Blazer wanders bad - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

madman 72 · 11-05-2004, 02:16 AM

I drove my 75 blazer to work which is about 8 miles and I noticed that it wanders pretty bad. I had to be on the wheel ready for the next pull. I also noticed that it does it when i get of the gas, not even pushing the brake it puls and starts to wander. It has a 4 inch lift with addaleafs front and back and 35 inch big o tire mt's. on smooth roads it wanders alittle off and on and unperfect roads it is alittle worse. This cant be normal. WHat could be causing this. i am at a loss . Have any of you had this happen. How can I fix this? any help you all can give is greatly appreiciated thanks

tommo · 11-05-2004, 11:37 AM

check the frame where the steering box mounts, they are prone to cracking out from the bolt holes, and 2nd check the steering arm off the steering box, they come loose sometimes and just a little loose will wander a lot.
tommo

madman 72 · 11-06-2004, 12:57 AM

hey thanks for the help man. I will check those out first thing in the morning. I hope that it is something this simple. thanks for the info.

a28doc · 11-06-2004, 10:56 PM

also check your tie rod ends and also the ball joints both will make it wander

Hoods69BadBowTie · 01-02-2005, 02:10 AM

I have a 1981 Chevy K-5 Blazer 4" SkyJacker supension lift with 35" BFGoodrich M/T's and I have the same problem, I just recently replaced my tie rod ends and ball joints and my steering stabilizer but it has n't help. No cracks anywhere else either.

Any other suggestions ?

Thanx

1976K5CHALET · 01-02-2005, 02:24 AM

First thing you do is check all the basics...

The first check requires a helper....watch the steering gear output shaft while someone rocks the steering wheel back and forth...watch for slop in the drag link and the gear box output shaft going up and down....very common issue on high milers.

Next jack up the front end one side at a time and using a long prybar try and move the tire up and down...if there is play have someone watch the balljoints and if they are not the source check the wheel bearing adjustment.

Next using a large pair of channel locks squeeze the tie rod ends...they should spring back after being squeezed as there is a large spring inside the socket to provide tension on the socket...

Also if it pulls real good to one side swap the front tires to see if you have a tire that is seperated...

One final issue is when your steering wheel changes position after being in 4wd...this is caused by loose ubolts and or broken spring center bolts...90% of the time its the spring pins. The ubolts torque to 150 ftlbs.

DW

Hoods69BadBowTie · 01-06-2005, 05:56 AM

About 2 months ago I had my wheelbearings replaced and repaced and me and the good mechanic I go to check the tie rods and ball joints. They were all operating normally, although my suspension lift u-bolts were very loose. I had them tightened up. It was to damn cold today to go check the gear box and the drag link out. (it was like 2* F) But as soon as it warms up I go check that out. Thanks for the advice.
-Hoods

elk hunter · 01-06-2005, 01:00 PM

check the rear u-bolts and centering pins. does the steering wheel change positions or does it "pull" one way when on the gas and the other when off?

Hoods69BadBowTie · 01-11-2005, 03:53 AM

My Blazer will just start to pull left or right when I go down the road, although it does it a little bit more when I step on the gas.
There is a little slop with the gear box and the drag link, could this little bit of slop be one of my problems? What do I do to fix it or get it to not have any slop?
Thanx for the advice
-Peace

Grim Reaper · 01-14-2005, 12:05 PM

My 75 drove fine. I have 4 inches of lift, 35x12.5.15.

New ball joints and tie rod ends. 15x10 is the correct rims size for a 12.5 wide tire. if you run a 8 inch rim the tire will have more latteral movement.
ORD steering brace.

NO SHIMS. Here is the problem. if you are still full time then you have to run the shim. the shim puts too much caster and it will wander and might death wobble.

Rear suspension too soft. I had a shackle flip. A flip reduces effective spring rate. I ended up adding two extra leafs to the pack to bring the spring rate up and it helped with wander and body roll. The funny thing is my RTI went up not down.

Concidering my truck was 7ft tall at the roll bar it handled decent for what it was. The steering box was loose but that was it. For what it was And I have pictures where I have driven over cars with it) it was quite respectable.

ezmaggie · 01-17-2005, 01:42 PM

I have a 77 K5 with 32/11.50/15, 3" lift... I had to replace the pitman arm...it improved it alot..however my blazer has a mind of it's own( I think my ex cursed it!). Since I'm leaking at the gear box, I do still have to concentrate on the steering a bit. Pitman helped with 80% of the problem, though. Good Luck...Keep the sugestions coming ...they are a great help to all......Maggie

11-05-2004, 02:16 AM	#1
madman 72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clovis New Mexico Posts: 50	Blazer wanders bad I drove my 75 blazer to work which is about 8 miles and I noticed that it wanders pretty bad. I had to be on the wheel ready for the next pull. I also noticed that it does it when i get of the gas, not even pushing the brake it puls and starts to wander. It has a 4 inch lift with addaleafs front and back and 35 inch big o tire mt's. on smooth roads it wanders alittle off and on and unperfect roads it is alittle worse. This cant be normal. WHat could be causing this. i am at a loss . Have any of you had this happen. How can I fix this? any help you all can give is greatly appreiciated thanks __________________ 1972 chevy SWB 396 big block all for now more to come soon.

11-06-2004, 12:57 AM	#3
madman 72 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Clovis New Mexico Posts: 50	hey thanks for the help man. I will check those out first thing in the morning. I hope that it is something this simple. thanks for the info. __________________ 1972 chevy SWB 396 big block all for now more to come soon.

11-06-2004, 10:56 PM	#4
a28doc '87 V20 4x4 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Western Ohio Posts: 1,073	also check your tie rod ends and also the ball joints both will make it wander __________________ '86 K5 Blazer 4x4 FOR SALE '87 v20 4X4 '99 S10 Blazer 4X4

01-02-2005, 02:10 AM	#5
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	I have the same problem I have a 1981 Chevy K-5 Blazer 4" SkyJacker supension lift with 35" BFGoodrich M/T's and I have the same problem, I just recently replaced my tie rod ends and ball joints and my steering stabilizer but it has n't help. No cracks anywhere else either. Any other suggestions ? Thanx

01-02-2005, 02:24 AM	#6
1976K5CHALET Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 610	First thing you do is check all the basics... The first check requires a helper....watch the steering gear output shaft while someone rocks the steering wheel back and forth...watch for slop in the drag link and the gear box output shaft going up and down....very common issue on high milers. Next jack up the front end one side at a time and using a long prybar try and move the tire up and down...if there is play have someone watch the balljoints and if they are not the source check the wheel bearing adjustment. Next using a large pair of channel locks squeeze the tie rod ends...they should spring back after being squeezed as there is a large spring inside the socket to provide tension on the socket... Also if it pulls real good to one side swap the front tires to see if you have a tire that is seperated... One final issue is when your steering wheel changes position after being in 4wd...this is caused by loose ubolts and or broken spring center bolts...90% of the time its the spring pins. The ubolts torque to 150 ftlbs. DW __________________ Doug Wright aka K5NUTT over @coloradok5.com Owner of http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChevyK5BlazerChalets Certified K5 Nut

11-05-2004, 11:37 AM	#2
tommo Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: redwood city california Posts: 41	check the frame where the steering box mounts, they are prone to cracking out from the bolt holes, and 2nd check the steering arm off the steering box, they come loose sometimes and just a little loose will wander a lot. tommo

01-06-2005, 05:56 AM	#7
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	Thanks 4 the tips About 2 months ago I had my wheelbearings replaced and repaced and me and the good mechanic I go to check the tie rods and ball joints. They were all operating normally, although my suspension lift u-bolts were very loose. I had them tightened up. It was to damn cold today to go check the gear box and the drag link out. (it was like 2* F) But as soon as it warms up I go check that out. Thanks for the advice. -Hoods

01-06-2005, 01:00 PM	#8
elk hunter Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: oregon city, or Posts: 164	check the rear u-bolts and centering pins. does the steering wheel change positions or does it "pull" one way when on the gas and the other when off? __________________ yeah, but how's it wheel?

01-11-2005, 03:53 AM	#9
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	My Blazer will just start to pull left or right when I go down the road, although it does it a little bit more when I step on the gas. There is a little slop with the gear box and the drag link, could this little bit of slop be one of my problems? What do I do to fix it or get it to not have any slop? Thanx for the advice -Peace __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

01-14-2005, 12:05 PM	#10
Grim Reaper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,704	My 75 drove fine. I have 4 inches of lift, 35x12.5.15. New ball joints and tie rod ends. 15x10 is the correct rims size for a 12.5 wide tire. if you run a 8 inch rim the tire will have more latteral movement. ORD steering brace. NO SHIMS. Here is the problem. if you are still full time then you have to run the shim. the shim puts too much caster and it will wander and might death wobble. Rear suspension too soft. I had a shackle flip. A flip reduces effective spring rate. I ended up adding two extra leafs to the pack to bring the spring rate up and it helped with wander and body roll. The funny thing is my RTI went up not down. Concidering my truck was 7ft tall at the roll bar it handled decent for what it was. The steering box was loose but that was it. For what it was And I have pictures where I have driven over cars with it) it was quite respectable. __________________ Grim-Reaper 70 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible, worlds longest resto in progress Looking for 71-72 2wd Blazer or Jimmy Project

01-17-2005, 01:42 PM	#11
ezmaggie Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New River, Arizona Posts: 57	I have a 77 K5 with 32/11.50/15, 3" lift... I had to replace the pitman arm...it improved it alot..however my blazer has a mind of it's own( I think my ex cursed it!). Since I'm leaking at the gear box, I do still have to concentrate on the steering a bit. Pitman helped with 80% of the problem, though. Good Luck...Keep the sugestions coming ...they are a great help to all......Maggie __________________ Blazn' in the sun!



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