I've been looking for a cube truck. I went to see one yesterday, a GMC Sierra 3500 HD. It's well maintained, good tires, new batteries, not too many miles, and has a pick up cab which is what I'm looking for.

Only problem is the steering is sloppy. Driving down the city street at 20-30mph, I had to correct the steering constantly.

According to the seller, the previous owner replaced some parts in the front end, but didn't get a chance to have it aligned.

I had him turn the wheel back and forth while I looked under the hood, and that's where I noticed a round plastic cup thing on the end of the steering column is split in two. It looks like its there to shield the coupling.

My suspicion is something isn't right in the steering column. If all the worn parts have been replaced, and it only needs alignment, wouldn't that eliminate any play in the steering, and at worst, only cause the truck to pull to one side?

I'm curious what you all think. I'm still interested in the truck, but I need an idea of what it's gonna cost me in terms of time and money to get at the steering column. Or rather, what it would cost the seller to fix this problem and get top dollar for his truck.

 

If it was me, I'd see if the guy would let me take it in for an estimate. If you're willing to pay serious money for this truck, it's worth a few bucks to check out the situation.

The only alignment issue that I THINK would act like that it would be caster, but I'm no expert. It definitely could be a number of things wrong with the steering.

If the guy won't let you take it to the garage of your choice, I'd walk away from it. But that's me.

Good Luck,

hj

 

It'll need parts. Either bushings, steering box rebuilt. Just out of alignment would cause shaking, bad tire wear etc, not sloppy(play in steering).

 

nvm... bought a powerstroke on Friday.. steering's straight as an arrow..

 

FWIW, that is the rag joint. Easy fix

 

A toast rag joint can and will make a otherwise tight steering seem like its worn out. Thats how it was with my 78 Mercury. But the gear box still does have slack in it though but its not as bad as it was.

The other thing that can cause wandering and cosntantly correcting your path with the wheel can be the following.

1. Type of tire, if its biasply they are known to wander and follow the grooves of the road. If it is radial then this is eliminated.

2. Toe, it can cause wander but there are some cases where tire wear wont be seen. If you have excessive toe in or toe out then you will have excessive wear on one side of the tire but if you are off just the right amount you will not wear your tires but you will wander. My 78 mercury is set to specifications but driving on the roads here some roads you have to tilt the steering wheel because alot of the new remade roads here dont have the road crown which the alignment on my 78 was designed to compensate so driving on the non crowned roads with the alignment causes the car to pull to one side.

3. Caster can cause it as well but if it was caster you would have an issue with your steering wheel not returning after making a turn. A tight gear box can cause the same thing if you made adjustments to the gear box to take the slop out.

I know it doesnt matter but I just wanted to put that out there just as a fyi.