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K30 steering woes

Cucv_M1008

Cucv_M1008

Cthulhu Forever
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So I took the k30 for a few test drives and it feels like the steering is so sloppy and all over the place I feel I have to drive it like a boat and over correct my steering. I have hydro assist with a steering box that 4x4high rebuilt around 2010, but has about 4000 miles on it. I have pitbull radial rockers tires. I have never had it aligned because there isn't much to align. Now I have only driven it on a winding road and that doesn't help. Would old shocks and old springs contribute to this or is this how they drive and I'm just not used to it . I don't see any cracks on the frame, it's also re enforced.

Cross over steering, no rag joint, double d joint, Dana 60, hydro assist. Tie rod probably needs new tie rod ends.
 
check your toe in. How big are the Pitbulls ? Wheel bearing nice and tight ? retorque the springs front and rear. The d60 is new, hydro steer was on old axle?
 
Wes Harden said:
check your toe in. How big are the Pitbulls ? Wheel bearing nice and tight ? retorque the springs front and rear. The d60 is new, hydro steer was on old axle?
Click to expand...
I need to get the alignment checked, wheel bearings seem OK but I will re check, the Hydro assist was put on when we lifted it but it had the 6.2 diesel, the pump is a new pump installed with the Ls swap. 60 is original. Tires are 37 12.50 17
 
Does your K30 return to center on its own after a turn, or do you have to force it to return to center after a turn? Worn out tie rod ends can make steering sloppy.
 
Did it drive okay after you lifted it before this last drive? What is you caster? You don’t have shims throwing that off do you? Caster can cause some wacky steering…I’d replace anything worn first and go from there. Worn king pin springs can cause wander too.
 
Chickntrk said:
Did it drive okay after you lifted it before this last drive? What is you caster? You don’t have shims throwing that off do you? Caster can cause some wacky steering…I’d replace anything worn first and go from there. Worn king pin springs can cause wander too.
Click to expand...
It's has not been driven for 7 years so I can't remember. I don't think it's the king pin springs, I replaced them when I got the truck in 2009 and it only has like 4000 miles on it in 12 years, but I will look into new springs and washers. I don't have any shims in the front is that's what you mean by shims. I'll make an appointment to have the alignment checked.
 
I use a set of these to check/set my toe. They paid for themselves already.
www.tmrcustoms.com

DIY Toe Alignment Tool – TMR Customs

TMR Customs stocks the tools to get your off-road project finished! Check out the DIY Toe Alignment tool and save the cost of an alignment after a rough off-road use!
www.tmrcustoms.com www.tmrcustoms.com
You can visually see if you have caster on your axle by taking off the tire and looking at the relationship of the top and bottom of the "c" , the top where the kingpin is should be tilted towards the back of the truck. If it's nearly vertical then the truck will wander and not return the center.
 
cheavyk10 said:
I use a set of these to check/set my toe. They paid for themselves already.
www.tmrcustoms.com

DIY Toe Alignment Tool – TMR Customs

TMR Customs stocks the tools to get your off-road project finished! Check out the DIY Toe Alignment tool and save the cost of an alignment after a rough off-road use!
www.tmrcustoms.com www.tmrcustoms.com
You can visually see if you have caster on your axle by taking off the tire and looking at the relationship of the top and bottom of the "c" , the top where the kingpin is should be tilted towards the back of the truck. If it's nearly vertical then the truck will wander and not return the center.
Click to expand...
Can I borrow yours lol
 
I just use a tape measure on the tires. Pick the same tread block on the front and rear of the tires. Good enough for the amount of slop and imprecision built into our trucks and oversize tires. I gave up on alignment shops when I found DIY gives better results (because nobody really cares except you). In general, any alignment done without weight on the suspension and normal ride height is worthless. (4-wheel alignment is harder, but we're talking about squares).

That and do all the usual stuff where somebody steers (with assist) while you look around for slop and take a prybar to all the wear items. It's common to think "oh my, I have to replace everything" when there is just one bad bushing or worn joint to blame. Knowledge is power.
 
Pretty much what’s already been said.

Check toe (want to be slightly toe in), caster, tie rod ends, and spring bushings. These things are kind of boat like but not too bad. I noticed when i had the spool in the rear it was worse.

ORD’s sway bar made it really nice to drive on the street.
 
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