89 suburban steering problem
 

Hey all, I have an 89 suburban 4wd that I'm having some problems with the steering. While driving down the road, when I turn the wheel to the left or right and then come back to straight, the steering wheel isn't always in the same place.
I have looked at all the steering and front suspension parts and can not find anything loose. The steering wheel is fine, not spinning on the shaft.
Is this problem due to the power steering pump being bad or the steering gearbox being bad? It also seems to be more movement of the steering wheel needed to make a turn. It isn't hard to turn, just have to move it quite a bit.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Re: 89 suburban steering problem
 

Check the rag joint. If all is well with the column and steering shaft, I would suspect the steering box. Might get a little more help in the 73-87 board.

Re: 89 suburban steering problem
 

Yeah, the titles on these message boards can't cover it all correctly. the 88-91 old body style stuff doesn't fit in with the 88-98 crowd. '92 was the first Suburban/Blazer/Jimmy/Crewcab in this group.

This cold be ny number of things from the rag joint down to the wheel bearings. I could guess all day long, but if you haven't changed any parts it's hard to narrow down. You need two people, one working the steeing wheel and the other observing movement to the steering box, then box to pitman arm, pitman arm to draglink, drag link to steering arm. It could be rag joint, steering box loose from frame, cracked frame, worn out steering box, worn connection between box and pitman, or bad drag link ends. My guess is somewhere between the rag joint to the pitman arm at the sector shaft (steering box connection). The rest will allow wandering, but shouldn't affect centering of steering wheel. That's why I didn't mention tie rod ends, ball joints, or wheel bearings. The last three can be checked by raising a wheel, grabbing at 6 & 12 o'clock and 3 & 9 o'clock, moving to see slop. Slop only at 3 & 9 would be the tie rod ends. Ball joints will be 6 & 12. And, bearings will be any which way. You can also observe tie rod ends while the steering wheel is being worked.

Re: 89 suburban steering problem
 

Thanks for the help guys. I'll definitely jump over to the other forum.