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06-22-2010, 11:04 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Des Moines, Ia
Posts: 28
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Loose steering gets looser after rough road
When I bought my truck I knew it had loose steering. It wasn't enough to be dangerous. I could keep it in the lane when out on the highway.
I took it to our mechanic, who owns two 67-72 C/K pickups, and he said his 4WD truck steers the same way. I was ok with that. I drove it like that for a week until I got the idea to go muddin' with a friend of mine. We went down this minimum maintenance road that was full of big holes and ruts. It had just rained, so there were lots of big puddles. Anyway, I found out that my truck is not ment for that kind of thing. It is too slow. I bounced and splashed my way through the puddles and ruts, spraying muddy water everywhere. Afterwards, I noticed that it wanders even more now. The already loose steering has gotten worse. Could it be the steering gearbox? What is excessively worn or broken, and how would I go about repairing it? Thank you in advance.
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1971 Custom 20 4x4 - 350, 4spd, Project Workhorse  1999 Ford Explorer 4x4 - V6, auto. daily driver 1989 Cadillac Coupe DeVille - in the works (haven't bought it yet) |
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06-23-2010, 12:38 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cali Central Coast
Posts: 5,191
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
4X4's are usually pretty worn out if they haven't been gone through; you probably just knocked off a couple layers of dirt/grease that made it seem a little tighter. Steering box/tie rod ends is where I would start.
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'67 SWB Fleetside ZZ4/350/Tremec 5-speed/4link/Scott's IFS - and fun as heck! SOLD  Click here to support the board Philippians 4: 6-7 |
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06-23-2010, 01:58 AM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: a t w a t e r cali 95301
Posts: 10,713
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
definatly the tie rods my dad has a 70 chevy 4x4 trust me i know
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06-23-2010, 09:57 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Duluth, MN
Posts: 111
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
The pitman arm on my 2wd was on it's last thread. Might be another place to check.
Good luck! |
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06-23-2010, 10:46 AM
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
to bring back to factory type specs buy all new parts and do a major rebuild or wait for things to fail one at a time and risk loosing everything
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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 |
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06-23-2010, 01:23 PM
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Jonesboro, AR
Posts: 916
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
Quote:
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06-23-2010, 10:10 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 1,280
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
I'm always for checking the idler arm. Just replacing that can take out tons of play.
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06-23-2010, 11:42 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Des Moines, Ia
Posts: 28
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
4x4 trucks didn't have a idler arm. What else could be causing this? Is it possible that it could be the steering stabilizer? Or what about the drag links? Replacing all of those would be a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing the steering gearbox.
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1971 Custom 20 4x4 - 350, 4spd, Project Workhorse 1999 Ford Explorer 4x4 - V6, auto. daily driver 1989 Cadillac Coupe DeVille - in the works (haven't bought it yet) |
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06-24-2010, 01:17 AM
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fall River California
Posts: 2,026
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Re: Loose steering gets looser after rough road
My GMC 4X4 had the same problem, I checked the tie rod ends and discovered all of them were loose, not worn but loose. I pulled the cotter pins and tightened each one up and was amazed how much tighter the steering was. The tiniest bit of play under the truck translates to a lot in the steering wheel!
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