HELP! Handling is touchy and the front wheels randomly locked up

[Kenneth3]

Hey, guys!

Thought I would finally break down, and join the group. I've been a silent outsider reading all the great post, but I've come to a point where I need your expertise. (BTW Let me know if you need and BMW help in trade... LOL... seriously)

I have an '89 Chevy Silverado Blazer 4WD. It has less than 80k miles, and is bone stock (seriously, minus a heater core nothing has been touched), and never been mudding. It's been in my family since it was purchased new, and it hurts to see it sit and not get used. As we all know, not good to let anything sit.

ISSUE:

I was driving home from work, and needed to make a quick lefthand turn since some bitch ran a red light with me stuck in the intersection. When I did I avoided any accident, but the steering didn't return to center. It pulled hard to the left, and didn't want to straighten out, but a few blocks later on my way to the nearest gas station it wanted to stay straight. When I applied steering input (slight back and forth) it was really dead feeling, but with a little more input it would want to dart. When I pulled into the parking lot the front wheel not sure which one (honestly felt like both) locked. They chirped acrossed the parking lot. I backed up, pulled forward, backed up pulled forward, etc. I was is 2WD at the time, so that leads me to believe that the issue lies in the front diff or the hub area (lockers, hub joints, etc). It seemed to correct itself from locking, but the steering issue has remained sketchy at best. It's a handful on country roads, so I've had to park it.

I'm currently working on installing the wheel joints, as I suspect that may be the cause. I could chase this problem from one pivot point to another, but I thought I would check with the experts, and see if the wheel lockup AND steering issues have happen to anyone else.

Any help you could pass along would be MUCH APPRECIATED. I just took a break from inspecting more joints, rods, etc, and surfing K5 for answers. Ok, back to it...

thanks in advance.

Ken

 

[4X4HIGH]

I would first check the fluid level in the P/S pump. If the level is full and it still feels like it has power steering then I would suspect a problem with the spool valve inside the steering box (this means a remanned steering box is in your future). As fas as the wheel(s) locking up that could be caused from wheel bearings, sticky brake caliper, or even a bad rubber brake hose.

 

[tRustyK5]

Have a helper cycle the steering back and forth while you watch all the pivot points. Steering box has a pitman arm which is attached to the drag link with a drag link end, then an adjuster sleeve, and another drag link end and connects to the steering arm at the diff on the driver's side. Watch the drag link ends for any movement. There is a big bar in front of the diff going from one side to the other. This is your tie rod. Watch the ends for any wierd movement...there should be any.

Watch the steering box for any movement and or squirming at the frame where it mounts.

Watch where the diff is bolted to the springs, there should be no movement there at all.

Next get the wheels off the ground and the diff on stands. Pull up and towards you from the bottom of the tire. It should not move much if at all. Anything more than about 1/4" at the bottom means the ball joints are in need of replacing.

Remove the tires. Give the rotors a spin...they should both spin somewhat easily. You're checking for a siezed caliper, bad wheel bearings etc.

Lastly, do you still have the auto locking hubs? They could be engaged and in need of replacement...although that's a bit of a long shot IMO.

Rene