Another sloppy steering thread, but...

IROCmenace · Feb 2, 2016

I have searched for days, diagrams, youtube, forums. But I still have 2-3 inches of wheel play and haven't found that magic part I missed. I have replaced:

1 year ago----
Idler setup - Moog
Pitman - Moog
All tie rods - Moog
Lower ball joints - Moog
Drag link - Moog
Upper control arm with ball joint - Dorman
Steering Gear - Master Pro from O'reilly (and I think that is the problem...)
Hi side line
Alignment

2 weeks ago----
Intermediate shaft w/ rag joint - Dorman

None of this fixed it...... it might be slightly better but not much.

It is a 1996 Z71 so I don't think I have the Evo setup, The tires are near the end of service life. But it is all stock suspension and wheels.

I have heard of people adjusting the boxes, most just doing the preload on top. But I would hope that I wouldn't need to do that on a gear straight out of the box.

Any ideas?

michael hurd · Feb 2, 2016

Well the box certainly could be the issue, but without diagnosis, you are tossing money and parts at it. Get someone to give you a hand diagnosing it if you can't find the problem yourself.

IROCmenace · Feb 2, 2016

Diagnosing led me to the replacements and here. Ball joints squealed when turning, boots gone, tie rods acted like a bobble head. Only real guess part was the shaft because from what I can tell when I turn the shaft by hand the pitman moves, barely any delay. I got my son to turn the steering wheel when I watched the shaft and I couldn't see any delay. Very frustrating.

SLmateo · Feb 3, 2016

Seems like you know what your doing but when I did my tire rods I just guesstimated tightening them down. This week i went back and torqued everything to spec, including bjs, and it took out about the inch of play I had.

Ironhead · Feb 3, 2016

I once owned a vehicle with lots of slop in the steering, and it drove me crazy, so I can relate to your situation.

I solved my problem by going over the entire front end, including wheel bearings, steering rod joints, king pins (it was a very old car), and then the steering box itself. There were two adjustments on the steering box, but first, I replaced the ball bearings and the bushings in the box. The end play (for the steering wheel shaft, was adjust.ed with shims under the end plate. This was done with the box dry (no lube), until there was absolutely no perceptible play. Then, the sector shaft play was adjusted using the adjustment screw and locknut on the top of the box. I had a friend help with this, as I needed to be under the car when the wheel was turned to see the pitman arm move, and follow the movement by eye right out to the steering knuckles.

Hope this kinda long story helps you solve your problem.

heavyjunk · Feb 6, 2016

Make sure your box bolts and nice and tight. Steering box bolts on my ol Dodge worked loose and gave me a lot of slop, torqued em back up and it was tight again.

Also it couldn't hurt to check the box adjustments, everything wears in a little.

michael hurd · Feb 6, 2016

Also, check to make sure the frame isn't cracked near the box..... that will certainly give you sketchy steering.

Another sloppy steering thread, but...

IROCmenace

Newbie

michael hurd

Stalker be gone.

IROCmenace

Newbie

SLmateo

I'm Awesome

Ironhead

I'm Awesome

heavyjunk

Oh cool I can change this

michael hurd

Stalker be gone.

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