Archived twitchy handling

[GMincher]

O. K. people, your help/ experience would be greatly appreciated. I've graduated to a 1998 24valve 5speed 4wd. Got it for a reasonable price. Good looking truck. Handled terribly. Upon investigation I discovered a worn track arm, a left outer tie rod that wouldn't take grease and a very slightly loose lft. upper ball joint. All of these items are now new Moog units and the front end alignment checked by a very good friend and front end man. I gave the steering box a very slight adjustment about 1/2 turn. Now at this time there is little to no play between steering wheel and front wheels. However on reasonable roads it tends to hunt and dive like the front axle is shifting slightly over any undulation. This is my first 2nd gen Cummins, darn I loved my 88, even my old 69 handled tighter, grease fittings and leaf springs rule!!!!. Is there an inherent problem that I'm missing or is this the nature of this stiffly sprung beast? Any help or advice would be great.

 

[bmoeller]

Welcome to the TDR!



Is there any side-to-side play with the steering box output shaft? Some have had to get a steering stablizer to stop it.



http://www.solidsteel.ca/DSS.htm

 

[Andy Redmond]

Do a search on the "brent alignment specs. . that will cure some wander.



The caster is important for good handling.



Ingall's Engineering (CO) makes excellent adj. caster camber sleeves/replacemet upper ball joints to make for easy alignment.



You have addressed most everything else, unless the alignment tech finds other worn parts.



The "Darin Steering stablizer" or DSS is a good investment as well.



Good luck

Andy

 

[dseabaugh]

wheels aimed straight ahead without toe in will dive in all directions. The cheap chevrolet steering gear box on these things also is bad about the pitman shaft going from side to side . The kit from Darrin Tessier fixes that. Don't count on a new track bar being good either. I had one track bar replaced under 200 miles.

 

[GMincher]

Thanks everybody, This may be a case of simply not being used to the beast. I have to get it through Md. inspection on Monday and figured it'd be worth asking if I was missing anything! My goodness that 24 valve runs good!! I'm not sure which I like to hear better, the truck or the bike!!! Thanks again, Greg

 

[AKAMAC]

GM,

Just for grins and giggles can you get the alignment settings from your friend and post them? There are a lot of smart guys here that can give you some good info if we have some from you.

The FE will kill its self if it is out wack. I had my 01. 5 done at 500 miles and the truck rides like it is on rails at 73000 miles. Factory specs are just that, specs, they don't mean they are the best, just within limits. Hope that all you have done is enough to repair what was obviously a factory spec release, it's amazing how a simple thing like a proper alignment will save you a lot of money!

Tow on... ... ... Mike