All of a sudden a few days ago my truck started steering weird, it feels like the power steering is out but theres no way I would be able to turn at all stopped with my swampers. Going down the road it goes left or right I have to keep turning the wheel slightly left and right all the way down the road. So I find myself driving from left line to right line, there is no medium and it feels stiffer than it did a few days ago. And now I can turn the wheel about 4-5 inches in either direction and it stays there and will keep turning instead of straitening out like it used to.... Anyone know what would be causeing this, its kinda scary to drive, I have to pay attn at all times or it may turn into someone next to me, and i wont even bring up the freeway...Scary. Please help.

 

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Sounds like you better check your ball joints out. I don't think that I would drive it anymore untill I found the source of the problem.

 

I second that. Get it checked ASAP.

 

I had the same problem when I first bought my used 2000. I found that the steering box had excessive play in it. I adjusted the steering box and it helped a lot.

 

Could be that. I had a mechanic tighten it up about a month ago tho. It feels extremly weird, never driven a vehicle that didnt return (at all) after turning it, it just keeps turning. Not Fun!

I went to an alignment shop today, I told them I had to wait for it so they said ok come in at 2:30, I got there and gave them my keys sat there for 45 minutes and then they came and told me they couldnt get to it today....?!?!?!?! This place is 30 minutes from my house. So I have to go back in the morning. Hopefully they find the problem and its not serious. Ill let you know what the verdict is.

 

How big are the swampers? Might have smoked the P/S fluid, or the pump, and maybe even the gearbox. Any abnormal noises...like the belt slipping on the pump? Any problems with brake pedal pressure?

 

Also make sure your steering stabilizer isnt worn out, with tires that big you might want to invest in a duel stabilizer setup also.

 

If you want the full instructions on adjusting your steering box, I can provide them (you really don't want to go there). Here's what I did. First confirm that the play is in your steering box by having someone turn the wheel within the "free play"(engine off, ignition on) and see that the pittman arm is not moving (follow all the linkages from there to the wheels and see there's no play else where). Jack up the front end and put it on jackstands. Loosen the locknut on the top of the steering box. Use an allen wrench (while holding the locknut with a wrench) and screw in the allen bolt till it seats. Back it out and reseat it a couple of times, you want to have a VERY little preload on it. Hold the allen wrench steady and secure the locknut. Turn the steering wheel from stop to stop and ensure there is no rough spots or excessive drag on the wheel. When in doubt, loosen nut and back out a quarter of a turn and secure lock nut. Turn lock to lock again, then take it out for a test drive. The correct procedure states that you put an inch lbs torque wrench on the steering wheel nut and adjust the preload for a specific reading. With that in mind, we have a little leeway to deal with. BTW - I don't have a steering stabalizer shock on my 4x4, so I wouldn't put too much time in that until you're sure that the box and linkages are O.K. I do get a little pissy when people don't listen, of course I could be wrong. But your problem sounds exactly like mine and it wasn't that hard to fix. If I'm wrong, I'll definitely buy a round for who ever shows up, heck, I might even send you a 6'er of Mojave Red!

 

it has a dual stabilizer

It was the steeing box... The guy loosened it up and it fixed the problem, that was after checking everything else. Said he took it down 1 1/2 turns and that it was alot... Is it possible it tightened up on its own??? Thats not possible is it. Why would it have happened all of a sudden...? He said everything else was perfect and that it all worked the way its supposed to, and that everything else was in extremly good condition, (hehe it should ive replaced most of it). He was actually shocked, saying usually when theyre lifted that high things are worn pretty bad under there. So that made me feel better. Its comfortable to drive again, YEAHHHHH!!!! Thanks for all your input.

 

I forgot how many miles were on the truck?? But, I doubt that it did something on it's own. The most important check, when doing the "shade tree mechanics" fix, is to check for any rough spots turning the steering wheel "lock to lock" or left to right and back to the left. It is very weird that these "new" trucks need the steering box adjusted so soon. When I was in high school auto shop (don't ask how long ago), my teacher was an investigator for the Chevy plant. He told us some wild stories of these bored assemblers. I'm just glad I could help, especially after my lil hissy fit at the end???? This is an awesome site and these guys are top notch.

 

Yes it is, and yes they are. Thanks again everyone. Im praying for a problem-free year. (next year) Besides the doorlocks of course :P

 

Roaky,

Don't send Mojave Red! You need to conserve the stock.

Send Mojave Greens instead! But send 'em to that alignment shop that made Nick come back a second day to accomplish a simple task. ;-)))

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