Steering wanders left & right

[JHester]

Hi, I'm new here. I've read dozens of steering posts, but I will ask anyway. '92 D250 4WD I replaced a flat tire, and now it wanders left & right. I did some online research (can't find that article now) and learned to bring the tire pressure back down to 55# and greased everything. This helped for 10 miles and back to the problem. That last article mentioned an 1/8 turn on an adjustment screw? Also, talked about the center link/draw bar? I'd like to try and fix any light duty items, before the shop sees it. I hope that someone can help here. Thank you.



Hester

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

If it's 4wd its a W250, not D250.



The easy stuff you can check and replace on your own:



Drag link, goes from the pitman arm on the steering gear box to the drivers side steering knuckle. Grab the center of the bar and try to wobble it. If it moves real easy, replace it.



Tie rod ends, thread into either end of the center link and attach the steering knuckles together. Same procedure as the drag link.



Pitman arm, check and make sure it's tight on the shaft coming out of the gearbox.



Steering shaft/coupler, grab the shaft and rotate it side to side, if theres slop inside of the coupler, replace the shaft and coupler with a borgeson unit.



Steering gear, provided the shaft is tight, move the shaft again with your hand to make sure the pitman arm moves right along with it. If there's slop, replace the gear, or tighten the adjusting screw on it.



Do your standard check on the wheel bearings and king pins. Jack the front end up, grab the tire, and try to wobble it back and forth vertically. If it moves, either your king pins are bad or your bearings. You can figure out which by watching the knuckle as you do this. Bearings are an easy fix... king pins will have you hitting the bottle early.



The plate and mounting bolts for the steering gear can loosen up, as well and the plate can crack. This you'll need the truck running to see. Have someone turn the wheel and make sure the gear stays put.



Some of the less likely things could be loose u-bolts, incorrect caster if you put a lift on, or some other wierd stuff like that. Some stuff won't show up until you watch it with the truck running with someone turning the wheel though. You can't replicate the force that the hydraulic unit can put on the steering system.



The biggest cuplrit is usually the coupler on the steering shaft, followed close by the drag link and tie rod ends. Fixing these three things will make your steering feel like new usually. If any of the aformentioned parts are bad, they may refuse to do an alignment. All of these fixes you can do on your own, with the exception of maybe the king pins depending on your patience, inginuity, and most of all your aresenal of tools. Good luck.

 

[JHester]

Thanks, Tippin! I'm capable enough to put a wrench to things, I have the 3" thick Chrysler manual, but I am not a mechanic. I don't know what to look for. This is real good news for me. Is there room for a newbie at this forum?



Hester

 

[JHester]

Yeah, it is a '92 4WD Power Ram 250 w/ the Cummins, so that's a W250. Thanks, again.



Hester

 

[Greenleaf]

It has been argued here and other forums to never adjust the set screw on the gear box. I had read that long after I had tightened the one on my 92. No ill effects, though the poster of said info thought otherwise, who seemed knowledgable on the subject as he works for a co. that remans them (the GM gear box assy. )



I have another truck (D250) that wonders all over the highway like a drunk opposum. I have replaced tons of parts, to the point that I removed the front axle assy and replaced all the ball joints/upper & lower bushiongs AND arms etc. etc.



At last, I replaced the factory steering coupler (which wasn't bad) w/a Borgeson. Still the truck wanders all over the road. I returned the truck to the alignment shop and was told to simply tighten the steering gear box adjuster (set screw)



That did the job. Steers perfectly now.

 

[cerberusiam]

I don't know what to look for. This is real good news for me. Is there room for a newbie at this forum?



Hester

Plenty or room at 1st gen table. Pull up a chair ask for something if you don't see it.



The one obvious thing that frequently happens is a bad tire or mismatch. You replaced a flat and the wander started. Makes me suspect the tire is bad or not matching the other one.



The other thing that could happen is some damage when the tire went flat if it was blowout or flat while moving.



FYI, I have adjusted the gear box screw on lots of these trucks. The only thing you need to watch is the tension. If you have to adjust it so tight the steering wheel won't return to center, or close to it, by itself its replacement time.

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

I thought about mismatched tires, or even if its the same tires but one has new tread and the other is worn. He said it wanders left & right though. If it was the tire I would figure it would be a pull toward one side. Meandering back and forth is usually loose steering and/or suspension components.

 

[JHester]

Yeah, I thought about the tires, so I went and had the scheduled rotate/balance. No change. My book should show where the adjustment screw is located. I've never done front end work before, but it all seems easy access and simple looking. NAPA for the parts?



Hester

 

[JLEONARD]

NAPA for the parts

NAPA, etc parts will be fine, but try to find heavy duty ones if you can. And IF possible try to aviod the cheap Chinese made crapolla. You don't want to re-do this in a year.

 

[Jgolden]

When you check the coupler on the steering shaft, if it as bad as some get, you will wonder what kept it together.

 

[Paychk]

NAPA for the parts

NAPA, etc parts will be fine, but try to find heavy duty ones if you can. And IF possible try to aviod the cheap Chinese made crapolla. You don't want to re-do this in a year.

The life time warranty stuff will only guaranty you a lifetime of replacing them every couple of years. Try to find Moog, TRW, ACDelco, or Spicer. Compare price, if one costs twice the other, it is usually for a good reason.

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

Amen. I've replaced my steering gear about 5-6 times now. Just because they give me a new one under warranty, doesn't mean I'm happy when it blows the top seal after 9 months... . again... .

 

[JLight]

Hey guys! My truck would wander left and right after turning and I found a seized left front axle u joint. Got two new but wrong joints and was I in a bind to have truck that I took the joint apart and it was not rusted but dry. I brake cleaned and greased the old 21 yr old joint and put it back in and its fixed! USA Parts not Chinese crap! That's when I found the brake shields rusty

 

[DVolk]

Did you check the slip joint ? also the width of the spare tire or a out of round tire