Steering question/problem??

[99graytahoe]

First off, This is my first time onto the Tahoe/Yukon Forum. I have a 1999 chevy tahoe, 2wd, 4 door, with the 350. I have a question about the front end of the truck. The tahoe's has alot of slop in the steering. what i mean is the steering wheel is not tight like my 96 gmc truck. I changed the Idler arm today and as well as the 4 shocks(other problem). After I changed the idler arm, it hasn't tightened the steering up any at all. My question is what else could be the problem or are all the tahoes/yukons have a loose sterring in them.. Thanks Justin

 

[SunlitComet]

What is the condition of the pitman arm?

 

[99graytahoe]

The pitman arm looks to be in okay condition. when i tunr the steering wheel i haven't noticed any slope ,like i did in the idler arm. I also read that there is a way to adjust the gear box to make it a little tight feel. is that true? I guess this weekend i will change the pitman arm out and see if that works out. thanks for the help. Justin

 

[SunlitComet]

Sort of. You basically tighten the preloads. It may help or worsen the situation. If it helps it is usually only temporary. Get a second person to move the steering wheel while you look for play in the components. Don't just throw parts at it.

 

[L8RH8R]

99graytahoe...It appears you and I are having a lot of the same problems. After I did my suspension upgrade (which i addressed on your other post) my steering problems persisted. My next course of action is the gear box. About $230 with exchange at AutoZone and O'reilly's. May do that this weekend. I will let you know how it turns out.

 

[99graytahoe]

ok thanks alot L8RH8R. It seems like something wants to stay wrong with the truck.

 

[ch4d]

Hey this is just a suggestion but your steering box may be a bit loose happened to my friend and that did help but eh i got to give some advise to try and help out.

 

[L8RH8R]

99graytahoe: So I replaced the steering gear today and it appears to have improved the overall feeling of the steering. It is much tighter. Of course my steering wheel is crooked, however it was crooked before I started. Fixing that is for another day.

 

[SunlitComet]

If crooked get an alignment done and make sure a shop has the steering wheel straight before and after the adjustments.

 

[the big blue bus]

what box did you get? mines all sloppy and i hate it but read bad about reman boxes. i want to go to hydro boost brakes so i may just wait till then to swap the gear box. i hink my column has play in it too :/