squirrely steering

[Kuke]

Well I just got my 52in front spring swap done on my 78 k5 and I took it for a test drive. The steering feels really squirrely. Is it because of the lift or the 35s or is it something else? I put a raised steering arm on it too. A guy I work with told me it was the shock on the axle (I think its called the steering stabilizer?) He said I needed 2 shocks because of the bigger tires? Is this normal for a lifted truck or is something wrong? Let me know what you guys think. Thanks

 

[andyblack]

Something(s) is/are worn out. A dual steering stabilizer for a truck with 35s would be more of a band-aid for worn components then a necessity, to me at least. How was the truck steering before you put the 52s on? You said you put on a raised steering arm-is the drag link close to parallel with the ground? If it is, I would look into replacing things like the ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link ends, steering shaft rag joint (if there is one), the steering box itself, and all those things that will wear out on a 20 + year old truck. These components usually wear out and team up together to reak havoc on your steering. Also the frame is probably cracked some back behind the steering box. All these trucks get cracked there and need a brace and weld-in repair panel. Mine is cracked right now and the steering is pretty bad.

 

[hack]

I agree with andy, have someone turn the steering wheel and you watch the steering parts look to see witch parts move before the tires start to move. Realy pay attention to the tie rod ends. I run 37's with 1 stabilizer.

 

[andyblack]

I have a confession to make. When I installed a raised steering arm on my truck, there were three large studs on the knuckle that the arm was attached with by three cone washers and three nuts. I torqued them down to what I was supposed to, but I failed to check on them after the recommended 500 miles. Well the truck started going all over the road and getting dangerous to drive, so I got in and turned the wheel while my dad watched the steering action. Seems that the nut on the front stud had come loose and was allowing the arm to wiggle around on the knuckle, causing all the play that was in the steering. I tried to re-torque it, but of course the stud broke off and I had to drill out the old stud and tap a new hole and buy a new stud from the GM dealership for like $7 or something. You may want to check on that before you get in my situation.