03 Tahoe Center Link is Crooked, but Nothing is Loose...

[squeeler642]

Did a complete overhaul of the front end of my 03 'hoe about a year ago and it just... hasn't felt right ever since. Made another post previously describing the issue but came up dry on answers. But I checked out all the PNs and have since verified the numbers match with the OEM PNs (or that they have OEM interchange numbers listed on Rock Auto at a minimum).

Got under the truck to mount my GoPro (figured watching the steering/suspension articulate as I was driving might give me a clue) and saw this in the preview image...



Why is the drag link lower on the driver/pitman arm side of the truck? The steering shaft nut doesn't have as much thread engagement as I would have liked, but they are fully engaged and the thing is torqued to spec. Just didn't think there would be THAT much of a difference in geometry but... man. I think that amount of difference could definitely cause the bizarre feel in the steering. The symptoms are more obvious at speed or with more articulation of the suspension.

Because you will ask... I originally torqued everything to factory spec, and then verified the torque on everything I replaced about a month (~1000 mi) after completing all the work last summer.

Anyone have any thoughts on where to start? Feel like I need to order pitman/idler arms from the dealer to compare part geometry or something. All now kicking myself for not doing a closer old/new part comparison before throwing all the old shit away.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[mattbta]

Pitman sure doesn't look seated properly.

 

[squeeler642]

Pitman sure doesn't look seated properly.

I picked one up and plan to replace it today and see how it looks.

Also recorded a video on the GoPro this morning, shows absolutely zero movement of anything in the steering other than what is supposed to move. Everything is tight, nothing has any slop...

Will see how the pitman arm looks when it goes on, hopefully it flattens the center link...

 

[mattbta]

i want to say there are two pitman arms with different spline count or something....but i might be imagining.

 

[mattbta]

and make sure that centerlink is oriented correctly with the tie rod droops headed toward the back of the truck.

Scrubbing/binding while turning at near full lock

Make that 3 of us with the same issues! Mine is an 04 4wd and it scrubs & hops when turning. I've experienced the same problem with holding an alignment, it goes out fairly quickly and I've been told by multiple shops that everything is tight. I don't think everything is tight, as I have a...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[squeeler642]

i want to say there are two pitman arms with different spline count or something....but i might be imagining.

and make sure that centerlink is oriented correctly with the tie rod droops headed toward the back of the truck.

Scrubbing/binding while turning at near full lock

Make that 3 of us with the same issues! Mine is an 04 4wd and it scrubs & hops when turning. I've experienced the same problem with holding an alignment, it goes out fairly quickly and I've been told by multiple shops that everything is tight. I don't think everything is tight, as I have a...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

You both are correct. The center link is correctly oriented, and the truck turns lock-to-lock just fine. And there are two different spline counts depending... The 1500s (and this truck) are all four-spline.