This guy is discussing the test and makes an “at home” test method.

 

I did the ball joints back in 2012 and everything else but the steering box in 2017. UGHHHHHH... does it really wear out that fast?

 

Couldn’t tell for sure until you tested them. You certainly would not be the first person that had a steering box that didn’t last long also. How many miles have you put on it?

 

there is a reason, lets find it

step 1.
what is your ride height at all 4 corners ? center of hub to fender lip ?

step 2.
fo you have the print out from your last alignment ?


edit... Ball joints do not wear from time, rather milage. how many miles on yours ?

if you drove 10,000 miles a year for the last year then yes 80k miles is about their service life. give or take

 

probably original.. 302k miles

 

sorry meant on the new ball joints and other new steering components

 

steering box is probably the OE.
Ball joints probably 75k / 8yrs old
All new steering linkage including track bar in 2017/2018.
Just installed new wheel hubs 4 days ago.

 

What brand Ball joints? I was lucky to get that mileage from moogs. I quit using them in spite of ‘free’ replacements...

Test BJ’s by jacking tire just off the ground and use a long prybar to lift tire while looking at BJ’s for movement/play. It helps to have an assistant for this.

 

pretty sure I bought the moog problem solver ball joints.

 

What is toe set at? That's the first thing I would look at for wandering steering.

 

I understand.. but I'm quite certain it's a worn out part.. just need to identify it.

 

Well, if you decide to go with a new gear, the ones I noted below would be my choices.

BlueTop or West Texas Offroad (WTO) and then a RedHead.

I had my steering gear explode on me just as I was parking the truck to start a 8 day camping trip after we had backed the 5th wheel in. It was the original gear with ~230,000 miles on it and it had a cover that was in a diamond shape with only 2 bolts. The only others I have seen online or in stores have a square top with 4 bolts. So, I think my gear was really old and had served the truck well for 2 decades.

I replaced it with an AutoZone gear because I needed to get the truck on the road again quickly. Luckily another FTE'r drove 3 hours one way to help me out and good thing he did too because he brought some crow foot wrenches that were critical to the job. 6 months later I replaced the AutoZone gear because it was leaking. I used their "lifetime warranty" replacement plan and I was just hoping that was a one off issue. The second AutoZone gear is leaking as well and the pitman arm shaft has some play in it vertically.

This is probably one of my issues causing loose steering, but life has been busy to say the least. I have about an inch of play in the steering wheel when turning and it drives me nuts. I plan to rebuild the front end with all new components, bars, ball joints, unit bearings, etc... One of the replacement parts will be a BlueTop or WTO steering gear.

 

Im happy with my bluetop thus far. My oem box on the 03 had about 202k on it and it had alot of slop. Drives nice and tight and has a heavier "feel" to the steering

 

call me crazy... but the steering box feels tight. I think its sumptn else...

 

It may be worth checking your 4x4 u joints. Mine were rusted which caused binding in the steering, the truck would wander as if it had a mind of its own.