Sloppy Steering... HELP!

[chevyridinhigh79]

i went to see the 77 k10 yesterday. it looked good and ran good but the steering has me worried. i was able to turn the wheel with no effort even in the mud. it was in 4 wheel high the whole time because the 12 bolt has a snapped pinion gear, so you could say it was front wheel drive. it has power steering, 31's, a bent tie rod, & supposedly a new steering stabilizer. it also makes a squeeking noise when i turn it lock to lock, but im thinking its just low on fluid or it needs a new power steering pump. my 88 dodge also has 31's and power steering and it don't turn that easy! is this something i should worry about?

 

[shaun89]

the camber on the knuckles could be too much, and basically the wheels want to flop to the side, does it return to center good, or does it want to almost get center? or it could be the steering box is adjusted loose. theres a little nut and allen combo. on top of the steering box and basically it is like adjusting backlash in a diff. you want just the right amount. it can be set up really loose and cause it to spin really easy and floppy. look at the pinion angle of the truck if u can again, if its pointing up too much then its probably the camber that is the issue. o ya, and the obvious, does it it have a steering stablizer? it would make steering pretty easy(in a bad way) if it was blown or not there.

 

[chevyridinhigh79]

it does have a steering stabilizer and he said it was new. it does want to flop side to side, and with one swift turn it will go from lock to lock. does it matter which way the piston points because its installed toward the drivers side and not the passengers side like most ive seen. the pinion angle didn't seem too much because there was no driveline vibration and the shaft spun freely like there were no problems.

 

[ciffer]

check to see if the steering stabilizer is leaking fluid

 

[4X4HIGH]

Someone may have done the pump mod which makes it turn with ALOT less effort. I know of guys who have done the pump mod and can turn a set of 44's with their pinky finger while a tire is against a rock.

shaun89:

if its pointing up too much then its probably the camber that is the issue

Pinion angle is controlled by caster angle not camber angle.

 

[chevyridinhigh79]

how can you tell the pump mod was done? and what exactly is the pump mod?