1989 K5. Lifted w/play in the wheel.

[Chris Sullivan]

New to the group. Thought it would be a good idea to buy a K5 with my son and work on it together. Problem is we do t have any experience at all. Called friend over because it wouldn't start. He said it's because it ran out of gas. I hope that helps everyone understand where we are starting from. Good news is I have friends that help me out.
Truck is lifted but too much play in the wheel. Very dangerous to me, especially on the highway. I see making adjustments in steering box, pitman arm replacement. Is there a kit to add to the stock to adjust foe the lift?

 

[Bent77]

Before you do anything, chock the wheels and have someone else steer left and right and look at what is/isn’t moving.

It’s not uncommon for the leaf springs and/or bushings to move, the joint on front of the box, or even the frame where the box is bolted

 

[Wes Harden]

Welcome @Chris Sullivan

Please do not attempt to adjust the steering box. If the box needs adjustment something is wrong with it.
You've come to the right place, in recent months this has been covered fairly well. I will find and link them, you can read them and ask questions here.
Congrats on your great father and son project.

 

[Wes Harden]

Here is one of the threads. Please check it out and then lets us know what questions you may have.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/83-k5-sloppy-steering-with-videos.347553/

 

[Chris Sullivan]

Here is one of the threads. Please check it out and then lets us know what questions you may have.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/83-k5-sloppy-steering-with-videos.347553/

Here is one of the threads. Please check it out and then lets us know what questions you may have.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/83-k5-sloppy-steering-with-videos.347553/

https://www.motorcityk5.com/i-13532-crossover-steering-system-69-91-blazer.html.

Would this work along with a redhead steering box?

 

[Wes Harden]

If the red head box turn counter clockwise (cross over needs opposite box direction from stock) and you have a flat top passenger side knuckle to be removed and machined for new steering arm in that kit then yes. You generally don't "need" to do cross over steering till @ the 6" + lift range.

All that said you could do the switch for cross over and find you still have issues. Need to inspect ans find the worn broken parts, then purchase the parts for repair and or upgrade.

 

[ZooMad75]

Yeah I agree don’t go throwing the baby out with the bathwater just yet. These things have known issues with sloppy steering. Visually inspect like Bent advised. Get under it as your boy cranks the wheel side to side.

Slip can be found starting at the rag joint on the input side of the box. The gearbox may not be bolted tight to the frame and or the frame is cracked around the three mount points for the box. This is very common with age and a lift and larger than stock tires. You’ll see the frame and or box flexing before the wheels start to turn.

Steering drag link ends can be worn out as well as the tie rod ends. Your ball joints on the knuckles could be loose too.

The gearbox itself could be worn out which will come with loose/wander type feel.

Last up is worn leaf spring bushings. This will allow the springs to squirm side to side with steering input.


You could have one thing or any combination of the above that gives a loose feeling to the entire system. Converting to crossover if the other items are still wiped out will keep your problem front and center and have you really scratching your head.

Keep this in mind all of those issues are totally fixable, even a cracked frame. ORD has an excellent brace to support the steering box and does also sell a weld in plate kit to fix and strengthen the frame in that area. The rag joint was a horrible design right out of the gate and can be fixed by swapping in an intermediate shaft from a ‘95 or earlier jeep cherokee (xj). There are multiple threads on how to make the switch.

The rest are basic stock replacement parts if you find anything worn. Ball joints, rod ends and bushings.

Keep this in mind that truck is 25 years old. It’s a leaf spring truck so even when new they weren’t sports cars, but they shouldn’t be loose. Add in a lift and larger tires and stuff sees a little more abuse. I would not be surprised in the least if you have to rebuild the front end just from the age/miles. Look it over thoroughly and if you are unsure take video and post it up. We’ve all been through it here.

Welcome to the sickness.

 

[Blue85]

It is possible that when the truck was lifted, the steering angle wasn't corrected and that's exacerbating the other issues. See https://ck5.com/forums/threads/stoc...robably-should-not-use-what-you-think.329820/

It would be helpful to post some pictures of the steering setup, but even more helpful to take a video of all the parts moving while someone is steering the wheel back and forth. Nobody can look at their magic 8-ball and tell you over the internet which part(s) is the problem. However, observing it in action will bring things to light very quickly.