How do I tighten up the play?

[81silverado]

I just bought an 81 Silverado and want to tighten-up the play in the handling. What do I do? Thanks.

[Slonaker]

Chances are good that the front end is worn out. I used these instructions to rebuild mine.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...n/frontend.htm

Lowering it helps the handling, too, if you are into that sort of thing.

Slonaker

[cobb_ben]

Easy....before you tell the poor fella to rebuild his whole front suspension. He should jack it up and check for loose parts, check all tie rod ends for movement, then the pitman arm and the idler arm. Then look at the ball joints for movement, then the control arm busings, if its not metal to metal on them then your prolly good there. Also the steering box could just be wore out, the middle of the worm gear gets loose and there is nothing you can do except replace the box. If you don't feel you can check the front end your self, you should take it to an alignment shop, you feel is compitent. Ask them to check the front suspension, witch they usually do anaways, and have the truck lined up, this can make a big differance.
I hope this helps that's just my .02
Ben

[86 GMG]

yeah they pretty much hit all aspects, check it first and then replace what you found bad on the front end if nothing the steering box is bad. Other than that these truck are not going to drive like your girlfriends honda. but thats the fun of these trucks they seperate the men from the boys ha ha ha

[screwballl]

the steering on my 76 is so nice and easy but not loose. hard to explain, you can sit there stopped and use your pinky to turn the wheel yet while driving down the road there is full response to even the slightest movements so it may just be well broken in....
yours may be loose and may need more work if the response is not there.