As the title states, I'm having a sloppy/wandering steering issue and I'm looking to the experts on this forum to see if I can possibly get some advice. The truck in question is a '97 LC with 278k on the clock, and 285/75R16 BFG tires. I've done tons of service recently to include the following:
- OE shocks and OME standard springs
- OE sway bar bushings
- Type 555 TREs
- OME steering dampener
- Upper and Lower Control Arm bushings with OE parts
- Panhard bushings with OE parts
- All new bushings in the rear as well with OE parts
- Rag joint was also replaced at steering column due to being worn out
As you can see, pretty much everything related to the suspension has been replaced/updated. I've done lots of reading on this forum, and have replaced the parts above in hopes of fixing this issue, but I feel like it has only gotten slightly better. I've also already checked the wheel bearings and properly torque the large nut, so I know that isn't an issue. What I'm experiencing is just a very sloppy steering, and it makes it uncomfortable to drive the truck. I constantly feel like I'm correcting the steering to keep the truck straight and when at highway speeds, this is unnerving.
Just recently, I have developed a noise that I can hear when going straight over bumps as well as turning. It definitely seems steering related and maybe that is what is causing the sloppiness? Today I took a stab at adjusting the nut/screw on the steering box in hopes of things getting better. I only took it for a short drive, and it didn't seem night and day like everyone was saying it would, so I figured making this post would be more beneficial then turning that screw more (at least not yet). FYI, I probably ended up turning the screw 90 degrees after adjusting, then driving and then adjusting again. I took a video of the steering column where the rag joint is at, as it seems like the noise I'm hearing is coming from here. Can someone tell me if this should be this loose? This seems extremely loose to me, and I'm not sure if this is the culprit, or just another side effect/issue that I'm having.
I apologize for the post sort of being all over the place, I'm just not sure where to look anymore. Its quite frustrating to put as much money into the truck that I have and things don't seem quite right.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!
Link to video:
-Andy
- OE shocks and OME standard springs
- OE sway bar bushings
- Type 555 TREs
- OME steering dampener
- Upper and Lower Control Arm bushings with OE parts
- Panhard bushings with OE parts
- All new bushings in the rear as well with OE parts
- Rag joint was also replaced at steering column due to being worn out
As you can see, pretty much everything related to the suspension has been replaced/updated. I've done lots of reading on this forum, and have replaced the parts above in hopes of fixing this issue, but I feel like it has only gotten slightly better. I've also already checked the wheel bearings and properly torque the large nut, so I know that isn't an issue. What I'm experiencing is just a very sloppy steering, and it makes it uncomfortable to drive the truck. I constantly feel like I'm correcting the steering to keep the truck straight and when at highway speeds, this is unnerving.
Just recently, I have developed a noise that I can hear when going straight over bumps as well as turning. It definitely seems steering related and maybe that is what is causing the sloppiness? Today I took a stab at adjusting the nut/screw on the steering box in hopes of things getting better. I only took it for a short drive, and it didn't seem night and day like everyone was saying it would, so I figured making this post would be more beneficial then turning that screw more (at least not yet). FYI, I probably ended up turning the screw 90 degrees after adjusting, then driving and then adjusting again. I took a video of the steering column where the rag joint is at, as it seems like the noise I'm hearing is coming from here. Can someone tell me if this should be this loose? This seems extremely loose to me, and I'm not sure if this is the culprit, or just another side effect/issue that I'm having.
I apologize for the post sort of being all over the place, I'm just not sure where to look anymore. Its quite frustrating to put as much money into the truck that I have and things don't seem quite right.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!
Link to video:
-Andy
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