Truck tried to kill me! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lukecp · 09-01-2003, 06:37 PM

I was driving along a dirt road on Saturday, which was turned into mud due to the rains we have been having almost continusilouy since Friday. I hit a patch of mud, and tried to turn left to get out of it, but i kept going straight. The truck had no steering response at all. It was dark and i was without a flashlight, so i got out to look for a problem (maybe a flat tire?) but i couldn't see very much. I drove it all the way home (like 40 miles) with alot of slack in the steering and very poor steering response when i was on muddy roads. I woke up yesterday and went and took a look at the truck in the daylight. First thing i noticed was that each front tire was pointing in a different direction. I got underneath the front and found that one of the passenger side tie rods had pulled out of the adjustment sleeve and was allowing the passenger side tire to go wherever it wanted.

I am amazed that i was able to drive it 40 miles like that on curvy roads and not loose control of the truck. I find myself lucky that i didn't run off the road and wreck my truck. I fixed the problem and now i need an front end allignment, but that is better than having no truck

Be careful out there!

jef5150 · 09-01-2003, 06:46 PM

good thing you werent doing 70mph on the freeway,and have that tie rod end pull out...jeff

**BOSS** · 09-01-2003, 08:18 PM

they are not too bad to drive that way untill you hit the brakes........lol

**old Rusty C10** · 09-01-2003, 08:22 PM

guess ya got a friend or two upstairs!

casey · 09-01-2003, 08:59 PM

your lucky, that reminds me of a time in my 67 pickup, I turned off the hwy after driving 25 miles at 60mph, and when I slowed too about 5mph to turn the top ball joint broke and the tire colapsed under the front end, the ball joint was bone dry, I thought they were self greasing,lol

PanelDeland · 09-01-2003, 09:06 PM

Time to put together an emergency kit to keep in the truck.Flashlight,couple of wrenches, and odds and ends of tools.Wouldn't hurt to have flares or triangles either.

BraveDave · 09-01-2003, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by casey
your lucky, that reminds me of a time in my 67 pickup, I turned off the hwy after driving 25 miles at 60mph, and when I slowed too about 5mph to turn the top ball joint broke and the tire colapsed under the front end, the ball joint was bone dry, I thought they were self greasing,lol

I had a similar experience. When I lost a main steering linkage ball joint, the truck drifted off to the left. There was NO CURB on this section of the road. Kinda ironic, huh? I was less than a mile from entering the freeway. Think what you want, it was not my time. God had plenty for me to do yet.

09-01-2003, 06:37 PM	#1
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Truck tried to kill me! I was driving along a dirt road on Saturday, which was turned into mud due to the rains we have been having almost continusilouy since Friday. I hit a patch of mud, and tried to turn left to get out of it, but i kept going straight. The truck had no steering response at all. It was dark and i was without a flashlight, so i got out to look for a problem (maybe a flat tire?) but i couldn't see very much. I drove it all the way home (like 40 miles) with alot of slack in the steering and very poor steering response when i was on muddy roads. I woke up yesterday and went and took a look at the truck in the daylight. First thing i noticed was that each front tire was pointing in a different direction. I got underneath the front and found that one of the passenger side tie rods had pulled out of the adjustment sleeve and was allowing the passenger side tire to go wherever it wanted. I am amazed that i was able to drive it 40 miles like that on curvy roads and not loose control of the truck. I find myself lucky that i didn't run off the road and wreck my truck. I fixed the problem and now i need an front end allignment, but that is better than having no truck Be careful out there! __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

09-01-2003, 08:18 PM	#3
BOSS Just here to help Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Norwood,Mo Posts: 3,893	they are not too bad to drive that way untill you hit the brakes........lol __________________ Support our site Norwood Survivor

09-01-2003, 08:22 PM	#4
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,284	guess ya got a friend or two upstairs! __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

09-01-2003, 09:06 PM	#6
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Time to put together an emergency kit to keep in the truck.Flashlight,couple of wrenches, and odds and ends of tools.Wouldn't hurt to have flares or triangles either. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

09-01-2003, 06:46 PM	#2
jef5150 Inline 69 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: valleysprings,california Posts: 1,018	good thing you werent doing 70mph on the freeway,and have that tie rod end pull out...jeff

09-01-2003, 08:59 PM	#5
casey Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 2,048	your lucky, that reminds me of a time in my 67 pickup, I turned off the hwy after driving 25 miles at 60mph, and when I slowed too about 5mph to turn the top ball joint broke and the tire colapsed under the front end, the ball joint was bone dry, I thought they were self greasing,lol



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