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Steering issue "problem solved"

dheavychevy38

dheavychevy38

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Ok my 87 k5 has developed a problem with it's steering. When driveing down the road it drifts the right alittle and when you try to correct it the truck will dart or jerk to the left? I have checked the frame for cracks and there are none so I replaced the tie rod and ends along with the draglink and ends. I have checked my toe and it's 1/4 inch in. I am thinking steering box but it doesn't do it to the right only the left. I also removed the guts from my 4wd hubs to make sure one wasn't trying to lock in or anything. Any ideas would be great oh and the truck is stock with 90,000 miles on it.
 
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I had that same problem and it was the box.After making a right turn it would continue to pull right.So I would turn left just to go straight and it would eventually let go and shoot left causing a lane change or a brush with the median :D
 
Check that your leaf springs aren't moving on the axle, and make sure that your drag link and balljoints are in good shape.
 
Need to check the springs but the draglink and tierod have less than 500 miles on them. I was thinking either center pin for the springs, busted spring, or steering box. It seems to do it more when it's warm but maybe thats just me.
 
Could be the draglink; the box wants to be on center, so if your steering wheel isn't centered to it, you'd have slight issues.

Easy to fix though, just adjust the draglink.

Maybe a sticky caliper or a warped rotor on one side?

-- A
 
Steering wheel is dead on. New calipers and rotors. Nope not a single noise at all. Just had another guy test drive it and said it bound up going around a sharp turn. Going to check out the springs aren't moveing.
 
have similar issues, and i know my box is shot. after turning 42's on stock steering my sector shaft bound up in the box. sometimes doesnt wanna return to center, binds in turns, and i have half a turn in the wheel before it does anything. look for a box, i picked up a used one for $10
 
If you have a spanner tool and can disconnect the drag link the steering box is pretty easy to adjust assuming it's not excessively worn.
http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570869
Thrust bearing preload is trivial with the spanner. Over center can be done by hand if you know how to feel what is too little/too much.

I've had steering issues for some time and recently solved them with new kingpins, drag link ends and box adjustment. Night and day difference.

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i had a similar problem, usually after turning a corner it would pull for like 10 seconds then snap back then be fine. the problem was one of the ujoints in the front shaft was really rusted and locking up. you can try engaging the hubs and turning the wheels and try spinning the tires and see if that does anything. i couldnt spin mine at all
 
Hopefully this weekend i will beable to install new axle joints and all new bearings and seals along with ball joints. Also install the new steering box cause i noticed it started leaking and i figured if im takeing it off to check for cracks behing it i might as well go all the way. Once i get all that done drive it for a week and then hopefully put oon my 4" lift if all is well with the steering I will keep you guys posted on what i find. Thanks for all the help from the brotherhood. :bow:
 
i'm also having very similar issues with my steering, but with a few variables. I'm running a psc 2wd box with ord d60 x-over, and when i bleed the system by cranking the wheel back and forth roadside, it behaves for a while, but eventually acts up again.

Does this happen with your truck?
 
Well put the new box on and it's still doin the same thing. So next is all the other stuff i bought to put on like i wanted to this weekend but other stuff came up.
 
so it steers good now?

i've been planning on doing a 35spline outer upgrade, so maybe that is my solution as well.
 
Steering is awsome now with all the new parts. I guess when i installed the new tie rods i never notice that the pass side would turn by hand:crazy: I guess that was my bad for not checking but she is all better now.
 
my truck acts up once in a blue moon. i cant turn left with it. i mean the steering wheel is turned to full lock and the tires move about 2 inchs. i changed the box. i had a bad u joint up front. i cant figure it out. everything seems tight in the front end.
with the old box in it. i went full lock to the left when it would not trun. the truck still pulled to the right bad. all of a sudden it made a weird loud noise like the shaft on the colum jumped gears on the box. so i changed to box and it still does it once in a while. im lost. not sure where to start or where to look first anymore.
 
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