Steering Blues
 

So I just got my beast drivable, and had it aligned at Les Schwab. They did a good job, but man the steering is shaky. I have power steering that may or may not be original to the truck. What do I do to make it steady and handle better? At any speed over 55 it gets pretty hairy, like I need two hands on the wheel hairy. What can I do?

Re: Steering Blues
 

Try balancing the tires.

Re: Steering Blues
 

How bout the idler and pitman arms? I think they need replacing. Would this cause bad road manners?

Re: Steering Blues
 

Two things come to mind tires with flat spots and re balancing them....Check the lugnuts make sure they are all tied..ask me how I know.

Re: Steering Blues
 

Well my tires were just balanced and installed at Schwabs, so I know that is good. What else should I check?

Re: Steering Blues
 

do you have a sway bar?

Re: Steering Blues
 

No sway bar. I would like to get one though. Would it make a difference? Could I get away with just a front one or do I need rear too

Re: Steering Blues
 

Check your shock absorbers.

Re: Steering Blues
 

Nope, that won't do a darn thing for your issue. Something's not right. If you can bring it over to my side of town I can take a look at it for you.

However, I might put a 3spd in your bed so that it lightens the load on the front wheels enough to stop the shaking. ;)

Seriously though, if ya can't figure it out I can take a look at it for you.

Re: Steering Blues
 

Brand New

Re: Steering Blues
 

Thanks for the offer man! You still have that tranny? I think I need to check a few things and maybe look into new parts first but I might have to give you a call

Re: Steering Blues
 

I found a "steering stabilizer" kit from LMC truck. Does anyone have experience with this or know if it helps?

Re: Steering Blues
 

Yes, very much. Your pitman and idler arms are the only links between your steering assembly and chassis.

Jack up your front end and rest it on stands. Grab the sides of each of your front tires at try and twist them back and forth in the same directions that they turn when you turn the wheel. Your checking for slack. It's best to have a second person under the truck to look at the steering/suspension components while you wiggle the wheels. If there's side to side slack it's either your pitman or/and idler arms, sometimes your tie rods. Next grab the top and bottom of each wheel and wiggle checking for slack. Any slack will be a bad ball joint/s. Idealy everything should be rock solid, not even a slight tick.

Re: Steering Blues
 

Bad wheel bearings can make your steeing wheel shake real good.Maybe a little to simple for your symtoms but never the less its still worth the look.

Re: Steering Blues
 

OK sweet. Well I just replaced a lot of the front sups. (drop spindles, springs, shocks, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings) but I didnt do the idler or pitman. I will do those and then re-align and hope it gets better.

Re: Steering Blues
 

Do I need to replace both the idler arm and the bracket or just the arm itself

Re: Steering Blues
 

i believe just the arm