2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steering Problem

[DBuchheit]

I was run off the road the other day by a young lady blasting through a stop sign. She was kind enough to grin and wave as she drove off without stopping.



I was lucky that I missed a railroad signal and utility pole. Unfortunately the railroad left an old bend rail along the side of the road, and it went through the side wall of my right-front tire.



After replacing the tire, the steering wheel was about 30 degrees off to drive straight. I had the front end aligned and the steering wheel is now centered, but the truck (2WD) drives odd. It seems to steer away from center too easily and once in a turn doesn't want to come back straight without more steering force than normal. The problem gets worse as speed increases. Crosswind seems to affect steering more than normal too. Personally, I suspected a camber problem.



I'm going to get a specialty shop to double check the alignment. Several people, including first shop suggest that steering gearbox may have been damaged. If that is the case, can anyone suggest an inexpensive source for a replacement.



Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ecpeters]

I just got my truck back from the shop last week after getting hit in the left front fender & tire. The stearing box had the gear spun & had to be replaced. The truck would turn to the left ok but go wide with a right turn. Check the wheel lock to lock it should be the same in both directions. Mine was not 3 left 2 right.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Take it to a shop that has a laser 4 wheel alignment machine.

Usually the larger shops that service dumptrucks and 18 wheelers have them. I had mine aligned at Strouhal Tire and it drives AWESOME now. No more pull or wander.

It felt wierd driving it for the first few days after the alignment because I was so used to it pulling to the right and wandering all over the road. I also had 4 new Michelin tires installed that day.



Also check your tire pressures. I run 58 in the fronts and 50 rear.



Pressure does tend to make a difference in our trucks. Experiment with different pressures. Start at 65 PSI up front and go down in 5 PSI increments, driving it a few miles between changes.

 

[DBuchheit]

Took the truck to a good front end shop today. RF axle was set back 9/32" by the impact. It rolled the lower rear arm mounting bracket inward and I have to have a frame shop straighten it. Good thing I have a friend in the business.

 

[bmoeller]

Some have had the steering box output shaft get twisted in situations like that. Had to replace the box before the shaft snapped.