays the turn for a bit, then hooks into the turn, almost like the rear axle is moving side to side. You can let go of the steering wheel when you are on a rough road and it doesn't move like you would expect if you are getting bump steer, but the truck will jump left or right.



I love my truck, but it is getting to the point where I hate driving it. It has become extremely fustrating. I am about ready to concede defeat and take it to a professional suspension/steering shop.

 

[TFabian]

Update. I finally got this sorted out on my truck. See my problems in my earlier post.



The driver's side top ball joint locked up. After taking the tie rod off of the steering knuckle, you could barely turn the knuckle. Replaced it last weekend in 8 degree temps. The job went pretty smooth. Thank God for anti-seize. I took the cap off of it and it was full of grease. Not sure if it was defective when I got it or if I damaged it installing it a few months earlier. Not sure how I could have damaged it installing it as I used the tools called for in the factory shop manual and the other 3 ball joints are fine.



Had the truck aligned at a steering and suspension shop yesterday. It finally drives/handles like it was new.



The only things not replaced in the front end over the last several months is the front axle, springs and sway bar bushings. I have replacement sway bar bushings that I haven't put on yet. After Saturday's freezer exercise, I decided to stay inside on Sunday.

 

[CFAR]

It finally drives/handles like it was new

I hope mine never drives like it did when it was new. Mine still has slop in the wheel.