loose tie bar ? VIDEO

[fordsucks!]

Is it normal for the tie bar to be this loose, where I can twist it around by hand?

I'm trying to track down a clunk in my front end, but it doesn't really clunk when standing in place. Everything on driver's side is covered in fluid from leaking steering gear box. All opinions are appreciated!

 

[rampage]

The tie rod is suppose to do that.
You really need someone inside sawing the steering wheel back and forth while you look at steering components/cross members/suspension parts etc.

 

[warrpath4x4]

check the frame behind the steering box for cracks/breakage, I have heard it make a popping sound on one rig before.

 

[fordsucks!]

The tie rod is suppose to do that.
You really need someone inside sawing the steering wheel back and forth while you look at steering components/cross members/suspension parts etc.

Did that, at my house and at a shop. No clunk at standstill. I do feel a whisper of a clunk from the steering damper, but nothing from the knuckle, tie rod, or ball joints.

as soon as I'm crawling at a parking lot pace, I move the wheel left to right and it does a solid clunk through the floorboard.... just a single clunk in either direction

 

[warrpath4x4]

Did that, at my house and at a shop. No clunk at standstill. I do feel a whisper of a clunk from the steering damper, but nothing from the knuckle, tie rod, or ball joints.

as soon as I'm crawling at a parking lot pace, I move the wheel left to right and it does a solid clunk through the floorboard.... just a single clunk in either direction

if your feeling it through the floor board and at movement, have you checked your leaf spring bushings? rear bushing sits in the vicinity below your feet

 

[fordsucks!]

check the frame behind the steering box for cracks/breakage, I have heard it make a popping sound on one rig before.

Thanks. Don't see anything with naked eye but I have to do the steering box anyways, guess I'll find out then.

You think it's worth doing the steering frame brace on a stock Blazer on 31?

 

[warrpath4x4]

Thanks. Don't see anything with naked eye but I have to do the steering box anyways, guess I'll find out then.

You think it's worth doing the steering frame brace on a stock Blazer on 31?

definitely worth it, I am hoping to repair and weld the brace on my frame this weekend. mine has 33's and only 88,000 miles.

 

[rampage]

I’d be looking at loose rivets in cross members, sheared center pin bolt on the spring pad, worn bushings, motor/tran mounts. Need to look for shiny spots or places that have the dirt worn off.

 

[fordsucks!]

definitely worth it, I am hoping to repair and weld the brace on my frame this weekend. mine has 33's and only 88,000 miles.

What brand of brace are you going with?

 

[warrpath4x4]

What brand of brace are you going with?

I have a weld on brace from ORD but I am also going to build my own bolt in brace to go with it. unrelated I am also installing a Borgeson steering shaft while im in there.

 

[diesel4me]

I had an annoying POP come from under the floor in my 74 GMC K2500,mostly when turning a corner or hitting a bump,I inspected everything and found nothing wrong up front as far as suspension or steering linkage,steering box,frame cracks at the box,loose rivets...

Finally one day when I was under it changing the oil,I noticed the transmission cross member had 3/8" bolts holding it to the frame and I could spin one by hand--and it broke when I tried to tighten it..the other 3 were the same..loose and had a portion of the shank cut into by the frame..

It turned out the holes in the frame were 7/16" and someone must have used 3/8" bolts..the cross member didn't have the two other brackets that bolted to the top of the frame rail,like other trucks I had--not sure if that was factory,or someone just didn't put it back on..the frame holes for the bolts were slightly ovaled ,so I drilled them and the cross member out to 1/2" and used 1/2" bolts...it never made that popping noise on turns again and to me it felt like it actually stiffened up the frame ..

Sometimes a cab mount will make a pop noise too,if its rusted or the rubber cushion is bad,and lets the cab shift around some..

 

[fordsucks!]

I had an annoying POP come from under the floor in my 74 GMC K2500,mostly when turning a corner or hitting a bump,I inspected everything and found nothing wrong up front as far as suspension or steering linkage,steering box,frame cracks at the box,loose rivets...

Finally one day when I was under it changing the oil,I noticed the transmission cross member had 3/8" bolts holding it to the frame and I could spin one by hand--and it broke when I tried to tighten it..the other 3 were the same..loose and had a portion of the shank cut into by the frame..

It turned out the holes in the frame were 7/16" and someone must have used 3/8" bolts..the cross member didn't have the two other brackets that bolted to the top of the frame rail,like other trucks I had--not sure if that was factory,or someone just didn't put it back on..the frame holes for the bolts were slightly ovaled ,so I drilled them and the cross member out to 1/2" and used 1/2" bolts...it never made that popping noise on turns again and to me it felt like it actually stiffened up the frame ..

Sometimes a cab mount will make a pop noise too,if its rusted or the rubber cushion is bad,and lets the cab shift around some..

Thanks. The transmission was rebuilt like a thousand miles ago, and it does have new bolts on a crossmember so I will check this tonight

 

[fordsucks!]

if your feeling it through the floor board and at movement, have you checked your leaf spring bushings? rear bushing sits in the vicinity below your feet

took a closer look at the steering gear and cleaned up the frame, I think I found two cracks. what do you think? Also, is the Blazer it safe to drive for a few more days or should I just park it ?



Looks like a crack to the upper right of the bolt, and another crack at the bottom left where I was scraping to get layer of oil off

 

[Wes Harden]

Yup cracks, don't off road it, and look them over every day before and after use. If you have to drive it.
Gonna need the weld on repair. The bolt on wouldn't hurt, but if you stick with skinny 31's not necessary.

 

[warrpath4x4]

yup those are cracks, drill a small hole at the end of the crack to keep it from cracking further, use a grinder and gouge out the cracks, weld it up, then weld the patch panel on.

 

[fordsucks!]

Thank you all. Ordered the ORD plates and the brace, have an appointment for install in 3 weeks.