My truck is NOT wandering anymore! Thanks guys. Truck is back from shop

[DK5]

Sounds like I list I could get done in an afternoon, no problem! You sure you wanna drop that much coin at a shop for something relatively easy to do on your own?

I know.. no time and no place to work on it right now. Its just gotta get done. And the shop will have it done in the morning whereas it would take me a weekend at least. I just hope that this solves the problem!

Next time around when I have my own shop I'll do ALL the work, and it will be on my Dana 60 that I don't have yet

Oh, no. It's very likely. Trust me. Like I stated back in the first few pages of this thread, it's the front axle u-joints. I've been there.

After myself and others affirmed it was the axle joints the OP decided to check out and replace other items with little success. So, here we are with the same problem. Don't get me wrong, everything that Confed suggested is all good things to check, but they've all been covered early on in the thread.

And I thank you all for your help. Everything that has been mentioned in this thread has been covered on my K5 at least once or twice at three different shops. Now, how thorough they were while doing the inspections, I'm not sure. I was told that everything was fine and that the steering box was definitely the problem. Well I replaced that with a good one and found out the the old one was fine and the problem is still there! So, its time to just start replacing parts regardless of what these shops have told me.

The big, glaring problem at this point is that DK5 is now having only one side done. Which is fine. But if the problem still exists after the ONE SIDE is done he's gonna question whether or not that was the issue. But the reality is that the OTHER SIDE will need the same repair. So, DK5, keep that in mind after you get the truck back from the shop, and plan on getting the drivers side done when funds allow.

Well I suppose I could have the shop do both axle joints. I just assumed that because it was pulling to the right that it would have to be the right side. But that makes sense and in that case I will have both sides done.

Once again, I appreciate the brotherhood's help here without you guys, I'd be in piles of debt

So I'm taking the truck in early tomorrow morning to have the axle joints, balljoints, possibly front driveshaft joints replaced and front wheel bearings and brakes inspected.

 

[4xcrazy]

I just kinda skimmed through the entire thread, might have missed it, or maybe it's not acting the same way as i'm possibly thinking,,,

BUT,,, is the steering wheel actually pulling, or is the truck just as a whole, pulling to the right.

reason I ask, is I personally have had sticky rear brakes before and it would pull the whole vehicle to one side until they let go..

I didn't see anything in previous posts about checking anything in the rear of the truck, something on one side back there will cause the truck to pull to one side.

 

[DK5]

I would say that it seems to be the whole truck going to the right, you correct it by turning the wheel to the left, and it seems to over-correct as though it is released and then it repeats. Good call, if the mechanic doesn't check that, I'll ask him to.

 

[diesel4me]

Did anyone mention a busted center bolt in one of the springs as a possible cause ??...that can make it pullto one side,wander,and dart around unpredictably also..might want to check that first...

 

[DK5]

Did anyone mention a busted center bolt in one of the springs as a possible cause ??...that can make it pullto one side,wander,and dart around unpredictably also..might want to check that first...

Nope that wasn't mentioned yet. Would that make it pull only to the right though?

Well I'm just waiting for the phone call from the shop telling me what the problem was.. probably won't hear from them for a couple more hours.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Axle would shift back and pull you to the side that was broken.

 

[496truck]

I just kinda skimmed through the entire thread, might have missed it, or maybe it's not acting the same way as i'm possibly thinking,,,

BUT,,, is the steering wheel actually pulling, or is the truck just as a whole, pulling to the right.

reason I ask, is I personally have had sticky rear brakes before and it would pull the whole vehicle to one side until they let go..

I didn't see anything in previous posts about checking anything in the rear of the truck, something on one side back there will cause the truck to pull to one side.

This was his description of the problem, same thing I was experiencing with mine. I mean, exact problem I was having. Could not have described it better.

I just took it for another drive. While driving straight it seems to turn randomly on its own without moving the wheel. So, I turn it the other way and it jerks suddenly the other way so you have to be really careful not to over correct. It seems to pull either left or right completely at random- which makes me think its not alignment because it would then be a constant pull in one direction. Right?

I recently took apart my original front axle to save some spare parts and sure enough the front axle joints were locked up. You could hold the axle horizontal and the u-joint would not let the other end pivot unless you forced it. My ball joints were shot too so that may have also contributed to the problem.

 

[4xcrazy]

I guess what I was mainly getting at, is if the the problem is in the front end components, it USUALLY pulls the steering wheel to one side or the other.

Problem in the rear just shifts the whole truck to turning "wandering" in one direction or the other, like skid steering, won't really pull the steering wheel.

 

[DK5]

Oh, no. It's very likely. Trust me. Like I stated back in the first few pages of this thread, it's the front axle u-joints. I've been there.

After myself and others affirmed it was the axle joints the OP decided to check out and replace other items with little success. So, here we are with the same problem. Don't get me wrong, everything that Confed suggested is all good things to check, but they've all been covered early on in the thread.

You sir, were correct from the get-go.

Got the K5 back and problem solved. The axle shaft joint was seized so bad they had a hell of a time getting it apart apparently. They also found that the wheel bearings were loose and not packed properly (thanks Napa ). And they also replaced my front driveshaft u-joints as they were kaput. Balljoints were all fine according to them . I trust these guys and know the job was done right. Price? Well... it weren't cheap. Oh well, I didn't have the means to do it this time. Maybe next time when I upgrade to a 60 or 8-lug 44

Thanks to all who gave their .2 cents. I would buy ya a beer if I could. Maybe when we get together for a meet somewhere

 

[Confedneck]

glad to hear ya got it fixed!

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Good to hear.

 

[DK5]

Thanks guys, I'm pretty happy. Today I threw the stock steering shaft back in (XJ had way too much play).

Just have to finish up the power window harnesses and put new weatherstripping.

I'd love to get some weatherstrip on the half cab and run that for the winter. Need to get some good pics for the calendar!!

Oh and I have a new carpet to through in too which would especially be nice and cozy this winter.

hmmm what else to add to the list... new seats maybe too

 

[496truck]

Glad you got it straightened out!

 

[jeff in co]

Are you going to weld up that tab on the XJ shaft? It sounded like a pretty good solution......

So glad to hear you found the problem. I looked at some axle shafts while at the junkyard last week and I found a few that were UNBELIEVABLE! Had no idea they could get that loose!

 

[scottsdale86]

My XJ shaft install was a bust. I should have just bit the bullet and went with a borgenson.

 

[DK5]

Glad you got it straightened out!

Thanks again Brian. I should have listened to you more from the start. (Even though I sort of did, but the other shop told me it was fine Their quote: "you can spin them freely with your fingers without taking them apart"... well not when the wheel is turned or when the truck is driving forward! oh well. problem is solved now. hopefully this will help others on here.

Are you going to weld up that tab on the XJ shaft? It sounded like a pretty good solution......

Problem with the XJ shaft was that the plastic pieces were melted out from the shaft. I noticed there was quite a bit of play in the shaft itself when I held it next to my stock steering shaft to compare length. Its almost like it needs to be collapsed smaller to make it tighter.. but then it would be too short, of course.


I read in the XJ shaft tech install thread that once you remove the XJ shaft from the Jeep, you should hit with a hammer a couple times until it is the proper length. You should not melt the plastic out of it.


For now, I'll just stick with the stock one until I find out what I'm gonna do.

So glad to hear you found the problem. I looked at some axle shafts while at the junkyard last week and I found a few that were UNBELIEVABLE! Had no idea they could get that loose!

Thanks man. Well I talked to the mechanic about the problem. And apparently the passenger axle joint was seized so bad that it was stuck in a bent position (as it does when you are turning). So when I straightend the wheel to drive forward and the axle joint didn't straighten, understandably, the truck wanted to turn to the right.

They tried to see if they could straighten it by putting it in the vice, and by pressing one the short end of the axle shaft, they COULDN'T straighten it. Only when they switched around to pry with the longer end could they straighten it, but it was still tough to do.

My XJ shaft install was a bust. I should have just bit the bullet and went with a borgenson.

I might go that route. I'll see how much longer I can endure the stock shaft for now. Any idea where to buy the borgenson shafts?

 

[dremu]

Any idea where to buy the borgenson shafts?

Bit o' Googling brings up...

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/catalog/19742008_Chevy_Truck_Steering_Shafts-orderby_0-p-1-c-130.html

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Think Summit sells them.

Honestly, need to find a good XJ shaft. Got my plastic melty, bashed the shaft in and out until it would collapse and extend, then installed it and viola! No jiggling from mine!

 

[jeff in co]

Think Summit sells them.

Honestly, need to find a good XJ shaft. Got my plastic melty, bashed the shaft in and out until it would collapse and extend, then installed it and viola! No jiggling from mine!

Yea, my second go around, I just heated the shaft up enough to get it to collapse. Once I got it in position, I had to heat it up again to extent it into the final position. I'm sure I melted "some" of the plastic but most of it is still in there and I don't have any slop in that joint. I too, will see how long the XJ shaft lasts. For $10, it's worth a shot compared to a few hundred with Borg.

 

[DK5]

If I ever get back to the local wrecking yard in time, I found two jeep cherokees that I can rob the shafts out of. I also found a couple Chevy Celebrities with really nice headlights... hmmm.....