Opinions about this front end rebuild kit Please?

[jeremywrags]

Hi All,

I am a newb to this forum as well as the K5 world in general. I just bought a 75 K5 for $1000 and am excited to get it as drivable as possible.

There is a whole host of things that I need but the most noticeable is that steering is pretty atrocious, it drifts all over and feels very sloppy.

I did a search for a front end rebuild kit and came across this for $179.00. Can the pros out there offer an opinion or some advice as to where I should start with tightening up the steering?


Apparently I cannot post links yet... anyway here are the contents of the Kit and like I said it is 179.99

The site is here if you can bother to decrypt the link...

stores DOT a DASH resto DASH parts DOT com/-strse-18/SUSPENSION-STEERING-FRONTEND-BALL/Detail.bok

[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]THIS KIT REPLACES THE ORIGINAL SUSPENSION PARTS AS THE VEHICLE CAME FROM THE FACTORY. WE HAVE ADDED BRAND NEW TIE ROD SLEEVES AND HARDWARE TO THESE KITS PER EVERYBODY'S REQUEST! IT SEEMS AS THOUGH REMOVING THE OLD SLEEVES AND REUSING THEM LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED TO HAVE THE LOOK OF A BRAND NEW LOWER SUSPENSION. THIS IS FOR 1973-1974-1975-1976-1977-1978-1979-1980-1981-1982-1983-1984-1985-1986-1987-1988-1989 AND 1990 CHEVROLET C10 PICKUPS OR BLAZERS.[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]THIS KIT CONTAINS ALL OF THE PIECES BELOW:[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]***OUTER LEFTHAND TIE ROD***
***OUTER RIGHTHAND TIE ROD***
***INNER LEFTHAND TIE ROD***
***INNER RIGHTHAND TIE ROD***
***LEFTHAND TIE ROD SLEEVE***
***RIGHTHAND TIE ROD SLEEVE***
***LEFTHAND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS***
***RIGHTHAND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS***
***LEFTHAND UPPER BALL JOINT***
***RIGHTHAND UPPER BALL JOINT***
***LEFTHAND LOWER BALL JOINT***
***RIGHTHAND LOWER BALL JOINT***
***LEFTHAND UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***RIGHTHAND UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***LEFTHAND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***RIGHTHAND LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]THIS KIT ALSO CONTAINS THE COTTER PINS, RUBBER GREASE SEALS/BOOTS, ZIRC FITTINGS, AND THE BOLTS FOR THE BALL JOINTS, PLUS THE TIE ROD SLEEVE BOLTS, NUTS, AND CLAMPS.[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]PLEASE NOTE: 1973 THROUGH 1990 CHEVROLET C10 PICKUPS AND SUBURBANS USED 1 OF 4 DIFFERENT SIZES OF SWAY BARS. THEY COULD BE 1 1/16", 1/ 1/8", 1 3/16", OR 1 1/4" SWAY BARS. PLEASE MEASURE YOURS AND ADVISE US WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER SO THAT WE MAY SHIP YOU THE CORRECT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. YOU MAY LEAVE US A NOTE ON THE CHECK-OUT PAGE.[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]This kit will be shipped to you properly packaged.
The shipping charge of $25.00 includes tracking and insurance via FedEx Ground delivery.[/FONT]
[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE KITS YOU WILL FIND AT ONE STOP! WE'VE USED THESE KITS OURSELVES AND THEY ARE GOOD KITS![/FONT]


Thanks

J

 

[jms]

...[FONT="Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica]CHEVROLET C10 PICKUPS...

This kit appears to be for a 2 wheel drive front suspension...
[/FONT]

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Yeah those parts all look 2WDish to me.

Best bet is to just piece it together at the parts store. Left and Right Tie Rod Ends, Front and Rear Drag Link Ends, Upper and Lower Ball Joints. Thats all of the front axle steering components. You could slap a new Steering Stabilizer on there, but not required.

Here is a good link on the XJ (Jeep Cheerokee) steering shaft upgrade for our trucks that eliminates the stock rag joint. Its a bolt in for the 80+ trucks, but can be made to work on the 73-79

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169874


I am sure some more people will chime in on this as well.

 

[ChrisPerry]

click heres that link
Like others said 2wd kit

EDIT:

To help track down the loose steering heres a quick check....

First: block the rear tires, set the parking brake, ect. be sure truck can't run you over.

Then have a helper start the truck and turn the steering wheel (first one way then the other) just until the tires start to move.

Look for any play anywhere. I usually look at the steering box/rag joint first, then work my way through the rest of the parts.

Just remember that after you get worn parts replaced to have it aligned.

 

[Fred_M1010]

First of all I'd check what the problem is.
No reason to replace something that isn't worn out.

Have someone turn the steering-wheel back and forth while you check for play in the joints and steering-box.

First check drag-link ends and steering box with all wheels on the ground,
then lift the driver-side wheel and check the tie-rod ends.

 

[jeremywrags]

Hi All,

Thanks for all your comments. From the looks of it there is play everywhere. I think the old owner replaced 3" wide leaf springs with 2.5", that combined with the blown out sway bar & leaf spring bushings are causing the whole front end to wobble back and forth.

I have ordered new bushings for the sway and leaf and once I put those in I will have to tackle the rest of the loose stuff.