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Steering dangerously wanders above fifty MPH

Tiny
JDEVRIES64
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET EXPRESS
  • 6.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Over the last 1,000 miles the steering on our vehicle listed above 3500 has begun to noticeably be looser and wander while driving above 50 mph.
The steering was slightly loose for the last couple of years, but not bad enough to cause real concern.
We took a trip 4 months back from Wisconsin to South Carolina and on our journey down hit a large pot hole and damaged the front right wheel bearing. We were able to drive, but with slight vibration while driving over 70 mph. On our return I had the front end inspected and was advised that the right front and left front lower ball joints were gone in addition to the right front wheel bearing.
As such I replaced the upper and lower right front and left front ball joints, right front and left front shocks and right front and left front wheel hubs. I did not replace the outer tie rods.
After all of this, there is no more vibration, but the wandering or loose steering seems to have gotten worse.
I got under the van and tightened the steering box take-up screw until the steering would not return to center by itself when releasing the wheel in a turn and then loosened it just enough so that it would return.
I lifted the van up and tried to jerk the front wheels horizontally, but don't notice any looseness in the tie rods.
I don't feel any vertical movement either.
Could the issue be in the gearbox, pit-man arms, tie rods, alignment, etc?
Thoughts?
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 AT 5:35 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Loose steering and wandering if related is one of the components you mentioned or checked. However, if they are not related then most likely the loose steering is a steering gear and the wandering would be due to the alignment.

The one thing that gets these confused is the term wander. When you say the vehicle wanders does that mean that you are constantly correcting the steering or if you hold the wheel straight that the vehicle will move back and forth on the road without you correcting the wheel?

This will make a difference in what the issues could be so let's clarify that and go from there. Thanks
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
JDEVRIES64
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Hi KaseKenny1,

Thanks for the quick reply. I was just outside shooting a video of the what I see.
So I had my daughter move the right wheel back and forth and what I notice is that the right outer linkage seems tight, but the inner linkage rocks fore or aft on both pit-man arms before moving the left outer linkage and thus the left wheel. This I would see as would cause the wheels to wander toe in or out.
To answer your question. Previously I could hold the wheel steady while in a lane and compensate for the little pull that was there. However when changing lanes I would have to nudge the one wheel over the line and catch it once it started to pull. If that makes sense.
Today it will pull left or right depending on what nuance is in the road.
I'll send a video in my next update.
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. That helps a lot. That would be suspension related and not necessarily in the gear. The wander that is related to the steering gear is when you can hold the wheel steady and the vehicle will drift left and then right and you are not really correcting it with the steering wheel.

What you are doing is moving the wheel to take out the "slop" of the suspension components.

Let's see the video but it sounds like you are on the right path.
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 AT 7:08 PM
Tiny
JDEVRIES64
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
Okay, that makes sense and because I've replaced everything other than the coil springs, sway bar rods, upper control arm bolts and bushings, I think the suspension part is pretty tight.
The swaying back and forth is very noticeable and coincides with what you're saying.

Here's a link to the video I posted to youtube:

https://youtu.be/bGYpy9U7Epg

It shows the steering gearbox, column, left pit-man, center linkage and left outer linkage. The right wheel is being swung back and forth. Also there doesn't seem to be much, if any, play in the steering column to pit-man arm gearing. If I take any more out the steering wheel won't return to center.

I'll look at replacing the pit-man and idler arm and bracket. Hopefully I don't have to replace the center link.

Thanks for your help,
Jim
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020 AT 7:19 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Yeah. They need replacement and the center link is most likely ok. I attached the process for the pitman and idler arm if you need it.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2020 AT 5:56 PM
Tiny
JDEVRIES64
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Okay, thanks. I'll change out the pitman and idler arms as well as the idler bracket.
Once I'm done I'll let you know how it worked out.

Again, thanks for your help so far.
Jim
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2020 AT 6:40 PM
Tiny
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Sounds great. Thanks for the update. We will wait to hear back.
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Friday, July 24th, 2020 AT 2:47 PM
Tiny
JDEVRIES64
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  • 21 POSTS
KASEKENNY1, Sorry it's been a while.
I was able to change out the pitman arm, idler arm and idler arm bracket, unfortunately that really didn't make a real noticeable difference.
So, now I've replaced the following on both sides:
Upper and lower ball joints, wheel hub units, shock absorbers, pitman arm, idler arm and bracket.
I have adjusted the steering gearbox to remove any play.
The sway bar links (bushings) look to be reasonably intact (nothing out of the ordinary)
There appears to be no play in the inner or outer steering linkages.

Thoughts?
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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That is a tough one. At this point, the only thing I can imagine is that it is the gearbox. I understand you adjusted it but if all else checks out like it appears it does, that is all that is left. I read back through this and again, it appears this is all that is left so unless one of the items you are saying checked out okay is not okay, I would go with the gear.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
JDEVRIES64
  • MEMBER
  • 21 POSTS
You may be right as I even went ahead and replaced the sway bar links as well as inner and outer tie rod ends. In hind sight the sway bar links needed to be replaced soon, but the tie rod ends were still tight. Oh well, their replaced now.
I will take it in for an alignment and if that doesn't help, I'll look at the gearbox again.
Strange about the gearbox though as after I tightened it up the looseness in the steering wheel was gone, but it didn't noticeably affect the wandering at speeds above 50 mph.
I'll let you know what comes of it.
Thanks for your help so far :).
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 6:56 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Yeah. I agree with you. It is strange. Normally wander comes from suspension but at this point, the gears in the box may be worn and allowing the truck to wander.

Keep us posted with what you find because I am sure this will help others in the future when they visit this site as it is an odd one. Thanks
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 10:26 AM

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