help with steering wheel.

[BIG*RED]

Hey guys, i have an oddity with my steering wheel that has got me stumped...

Sometimes while driving straight down the road the my steering wheel is in the 12 o'clock position...straight up, as it should be. Sometimes while driving down the road it is in the 3 o'clock position while driving straight, sometimes while driving down the road its in the 10 o'clock position while driving straight.

it does this as i drive. the more right turns i make the farther right it stays while driving down the road, same goes for left turns. it actually sits in the 12 o'clock position the least amount of times.

its getting really annoying as it has at times been 90 degrees off of center, i also noticed one time that i had some "delay" in the steering wheel, meaning i turn the wheel what i would consider "quite a bit" before the tires turn.

I have replaced all 4 balls joints, both tie-rod ends, and tie rod, both drag links, the draglink sleave, the pitman arm, and the power steering gear box. and blead the system. and steering wheel is tight on the colum. and i have aligned it twice, both times it was good, and just needed a minor tweek on the toe. and i can let go of the wheel while driving straight, and hold a straight line.

so what gives? why wont the steering wheel stay in the 12 o'clock position while driving straight?

oh yeah, its an 82k5, standard powersteering (meaning, not a hydro assist or anything like that) on 37inch tires

 

[lectric80]

You mention all the normal culprits except the rag joint. If it is worn out it could allow the wheel to move and be off centered even while everything else in the steering system is aligned. That's why so many have gone to an XJ shaft, since it eliminates the rag joint.

 

[ManiacalOffroad]

Almost sounds like an internal steering column issue.

 

[lectric80]

Almost sounds like an internal steering column issue.

Unless the steering shaft is broken, there is nothing in the steering column that could lead to these symptoms. The column, whether tilt or not, is simply a shaft running down to a secondary shaft that connects to the steering box. In a tilt is is complicated a bit by the universal joint, but they rarely fail and wouldn't lead to these symptoms.

 

[ManiacalOffroad]

Unless the steering shaft is broken, there is nothing in the steering column that could lead to these symptoms. The column, whether tilt or not, is simply a shaft running down to a secondary shaft that connects to the steering box. In a tilt is is complicated a bit by the universal joint, but they rarely fail and wouldn't lead to these symptoms.

I see, Ty

 

[sweetk30]

check the frame for cracks or loose bolts for the box to frame.

nice to see you on line and still kickin buddy.

 

[Avery4jc]

I second the rag joint theory. The wheel on my k3500 has a little slop between the 11:00 and 1:00 position but the truck will drive straight as an arrow down the road. I've replaced all kinds of parts and had the steering shaft out numerous times and have narrowed it down to the rag joint.
Have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth and get under the hood and hold the steering shaft. You should be able to trace it down from there... like Lectric said there is nothing to break in there so it should be 100% locked with the steering wheel. Work your way down to the rag joint and watch for slop where the joint attaches to the steering shaft.

I've explored www.rockauto.com as well as a quick search online and I've had a hard time tracing down a new rag joint. Maybe you'll have better luck.

 

[BIG*RED]

check the frame for cracks or loose bolts for the box to frame.

nice to see you on line and still kickin buddy.

Yeah when I replaced the powersteering gear box i cleaned the frame rail up real nice and gave it a good inspection, and no cracks or lose bolts. I also have th ORD steering brace.

I'll have to check out the rag joint once i get some mirrors, kinda hard to turn the wheel and watch the rag joint by yourself

*good to see a familiar name on here, seems to be a lot of new names on here*

 

[tRustyK5]

I would try to turn the wheel in a parking lot hard right til it hits the stops...then drive forward to see where the wheel is at. Repeat a couple times for left and right.

I suspect the drag link sleeve bolts might not be as tight as they should be, and when you're hitting the stops (or putting some good resistance in either direction) it's skipping over the threads a little.

Rene

 

[BIG*RED]

I would try to turn the wheel in a parking lot hard right til it hits the stops...then drive forward to see where the wheel is at. Repeat a couple times for left and right.

I suspect the drag link sleeve bolts might not be as tight as they should be, and when you're hitting the stops (or putting some good resistance in either direction) it's skipping over the threads a little.

Rene

Yeah I thought about loose sleeve bolts too, and i have them good and tight. I even took a paint pen and marked the edeges of the sleave on the threads and a week later, its still right at the marks, no movement, or "wear" on the marks to indicate movement.

 

[sweetk30]

had a brand new steering box from dealer few weeks ago that was not set right . hadd to adjust the pre load bolt 3/4 of a turn to get it to gm spec. let the truck wander all over the road and drift.