71 C20 wunders all over.

[Daron65]

My 71 C20 wunders all over the road. It also seems to turn sharper to the left, than right. I plan on digging into it Sunday, if weather cooperates. What do you all think the problem is? What should I check first? Thank you for all your help.

[57larry]

I'd take it to a front end alignment shop and let them take a look at it, they will tell you what's wrong

[Willys_MB]

Sounds steering related. Check your wheel bearings while you’re at it. Could be a worn steering box, pitman arm, idler arm, etc. check it all out. I’m doing a rebuild on a 71 front end right now and it’s pretty simple.

[toolboxchev]

Yes do a rebuild, Moog parts are not expensive. I just did a complete for approximately 300.

Money well spent on a 50 year old truck.

[custom10nut]

All good advice.
Jack up the front of your truck so the front tires are just off the ground.
While watching the steering components have someone move the steering wheel back and forth, to see where the play is coming from.
What you’re describing sounds like a loose steering box.
You do need to get it aligned, to eliminate that possibility.
As was mentioned before, the alignment shop will probably tell you what your problem is.
Mine used to wander A LOT until I finally took it to the Alignment Shop.
Now it drives like a new truck.

[kaycee]

Seomebody probably took the pitman arm off and didn"t get it in the right grove on steering box.Or somebody tried to rebuild the steering box and didn"t get the pitman shaft centerd with the steering gear inside the box. Jack up truck and steer all the way to one side count the rotations to the stop in oppisite direction. Divide by 2 and your wheels shuold be centered and your steering wheel

[Daron65]

Thank you all, I will be getting to it this afternoon. Once I complete the "honey do" list. Ive been trying to avoid it. LOL.

[davischevy]

I had this issue once. The steering box is not centered.

Take pitman arm off the box and center it up and button it up.

[Greasey Harley]

Wandering is usually due to Tow-Out Tow out is a condition where the front tires being pointed out, away from each other (left tire pointed left, right tire pointed right). It causes erratic steering, the vehicle tends to dart and follow ruts in the road, and be unpredictable.
Combine these characteristics with worn out parts and it can be extremely dangerous.

I have no idea why it turns sharper one way than the other.

[truck-kid]

Also would be good to remove horn button and verify that index mark on top of steering shaft is aligned with mark on steering wheel before making other adjustments.

[Sheepdip]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here for verbal abuse ...but every pitman arm I have ever installed has a clocking spline or splines and you cannot install it except one engineered pre-determined position.

[truck-kid]

There may be exceptions but all the ones(pitman arms) i have installed are splined so that they will only go on in one position also.

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

I'm gonna go out on a limb here for verbal abuse ...but every pitman arm I have ever installed has a clocking spline or splines and you cannot install it except one engineered pre-determined position.

I think you are correct. After some thought mine was on a hot rod, not a truck. It would probably be best to ignore my input so far.

[Daron65]

All input is greatly appreciated by me. I have learned so much from you guys.

[kaycee]

I rebuilt my steering box in my 63 impala last week and it had 3 seperate spots the pitman arm could be clocked. Maybe these trucks were differant I cant remember I did mine sevreral beer I mean years ago.

[71cheyennesuperlongb]

Have you had the drag link off? If so it might be installed backwards.That will make one wander real bad. Ask me how I know?HAHA!

[conoco]

I had he same issue last week, I ended up replacing my steering gear box and also the rag joint, everything is smooth now. The gear box was spendy but well worth it for how smooth everything is now. Good luck

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

I'm gonna go out on a limb here for verbal abuse ...but every pitman arm I have ever installed has a clocking spline or splines and you cannot install it except one engineered pre-determined position.

Correct, it can really go on one way unless you put it on 90 degrees out. The box itself can still be not centered when adjusting the centerlink and toe