So I finally found an Ex!!! 05 in great shape(will post pics later) and I was really excited.....until I was on the 800 mile ride home and hit highway speeds(80 mph). All is good going perfectly straight. On curves in the hwy, I would turn the wheel and it would eventually grab and GO in that direction. Then I would correct and it would GO in that direction. Steering doesn't feel real loose or anything like that. If the road had any type of crown to it and the wheel caught that, look out.
I did a search here and couldn't find anything obvious. Yes, I do have the clunk when I go over bumps at low speed so I assume it needs ball joints. Correct? Is that what could be causing this?

 

It could be any number of things! First have the entire front end checked for looseness. It is also possible you have a front axle u joint that is seizing up. Mine was doing something similar. It did not want to return to center after a turn and when going down the road if you went to steer around something it would want to keep going that way until you brought it back to center. If you went over center in the opposite direction it would then go that way. Replacing the u joint fixed it for me.

Go over the integrity of the front end, then look at other things if everything checks out.

Good luck!

 

Front tire wear pattern and inflation can also be a contributing factor, especially on pavement seams.

 

Tires are Michelin LTX in great shape.

 

Steering box?

 

That could be. Is that the symptom? Adjustment or replace?

 

Steering box can be tightened but the general consensus is to get the Redhead box if you have the cash.

 

Low speed clunk, first thing I'd look at is the end links on the sway bar. Might as well check the inexpensive stuff first.

 

Dumb question but how would I test this?

 

If I was looking at the right price it didn't look that bad. Is there a way to test the steering box? Is there an easy way to test the ball joints also?

 

i'm in the same boat as you. would like to hear how this gets solved.

 

It sounds like very bad ball joints, they can wear a groove and are fine until they are disturbed (by you turning) and then the truck will shoot off in another direction due to the camber suddenly changing. I imagine many people are spurred into selling when it is ball joint time. It's expensive but not so obvious to a buyer.

 

I had that same problem. Where i seemed like a tire was loose or something. Mine was the ball joints. Fixed it and drives brand new again

 

I got a quote for $1000 for the ball joints. Didn't seem that bad considering the work required. Hopefully that's what it is.
On another note, how would I know if the shocks are bad aside from taking them off? Seems the suspension is heavy duty which makes it hard to tell for me anyway.

 

Here's a pic. I'll get more.