Hi all. Just joined and posted in intro section. I have a question regarding steering as the title suggests.
So on my used 98 tahoe I just got I'm going through and doing all the usual stuff you need to check/replace (battery, belt, pully, tensioner, water pump, oil change/fluid flush, etc) and I got to the steering. I noticed some shaking up around 70 mph, thought it may be the alignment, so I took it to the local big name tire guys to have it checked out. They told me most likely it was the balance on the tires. Since it's used and the tires are mismatched I thought yeah probably right.
Anyway, after I had them balance all four just because, the guy comes back and tells me I need new shocks (probably, it's almost twenty years old, but I've driven on worse) and that the Pitman and idler arms need replacing. To the tune of 600 bucks for all that.
Now, I said I'll think on it and went home and kind of looked at it myself, as the steering seems really tight. No play in the steering wheel at all. Underneath, it's greasy as hell but all the bushings are in tact. And when I jacked up the drivers side (jack on frame) and put my hands at 9 and 3 there was maybe an inch or two of movement. And looking in there I could see the tie rod pushing the control arm, with Pitman arm attached and moving with them. Looks normal to me. Everything is tight in the bushings, no play at all.
My question is, is this guy trying to sell me a bunch of stuff, is he overly cautious, or do I just not know what I'm looking at. Admittedly, I have never worked on steering before so that could be the case.
I just wanted an opinion from somone who is not in business to sell me work or parts. Thanks for your time.
So on my used 98 tahoe I just got I'm going through and doing all the usual stuff you need to check/replace (battery, belt, pully, tensioner, water pump, oil change/fluid flush, etc) and I got to the steering. I noticed some shaking up around 70 mph, thought it may be the alignment, so I took it to the local big name tire guys to have it checked out. They told me most likely it was the balance on the tires. Since it's used and the tires are mismatched I thought yeah probably right.
Anyway, after I had them balance all four just because, the guy comes back and tells me I need new shocks (probably, it's almost twenty years old, but I've driven on worse) and that the Pitman and idler arms need replacing. To the tune of 600 bucks for all that.
Now, I said I'll think on it and went home and kind of looked at it myself, as the steering seems really tight. No play in the steering wheel at all. Underneath, it's greasy as hell but all the bushings are in tact. And when I jacked up the drivers side (jack on frame) and put my hands at 9 and 3 there was maybe an inch or two of movement. And looking in there I could see the tie rod pushing the control arm, with Pitman arm attached and moving with them. Looks normal to me. Everything is tight in the bushings, no play at all.
My question is, is this guy trying to sell me a bunch of stuff, is he overly cautious, or do I just not know what I'm looking at. Admittedly, I have never worked on steering before so that could be the case.
I just wanted an opinion from somone who is not in business to sell me work or parts. Thanks for your time.
