Check the track bar bushings as well. The steering may feel "loose" but it could be your front axel wandering a little if the bushings are no good.

 

if the ball joints are not installed correctly they will be too tight, (even following the instructions they can get too tight) this will not let the caster keep the truck going strait and you will have to correct it with steering. doing this you will notice any play that is in the steering gear and tie rod ends.

 

yep i have replaced i think every single o ring anywhere around or on top of the motor. and within the past 3 months a new cps, new idm, new under valve cover wiring harnesses(thanks to a slight accident in doing the 50 cent mod) with new valve cover gaskets. but hopefully my problems are fixed for awhile. as for the tightening the steering box, is there a write up anywhere for that? i might attempt it tomorrow. and the tie rod bushings? wouldnt i have to replace the whole thing?

 

sorry i meant the trak bar bushings

 

Compliments of Stewart_H

How To Adjust Your Steering Box:

Locate the allen head bolt and locknut on top of the steering box (close to the radiator). I believe the locknut is 5/8".

Mark the allen bolt so you can tell the orientation that you started from and then loosen the locknut.

Turn the allen bolt clockwise a quarter turn to tighten the gear mesh. Tighten the locknut back up and take her for a spin.

In reading posts by others who have done this, the allen bolt seems to get turned somewhere between three-quarters of one full rotation, and one and one-half full rotation before people are happy with the results. For my Excursion, I tightened mine almost one full rotation before I was happy.

Be careful, because if you over-tighten the nut, the steering may be so tight as to get extremely stiff on a turn, causing you to veer off course.

Repeat the tighten and test drive until you're satisfied with the performance.

If you over tighten, turn back the allen bolt a quarter turn counter clockwise.

There is a risk of over tightening the box and causing it to wear out prematurely, so I tightened it to the point where the slop was gone, and no further.

Stewart

 

We always buy used and let someone else take the hit on the new one... I will admit though that I have usually had to work on them for a while to get them the way I wanted.......but it's still cheaper than new.

 

thanks for the help. im going to give this a try tomorrow

 

Have you done a power steering flush? I just did mine and it seem to help a little on the wondering, but I know a lot of my wondering is from bad tie rods and track bar bushing.


Also is the 2010 bed a direct match for our year trucks? I know the tail gate is different just wondering about the bed.


Thanks......Tom

 

Its just one large bolt on each end. Easy to remove and install. Just need to get the track bar to a shop that has a press. Takes quite a bit to get the old ones out. The new ones, if you get the urethane ones, usually comes in two halves. Those can be pressed in wih a bench vise.