Steering binds 4x4

[JARichard]

OK I have 4x4 and when stopped and trying to turn hard ( like in a parking lot) with no forward or backwards movement It binds bad. It has been doing this since new and always believed it was the steering knuckles binding. Is this normal?

PS wife drove truck for the 1st and *****ed about it. It is the only reason I am asking. The truck has 87,000 so i dont think it is a big deal.

 

[nkiewel]

Could be the 315s rubbing on the trailing arms or the steering knuckles popping. Mine does it too. If you look behind the tires, do you have rub marks on the trailing arms? There is no paint left in a nice arc on mine.

 

[SRadke]

Are you sure it's a bind or does it require more power than you power steering has to scuff those 315's around? If you have a 0 or negative offset wheel I'd guess the latter. If there is a binding ot popping sound I'd look into the ball joints, had mine dealer replaced at 31k miles because they were already loose.



-Scott

 

[JCleary]

OK I have 4x4 and when stopped and trying to turn hard ( like in a parking lot) with no forward or backwards movement It binds bad. It has been doing this since new and always believed it was the steering knuckles binding. Is this normal?

PS wife drove truck for the 1st and *****ed about it. It is the only reason I am asking. The truck has 87,000 so i dont think it is a big deal.

Mine does the same thing since I bought it (with 10k mi). At 13k, it's no worse. I did notice if I run the tires at 40 psi, it binds. 50+ psi, no or little bind.



I think it's due to the size of the contact patch on the ground, plus the massive weight of the mighty Cummins on the front axle.



I wonder how much worse it will be when I get Toyo 35x12. 50 tires?

 

[JHardwick]

Junk power steering!! Reminds me of the old Ford boxes, but without the ... ...



rrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRR whining crap!



Rev it a bit and get the tires rolling a bit ... ... ... then it'll turn!



There is a compromise between "power" and "quick response" ... ... ..... to get both DC would have to build a better hydraulic pump!

 

[GTani]

My 315's also rubs the trailing arm during a hard turn in a tight spot. My stock tires didn't rub.

 

[Matt400]

It is unusual to not spin the wheel at a stop but changing the pump pressure would sacrifice high speed road feel especially with the quicker steering on the 3rd gens.



GM gets away with both by increasing pressures in the parking lot but that requires a variable pressure pump, sensors, circuit and such that are prone to their own set of troubles.

 

[nickleinonen]

GM gets away with both

they also have tiny tires under their trucks from factory, and anything other than than factory size tires and they won't even look at a steering issue

 

[Matt400]

I agree, we have a another late model GM 1500 4x4 to do the bearings on. . weak hub with aftermarket wide wheels.