front bushings.....

[staggerd86c-10]

i have a question, im planning on finally fixing the front suspension on my truck but i dont know where to start. to do a total rebuild will set me back like 500 bucks that the economy is not helping me attain. my truck drives nice and straight but there is a small bit of play in the steering wheel and when you hit the brakes it wants to go to either side. i know it needs an alignment but what else can cause the truck to throw itself to one side when you hit the brakes, and its not only one way it can go left or right as soon as you hit the brakes.

[Captkaos]

Have you aligned it since it was lowered? (based on you avatar..)
That will cause it...

[staggerd86c-10]

no i havent aligned it yet, i know i need to but it feels like if something is looser(i know thats not a word) then it should be. i dont know if its the steering box or what, there is no play in the steering wheel though.

[454HO]

Find an alignment shop that will do a free front end inspection. If everthing checks out, get it aligned. If something needs to be replaced, they will tell you what it is.

[Eyegore]

Originally Posted by 454HO

Find an alignment shop that will do a free front end inspection. If everthing checks out, get it aligned. If something needs to be replaced, they will tell you what it is.

I agree, it could be a warn steering gear.

[old Rusty C10]

wheel bearings?

[78 Chevyrado]

Crawl under the truck and have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth (From 10-11 oclock to 1-2 oclock or so) while you look at the components and see if anything moves where it shouldn't. Otherwise with shafts and balljoints, put a prybar in between say, the lower control arm and the spindle and see if you can move it. Just find out what moves or is loose, that's all you can do. Just don't damage something from prying too hard on it. An alignment shop should do this for you for free, but make sure you see the parts they say are bad, this will help you know what to do better and will make sure they don't try to pull anything on you. Usually lower balljoints are the first thing to go; they have the most pressure on them. Check the steering box shaft for sideways movement while turning the steering wheel back and forth. Tie rod ends can get loose too. Like old rusty said, check bearings too.
I'm not sure how to explain it properly, but there's an adjustment in the steering box that will fix the sloppy steering wheel, if that's the problem. Somebody chime in....

[staggerd86c-10]

thanks for the suggestions, i think i will take it to the alignment shop that i usually go to and have them check it i just wanted to save some time. thanks for all the help guys.