84 Blazer drifting back and forth

[RaisedK5]

That sure looks like a frame crack.

 

[RJBlanton3]

New observation is the front leaf springs are moving slightly when rocking the steering wheel back and forth. which would support the front axle skating statement from many of your positive posts before this one. the movement was observed in the morning time. some moisture was observed, small drops of water, on the side of the leaf spring blades and you can see water moving out of the blades of the leaf blades as it was pulled in & out as the wheel is being rotated back and forth. next step is to see if tightening them improves the underlying issue of bump steering thus pointing to getting new blades and bolts with new supports all around. thank you all for your comments and posts. please stay tuned and I shall post new update on if tightening improved enough to order replacement materials.

 

[RJBlanton3]

View attachment 399293

That sure looks like a frame crack.

ill check on this before tightening up u-blots on the leaf springs. thanks

 

[70jimmy]

It does look like a frame crack. Inspect the leaf springs and how old are the leaf spring bushings. Have you checked wheel bearings? The other thing that the rig might benefit from is getting rid of the push pull steering and looking into crossover/high steer. Just my 2 cents.

 

[sweetk30]

Frame crack can make a lot of play . Got to fix that with a weld in repair kit and best to do a off road design bolt in kit also . Then check the leaf spring bushings .

 

[1-ton]

Steering knuckles are too tight. Won't allow easy returm to center.

 

[shady]

The sway bar can be disconnected (as many members have done) and it has no effect on the steering, so that little gap isn’t the issue. Looks like someone didn’t have the correct bolt and used the washers to take up space.

Your symptoms don’t sound exactly like this problem, but if your axle shaft u-joints are rusted/seized then it will cause a sticking while turning. Only way I know to check for this is to tear the axle apart and check for free movement of the u-joint.

You can check these u joints easy without taking them out.
Jack the front of the truck up, turn all the way to lock one way or the other, doesn't matter, then roll the front wheels.
If they bind up, or have a weird catchy feel the u-joints are bad/getting there.
If the the tires spin freely they're fine.

And not sure if you did yet, but definitely disconnect that sway bar.

 

[shady]

Forgot to mention making sure the hubs are locked to check the u joints lol.
I forgot that the first time I checked mine.

 

[Wes Harden]

My burb has unknown aftermarket front springs, the front bushings were the same diameter across whole width. When turning the front of the springs would shift back and forth in the frame brack. Even with this fault the truck steered well and did not wander high or low speed.
I have since changed the bushings to a style that hold the spring eye centered in the bracket.

 

[RJBlanton3]

View attachment 402777
It does look like a frame crack. Inspect the leaf springs and how old are the leaf spring bushings. Have you checked wheel bearings? The other thing that the rig might benefit from is getting rid of the push pull steering and looking into crossover/high steer. Just my 2 cents.

I cleaned and checked for cracks and no cracks found.
Thanks.
RJ

 

[RJBlanton3]

Thanks for the replies and support. after tightening up the u-blots for the leaf spring, no more bump steer. now my next step is to get it alined.
Thanks.
RJ