problems with truck darting around on road - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

pete29 · 01-24-2009, 07:15 PM

i recently took my 72 chevy, that i'm restoring, for a test drive down the road. I had someone follow me behind and they noticed it was darting to the right a lot. So they drove it while i looked at it. What happens is like sometimes the steering lets go and it takes off to the right. or a brake is on one of the wheels but i don't think thats the problem because we can push the truck easily while in neutral. Any suggestions. Also the steerin is very hard to turn. I can't turn the wheels much eaither while its not moving. I've jacked it up and turned the wheels back and forth several times but that don't really help eaither. Any suuggestions on either would be great.

cdowns · 01-24-2009, 07:42 PM

does it have a sway bar? have any of the 40year old balljoints tierod ends idler or pitman arms been changed or at the least greased?

jr2k3_esq · 01-24-2009, 07:43 PM

swap the front wheels side to side and take it for a spin. If it darts left it's a bad tire issue causing it to pull. If it still goes to the right look at the allignment.

mycool72 · 01-24-2009, 08:11 PM

I had a similar problem cause of my lower control arm bushing...it was so worn that it actually tore up the control arm itself....

pete29 · 01-24-2009, 09:47 PM

No sway bar, its a 4x4. The balljoints up at the steering box to open knuckle have been replaced. Tie rod ends have not been replaced for a while or grease. The left wheel sticks out a little farther cause its a different rim.

68C15 · 01-24-2009, 11:34 PM

there are so many things that can cause this ranging from not enough back spacing on a wheel (causing the scrub radius to be inside of the tire center line) to a bad tire to the thrust centerline being off. I would take it in for a GOOD 4 wheel alignment.

**special-K** · 01-24-2009, 11:56 PM

The different rims don`t help.Does it only dart to the right?Has anyone turned the lash screw in?The box could be binding.Have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch the sector shaft coming out of the steering box for play.Also,watch the drag link ends for play.

pete29 · 01-25-2009, 09:57 AM

It has a new steering box on it, but i didin't understand that they already set the screw so i turn it in about 2 turns. The tires are about brand new, and the backs are 33 in muddin tires the fronts are 31 in directional mud tires, But, this could be the problem, the right front directional tire is on wrong. Its backwards.

68gmsee · 01-25-2009, 10:37 AM

If you have power steering, it could be your gear box.

I had a truck many years ago that had a similar problem. It turned out to be a bad power steering gear box.

01-24-2009, 07:15 PM	#1
pete29 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Knoxville, Iowa Posts: 122	problems with truck darting around on road i recently took my 72 chevy, that i'm restoring, for a test drive down the road. I had someone follow me behind and they noticed it was darting to the right a lot. So they drove it while i looked at it. What happens is like sometimes the steering lets go and it takes off to the right. or a brake is on one of the wheels but i don't think thats the problem because we can push the truck easily while in neutral. Any suggestions. Also the steerin is very hard to turn. I can't turn the wheels much eaither while its not moving. I've jacked it up and turned the wheels back and forth several times but that don't really help eaither. Any suuggestions on either would be great.

01-24-2009, 07:42 PM	#2
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: problems with truck darting around on road does it have a sway bar? have any of the 40year old balljoints tierod ends idler or pitman arms been changed or at the least greased? __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

01-24-2009, 07:43 PM	#3
jr2k3_esq Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Campbell River, BC Canada Posts: 47	Re: problems with truck darting around on road swap the front wheels side to side and take it for a spin. If it darts left it's a bad tire issue causing it to pull. If it still goes to the right look at the allignment.

01-24-2009, 08:11 PM	#4
mycool72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mansfield, TX Posts: 309	Re: problems with truck darting around on road I had a similar problem cause of my lower control arm bushing...it was so worn that it actually tore up the control arm itself....

01-24-2009, 09:47 PM	#5
pete29 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Knoxville, Iowa Posts: 122	Re: problems with truck darting around on road No sway bar, its a 4x4. The balljoints up at the steering box to open knuckle have been replaced. Tie rod ends have not been replaced for a while or grease. The left wheel sticks out a little farther cause its a different rim.

01-24-2009, 11:34 PM	#6
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	Re: problems with truck darting around on road there are so many things that can cause this ranging from not enough back spacing on a wheel (causing the scrub radius to be inside of the tire center line) to a bad tire to the thrust centerline being off. I would take it in for a GOOD 4 wheel alignment.

01-24-2009, 11:56 PM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,859	Re: problems with truck darting around on road The different rims don`t help.Does it only dart to the right?Has anyone turned the lash screw in?The box could be binding.Have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch the sector shaft coming out of the steering box for play.Also,watch the drag link ends for play. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 01-24-2009 at 11:57 PM.

01-25-2009, 09:57 AM	#8
pete29 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Knoxville, Iowa Posts: 122	Re: problems with truck darting around on road It has a new steering box on it, but i didin't understand that they already set the screw so i turn it in about 2 turns. The tires are about brand new, and the backs are 33 in muddin tires the fronts are 31 in directional mud tires, But, this could be the problem, the right front directional tire is on wrong. Its backwards.

01-25-2009, 10:37 AM	#9
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: problems with truck darting around on road If you have power steering, it could be your gear box. I had a truck many years ago that had a similar problem. It turned out to be a bad power steering gear box.

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