if the tie rod doesnt fix it, I cant tell from your pics but if you have a steering stabilizer try taking it off. I had a truck that would develop true death wobble for no apparent reason and finally figured out that the steering stabilizer was the issue. replacd it, well i put three on there cause they looked cool. and fixed the problem.

 

Personally, I think they're a waste. I had the exact same tires that she does, and I had no issues. I made sure everything was good (bushings, ball joints, tie rods) and never ran a stabilizer.

 

I just looked at this thread. Definatley a crack starting to form right at the radius of that cross member, looks fresh as there is no rust on it. Maybe this happened on the last off road trip and is contributing to the wild ride. Nothining a little weld'n would fix up.

 

ok so i furgured out my problem.
my ball joints are good. i took my tie rod off & the tie rod ends are good.

i did replace the bushing/boot rubber things with new ones.
& cleaned out everything found out my power steering box needs to be adjusted.

when i move my steering wheel it moves bad.
but trying to read up on how to do that before i start doing something wrong.

 

Where you been riding fence line on the back 40? Well good news on the ball joints, tie rod ends and on the boot change.

Is the play in the steering shaft under the master cylinder at either end (ck little u-joints in shaft) or actually in the box itself? Where the steering shaft comes out and the pit-man arm connects?

And clean up the underside and look into this crack some folks see in the cross member area, ok?

Side? Barrel Racer, are you a WPRA or IPRA circuit member by chance? Just curious....

 

wheres the cross member that looks like a crack at?

its moving the steering shaft comes out and connects the that arm.
like when you turn the tires that arm that connects to the steering box thing isnt tight. i heard you can just tighten it.?

 

See attached pic, top left corner. Circle in the black box. Its on the drvs side front of cross member, correct everyone?

There is a bearing where that shaft comes out, once its worn out its replacement time.

Steering box guru's correct?

 

heres some better pictures. when i was cleaning the mud off the bushing on the passenager side was just sittin above the tie rod there caked in mud.
but that blue arm thing in the first picture is what was moving but only at the bottom.

side view



front view



new bushings

 

I forgot that you have the older style system, its called "power assist" and I have NO experience on them.

But I am sure alot of Highboy owners have an idea on how to fix, hang tight for the answers.

Nice bushings, did you change them yourself? If so good for you.

 

That blue part is your pitman arm, it connects to your control valve, that connection is where you're seeing "play",
this play is normal when the truck is turned off because the power assist isn't pressurized, with the truck running and the system under pressure this play is eliminated and the connection is more responsive,
at least in theory anyway , but after nearly four decades of wear i wouldn't count on it, there should be a zerk fitting in the control valve to grease the ball stud and seats,
i noticed your zerk is missing and capped off with a small bolt, so it probably hasn't seen any lube in ages, if you need one, there is a ball stud repair kit available through DC or NPD for $50.

 

I knew that montana HB would have the answer, thanks for taking over on this one, its outa my league.

 

thanks, i did one side & my husband & his buddy did the other side.

 

thanks, yeah i know i need to replace the gear box it sqweelz when i turn but its like $200 bucks. but i had just heard there's a way to tighten it or something like that.? im not sure?