Steering Column Gripe:71 Jimmy

['68OrangeSunshine]

'71 GMC Jimmy 4x4 K1500. Production P/S. I have some "spin" in my steering wheel, especially after hitting a bump or hard corner pulls. Sometimes the wheel is almost 90* out-of-phase. Then it comes back close to center. I got a written warning from a local county mountie a couple weeks ago for turning into the wrong lane when the tires didn't follow the turns at the steering wheel. [Didn't help when I had a 12 pack of beers on the seat next to me,
but he let me go] It looks different than the steering columns on my other trucks; '67 K/10 suburban and '68 C/10 Stepside. But those were both factory manual rigs.
Could this unit be off a later model? Steering wheel and column are correct vintage, manual tranny on the floor.

[Tom Vogel]

I could not begin to know whats wrong with your steering.. However, Id get it off the road until you do get it corrected.

[Big Time]

I had similar issues w/ mine. after I replaced steering box ,tie rods, ball joints ,bearings in steering column etc. it went away ,(and it should, it wasnt cheap ) if you have the funds replace it all .,if your running anything other than stock tires, its a must.

['68OrangeSunshine]

I've been after R+R-ing the P/S gearbox 3 times. Lately it was 3 out of 4 bolts loose. Drag link changed out 4 years ago. Inside teeth on Pittman arm stripped-out a couple years ago. Don't know about the balljoints. They're probably original. This steering column has a black rubber donut forward of the intermediate shaft coupler. It's rubber part is broken and gooey. Running 33x12.50x15LTs on 10" w. rims. Stock lift. I'll shoot a pic when I can. Work's been real heavy until after next Tuesday.
Tom: My mechanic agrees with you. It's a "Down Gripe."

[mcmlxix]

The rubber donut is the "rag joint" and could have a lot to do with it. I bought a rebuild kit from the "Fix It" rack at the local parts store. I have a new power steering box and new rag joint but my steering still wanders... I just got new drag link parts (inner outer and coupler) and both tie rod ends... Thats my next step.... if that doesnt fix my problem I'm going to send the power steering box back...

[AlaskaMatt]

That rag joint is REALLY important.

[DANTES JIMMY]

yes rag joint not an option at all start there like on your way home tonight and get one dont drive it at all if the rubber looks torn on it

['68OrangeSunshine]

OK I know what a Rag Joint is. I have one immediately aft of the power steering gear box, connecting it to the steering shaft. It's OK. The rubber part that's disintegrating is halfway up the shaft, just before the intermediate steering coupler and about a foot below the firewall. Is this a replaceable part? Or do I need to go junkyarding?

[Erik V]

I sheared the centering pin on the driver side (where the leafpack hits the axle). Truck wandered something fierce, I couldnt for the life of me figure it out. Drove from Surrey BC back to Vancouver WA (10ish hour drive?) with it wandering all over the road. My old man figured it out in 2 seconds, we dropped the axle down a bit, ground the points off a new bolt's head, and replaced the broken pin. Problem solved. Any good alignment shop should diagnose for free, might help narrow down whats up without throwing countless dollars at everything.

Erik

['68OrangeSunshine]

Erik -- I think that one ought to be on the right track. I noticed some slip in the springs -- how they get "slinky" both forward and aft at exreme racking left and right. The spring pin may have sheared. But I still get some lateral/torsional twisting out-of -line between the sreering wheel and the ragjoint.

[Jurassic-1]

Mine had the same problem. After some off rading the wheel was clocked half a turn. You could put the opposite wheel against a rock and bump it. It would pop and the wheel was straght. I also found the center pin on the springs broke. The rag joint was also bad due to years of heat and oil soaking.However you should find a good factory type replacment. Theautoparts fix it section sells the cheap ones woth nylon inside where the origionals have metal mesh to keep them rigid. The others are soft and will cause a wander.

['68OrangeSunshine]

LMC sells an Intermediate Steering Shaft and Coupler, p/n 38-4849 for '67 + '68. Mine looks a lot more like 34-0870 for '73 -'79.
Seeing a guy tomorrow who might have a steering column for sale. I know he's a '67/'72 Chvy Truck nut like me.

[Raider Rudy]

I had similar problems with my 69 4x4 p/u. I put on a rebuilt gear box & that took care it

['68OrangeSunshine]

Well I got fixed. The left front Spring/Axle u-bolts weren't on tight enough. [PO's hack job axle swap... Not torque-ing to spec?] Anyway we measured the distances from the front shackle to the axle mounts on both sides. The drivers side was loose and showed about an inch-and-a-half travel and was longer than the passenger side. So we tensioned the axle until it was in line and then re-torqued it to 150 Ft/Lbs. [My buddy used the 1967 Shop Manual while I was on the phone. Didn't want to change it bact to the '71 spec 120 Ft/Lbs after the fact.]
Also R+R'd the intermediate steering shaft with a piece cannibalized from my other Blazer [a '72 project] . A couple of weeks ago the P/S gear box was found to have 3 of 4 bolts loose on it too. Rag Joint looked good. Jimmy's all together now and it steers tight and precise with no wander or wobble. Steering wheel on straight and at 12 O'Clock. When I get time I'll explore the old steering intermediate coupler shaft and see what went wrong.
Thanks for your input, guys.