wandering steering

[jakecorn]

I have a 1990 W250 with about 150,000 miles on it. Going down the road, worse on gravel roads, the truck wants to wander and is very sensitive when I try to correct the wander. I have replaced the pitman arm, and steering sector, didn't see any cracks on the mounting plate, and also installed a borgerson steering shaft. Going down the road the truck looks like it dog tracks some, but I had the alignment checked and it was correct. Any ideas and thanks a lot in advance. I have learned a lot of used a lot of the advice on this website by searching the forums.



Jason

 

[ARhine]

spring eye bushings in good shape?



Also the rivets on the front spring hangars tend to loosen up over time. I have cut mine and my dads out an replaced with gade 8 bolts.

 

[jakecorn]

What do you mean by spring eye bushings?

 

[csnider]

Another thought is check your lower king pin (front axle steering joint) some people put adjustable king pins to adjust the camber. could of gone loose and is rotating. Also there were adjustable king pin bushings (top of joint) that could fail and cause rotation of the concentric bushing. . Both these were/are aftermarket products that the previous owner may have installed. . maybe just the orig top king pin bushings are worn. they are made out of some kind of nylon or plastic , held together by a spring loaded plate on top. . you have to get the weight off the front axle to check the bushings... Just a thought... Are your tires wearing oddly in the front?

Also turn your steering wheel all the way left to all the way right with engine running and listen/feel for any kind of "clunk"... .

 

[EZGZ]

all good advice, where can I get those nylon King pin bushing you speak of?

 

[csnider]

last time i bought the bought the upper king pin bushings, i got them at a local jeep 4x4 shop. . fairly cheap an easy install. you may have to do front alignment after. .

 

[ARhine]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PR-Kingpin/index.html



Good article on a full (upper and lower) kingpin rebuild. He makes a big fancy kinpin wrench, but a friend of mine that works in an axle shop says he usually has to just weld a long piece of bar stock directly to the old uppper kingpin and use that to break them loose. Just replacing the upper bushings is simple though.



By spring eye bushings I am refering to the rubber or polly bushings in the ends of the leaf springs. If they get sloppy they will alow the steering to move the axle instead of turning the wheels. Same holds true to if the spring hangars get loose on the frame.

 

[DISLSMOKE]

I had the same problem 2 months ago. I bought a remaned steering box (gear) and it fixed the problem. Don't ask me why or what was going on I have no idea. The truck would pull to the right and be touchy when i corrected, then fix itself, then do it again. I also replaced everything in the front end. But to try it, the upper kingpin bushings are cheaper and easyer than a new box. Good luck.