touchy steering
touchy steering
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New User
Joined: Jan 2007
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That might help. Haven't taken the damper off and tried it by hand yet. I thought maybe if the damper was bad I would get some shimy or shake in the steering wheel when I hit bad road at high speed. So far, no shimy or shake, just very touchy response to steering wheel.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: South East, Michigan
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Albuquerque
It's been my experience that you really have to take a good look at the entire steering gear. Steering box, king pins and connecting links. Also the wheel bearings. The linkage can be a culprit even if it looks good. Squeezing the tie rod ends with a large pair of pliers will reveal wear.
My steering is actually quite tight now on my 77.
My steering is actually quite tight now on my 77.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by beartracks
It's been my experience that you really have to take a good look at the entire steering gear. Steering box, king pins and connecting links. Also the wheel bearings. The linkage can be a culprit even if it looks good. Squeezing the tie rod ends with a large pair of pliers will reveal wear.
My steering is actually quite tight now on my 77.
My steering is actually quite tight now on my 77.
He means check it out careful like when he said "take a good look".
Lack of steering resistance/feel maybe a problem for you, it never was for me.
Where I had a problem was when some looseness/slop wore into the system and steering it straight down the road especially when it was windy (almost always-is here). Bought my pickup new and right from the start it didn't steer worth a crap. :/ The wheels were way too stinkin narrow and so even the little stock tires made the pickup squirrely as anything.
Say again. What's your tire size and wheel width?
Spacey;), betcha you'll find some play if you have someone rock the steering wheel for you and get under there and feel for it too. ;)
Alvin in AZ
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Make sure your front springs aren't worn out either.
Most good alignment shops won't even bother doing an alignments on these trucks if the coil springs are worn out.
Overly-Domed roads also play havoc with steering.
Most good alignment shops won't even bother doing an alignments on these trucks if the coil springs are worn out.
Overly-Domed roads also play havoc with steering.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Eustis FL
Sounds like you might need some more toe-in, if the steering parts are good..
If aligned straight ahead, your front tires will tend to follow any imperfection in the road, and seem sensitive. Adding toe-in will help that out a lot. I suggest having alignment checked; at the very least, a shop may set toe-in for you as low as $20. Also keep your tire pressure a few lbs below the max rated inflation.
If aligned straight ahead, your front tires will tend to follow any imperfection in the road, and seem sensitive. Adding toe-in will help that out a lot. I suggest having alignment checked; at the very least, a shop may set toe-in for you as low as $20. Also keep your tire pressure a few lbs below the max rated inflation.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by spacegun
tire size is 16.5/12/35. It's a 4x4 camper special series, 6500#. Very rough suspension. I may have to have a leaf taken out of the springs at some time to make it it a little easier on my back.
If so, that's not a good sign right there, for good steering. :/
Now. :) What's the wheel width? ;)
Also what all have you found "play" in?
Alvin in AZ
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touchy steering
The rims should be 10 or 12 in wide. Have not had a chance to check for wear yet. At the wheel there seems to be no play at all. As I said earlier, there is absolutely no shake or shimmy.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
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When taller tires are installed often times more toe in is needed. I laugh when people try and cover up a bad alignment with shocks mounted on the linkeage. If the entire front end is set up right the only time you need more dampening is when a load is applied. A load applied to the rear of a truck with I beams in the front creats a change in the linkeage geometry. The first noitice of this is touchy steering. Proper alignment (not at sears), tire pressure and make sure you have your rig aligned with the load you usually carry. If you carry a camper much of the time have the camper installed when you take it for alignment.
Toe on these trucks can be set with a simple old tapemeasure and a nail. Surpriseingly accurate results can be obtained with this method.
Toe on these trucks can be set with a simple old tapemeasure and a nail. Surpriseingly accurate results can be obtained with this method.
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