Hi,

There is never much discussion about suspensions on this board and I’m having a problem with mine. Hope someone can help.

The steering has become exceptionally loose. And by that, I mean, it requires about 1/2 a steering wheel input before I any steering change occurs. I gets kinda scarry on the freeway! My question is:

what is the longevity of the stock steering box?
Could the problem be hydraulic system related? Brakes feel great.

I’ve change out the old fluid for new and it didn’t help. It would be great if you could cation me about any common trouble spots for me to look at before I start radomly replacing parts. :help:

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time ahead of time.

-John

If you jack up the whole front of the truck and push/pull on the wheels you shold be able to see if the play is comming from steering components after the steering box: pitman/idler arms tie rods ect. There is an adjustment on the steering box on top. It is an allen key bolt with a lock nut. Loosen the lock nut and screw the allen bolt in until it bottoms out, back it out about 1/8th of a turn and lock it back down. Beyond that you have to look at the linkage and the steering column for play. A half a turn of play should be easy to track down.

Along the same lines with tires on the ground have some one turn the steering wheel back and forth; see what moves, when, and lines of movement. Any linkages bent and not moving as intended?

Start at the steering wheel shaft. Look at the "rubber rag joint" to the steering box (steering box rigid? frame rigid?), then box output shaft - the pitman arm, and idler arm, then tie rods.
What kind of tire wear are you getting? The type of tire and size will also have some influence here. A really bad alignment can cause some problems.

Does it drift/wander, pull, follow ruts, or "change turning/vearing sensation when correcting steering etc.

Last time i heard of 1/2 turn of play the steering box was ready to fall off, bolts holding the box had all come real loose!