Steering slop, replaced everything, still here .. argh .....

[syntax]

My truck has more steering slop than I would like, and more than i remember my first syclone having, heres what I have done to try to remedy the situation:

Borgeson Steering Shaft
4 new balljoints
new Steering Box
Idler/Pittman Arm
New control arm busings
new tie rod Ends


The truck dosnt wander or anything, just too much steering slop, its gets tiring and annoying to drive turning the wheel about a inch and a half before it even starts to turn the tires, everything is tight, i checked and rechecked it all, I believe the remaining play to be in the steering colum, has anything ever tackled the colum? any ideas? thanks..

 

[Blake]

Stand next to the truck with the engine running, reach in through the window and turn the steering wheel. See how much you turn it before the tires react. It if is still too much, open the hood and have someone turn the wheel to see if there is any slop in the "rag joint". Mine has a torn boot in it now.
If there is now slop in that joint, and the wheel moved a bit more than you wanted, then tighten the over center bearing preload stud on the steering box. It's and allen wrench fitting I believe. Loosen the nut, adjust, tighten the nut. Adjust it an 1/8 turn at a time. You want your steering to be able to return to center on it's own or with very little help. If you HAVE to center it yourself, the over center bearing preload is too tight.

George

 

[syntax]

Thanks for the advice blake, I have a borgeson shaft, it has u-joints and has 0 play in it, i know this because when i disconnect it from the colum i can turn it and it has no play, althought my steering wheel in the colum before the shaft has play in it, thats why i ask what in the colum can cause play, I have also adjuster the preload on the box several times, it makes it tighter, but dosnt really remove the play, its adj at gm specs now, thanks for the advice ..

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

So, what Pitman & Idler arms did u get ? The stock GM ones can have some play from the factory. Do u see any play in the steering linkage when U do the side to side shake test ? Don't know if loose CV joints would show up in wheel shake ?

I think Steering stabilizer shocks can help this also.

 

[syntax]

I used moog idler and pittman, there is zero side to side play in the linkage, i am 100% postive the play is in the colum, just need to know how to fix it

 

[Don W.]

While reaching through the window and moving the wheel be very careful to use small movements. Any "play" is magnified when you drive. I'm thinking that you might have some play in the joint that allows the steering wheel to tilt??

Also toe-in set incorrectly -can- have similar effects.

Don

 

[Blake]

I think Don may have posted the real answer. Alignment. If you do like we have said and reach through the window and look at your tire's response and there is zero play, then the "play" is being manifested by the alignment. If there was slop in the steering column, it would have manifested itself by a lag. No lag, no slop. Double check the alignment.
Good luck. Nothing more irritating than to do tons of work and still have a problem or "perceived" problem. Meaning you will be very in tune to what has been done and no when something isn't as it should be while someone else won't even notice it but it is there.
George

 

[mrweelr]

A custom steering wheel like a Momo will help too. That stock wheel could be used on a school bus! A smaller wheel will give you quicker turning action with slighly more effort. One of the best mods I ever did.

-Jeremy

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

There is a GP going on at this moment on the Forum for a more responsive steering shaft. I'm waiting for mine w baited breath (what the hell does that mean, anyway ?) - a helluva steal @ $110.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

After a "brand new steering system" I'm experiencing this freeplay in the wheel as well.

The slight movement of the wheel back and forth is loose and will not turn move the pitman arm, however the steering shaft does respond quickly when I turn the steering wheel.

It must be in the new AGR quick steering box as the steering shaft reacts quickly and no movement in the pitman arm.

I hope adjusting the preload will fix the problem.

My new steering system includes:

AGR steering box
Borgeson telescoping steering shaft
Moog Pitman Arm, Idler Arm and all Moog ball joints
PEP chrome moly tie rods and suspension

 

[MikeRenz]

i am willing to bet there is slop in the steering column itelf. The tilt system SUCKS.

Disconnect your steering shaft...and hold onto the nub on the firewall - then reach in the truck and turn the wheel.. I bet you can feel your slop there.

 

[Tydriver]

Re: Steering slop, replaced everything, still here .. argh .

Re: Steering slop, replaced everything, still here .. argh .

My truck has more steering slop than I would like, and more than i remember my first syclone having, heres what I have done to try to remedy the situation:

Borgeson Steering Shaft
4 new balljoints
new Steering Box
Idler/Pittman Arm
New control arm busings
new tie rod Ends


The truck dosnt wander or anything, just too much steering slop, its gets tiring and annoying to drive turning the wheel about a inch and a half before it even starts to turn the tires, everything is tight, i checked and rechecked it all, I believe the remaining play to be in the steering colum, has anything ever tackled the colum? any ideas? thanks..

Welcome to my world. I have done everything you mentioned about and STILL have the problems. In addition to what you have listed I also did the complete PST POLY kit (PITA TO INSTALL), and still experience the same thing. I've been told by a number of people that its TIRE RELATED (I have the 17x9's and 17x11's ZR-1s) but, oddly enough this problem was there before I got the new tires and wheels. I dont believe it, I think its gotta be something simple. I realistically think that its ALIGNMENT related, motor is coming out of truck on Friday, once the new bullet goes in, I'm gonna be after chasing this problem some more. I am going to take it to a reputable alignment place and have it check/adjusted. No more $50/alignments.

Anyone have a RACK & PINION steering rack they wanna donate to me for PROTOTYPING?

 

[InvisiBill]

Re: Steering slop, replaced everything, still here .. argh .

Re: Steering slop, replaced everything, still here .. argh .

I am going to take it to a reputable alignment place and have it check/adjusted. No more $50/alignments.

Firestone (and probably other shops too) have a "lifetime alignment" deal. You can take it in for re-alignment any time you want, for truly $0 parts and $0 labor. I got a deal on mine at $50 because I had them do the ball joints too (I guess they knew they already had all my money). They said it was normally $70, but I saw $140 somewhere too. But if you're paying $50 a pop, even $140 doesn't sound too bad...

 

[Loeryder]

I have the same deal.

Borgenson steering shaft with needle bearing U joints - no slop there
ZQ8 steering box
DPT chromoly tie rods
MOOG idler and pitman arms
DPT coilovers

It takes about an inch of movement side to side before the wheels feel like they move.
It gets exagerated at higher speeds I think, but I can still feel it there.
We have checked and double checked everything.
2 alignments later and I am ready to tear out the column.
I need to find a place that KNOWS how to do an alignment not just hook up it to a machine.

 

[jwaller]

there is a white plastic bushing in the very bottom of the colum right where it exits and your steering shaft is connected.

every single s-seris truck I have seen has this bushing wore out. it will cause slop in the steering wheel end on the system......I did all the thing listed by all of you here.....borgson shaft included and I still had more than I liked....replaced the bushing and no it's 100 times better.... might even be closer to nex than I've ever seen it.....now I might just need to swap that 120k mile box and I'm golden....

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

There is no play in the steering column. The steering shaft moves precisely as the steering wheel moves. The play is in the steering box as the pitman arm doesn't move during the rotation of the steering shaft and wheel during the "slop" range of motion.

I called AGR today and they told me adjusting the preload screw on the top will tighten up the steering. They said a small amount of play will still be present as there is a metal bar inside the steering box that twists and opens up a valve regulating the movement of power steering fluid through the steering box.

I adjusted the box 1/8 of a turn and will see how it works out. I'm supposed to adjust it an 1/8 turn at a time until right before the point where the steering wheel doesn't "snap" back to center quickly.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress tomorrow.

Adam

 

[jwaller]

yes be very careful adjusting that preload screw. if you go too far you can lock the steering up completly.

I wouldnt touch that screw more than 1/2 turn before I replaced the box.

 

[Tydriver]

yes be very careful adjusting that preload screw. if you go too far you can lock the steering up completly.

I wouldnt touch that screw more than 1/2 turn before I replaced the box.

Agreed, that is what the dude at www.powersteering.com told me. He said playing with that preload screw isnt going to really help much. I had my box rebuilt and converted to a quick ratio box by them and I havent messed with it. The same problem exists after as did BEFORE I sent the box in.
Not saying they didnt do a good job on the box, I am just saying that its something OTHER than the steering box. The part that waller is talking about in the column is the only option I have left. I have replaced LITERALLY everything forward of the firewall regarding steering.

 

[HighPerformanceTrucks]

To give you an update, I tightened the preload allen screw down about 3/16 of a turn total and it really tightened up the steering.

Sounds like for those who are not getting the results just by tightening the steering box that there is something else in the link that need fixing.

Adam

 

[Don W.]

Just a thought, with more than a few experiencing the same prob...

Has anyone seriously looked into some sort of flex occurring at the steering box attachment point(s). I would tend to doubt it but ya never know, with power steering, big tires, maybe there’s a small crack…

Don