DREDnot
Well-known member
- 723
- 443
- 63
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
Slowly drilling down on the loose steering/wandering issue.
Steering feel is very light and loose when centered.
Falls off easily to either side from road imperfections.
All in all, it's more of a handful to keep straight than it should be. Especially since it only has 15K miles on it.
Serviced wheel bearings. They were fine to begin with. Not the problem.
New tires didn't have any effect.
Alignment helped. Tech said all the joints were good, tight, and free. Said bushings are toast, though. Confirming my initial assessment.
Had my daughter (reluctantly) assist with a dry park test.
There was slight movement in the wasted front bushings.
A little squirm in the leaves that I don't care for.
The frame was twisting at the steering gear mount. Not cracked yet thank goodness.
But the most slop was coming from the steering shaft/pitman arm popping up down and sideways at the same time.
Not a lot, but it was that side to side slop in the steering wheel at center.
So I did the unthinkable...I actually snugged up the shaft preload adjuster...almost three quarters of a turn...Till it just took out that movement in the Sector shaft.
It got rid of virtually all side to side slop in the wheel. Still returns to center with no binding. The light feeling is gone and has a more familiar steering effort feel now.
I don't know how many times I've preached that you don't use that adjuster to "tighten up" your sloppy steering...I feel like a heathen.
I've got a ReMan steering box ordered
Got an ORD steering brace coming
Got new, greaseable poly bushings and ORD HD shackles coming.
Hopefully we'll get that "new truck" feel back.
