My truck has been making a noise and I can feel something in the steering wheel when making a fast left hand turn or very slow turn either way in a parking lot for the last 18 months. First I thought it was a CV axle but I don't think it is any more. I also noticed that when I hit a speed bump on my street it seems as if something shifts rights before the suspension moves, so now I think it may be a suspension bushing. Both my mechanic and the dealer can't figure out what it is and say everything feels tight. But they also can't replicate it. I think it is also leading to the loose steering that I am dealing with.

I drove it allot this weekend and on back county 2 lane roads it is hard to keep it on the road and in the wind it is everywhere. there is allot of play.
in the wheel. I replaced the intermediate shaft 4-5 years ago and the steering box and ideler arm about 3-4 years ago. I replaced the outer tie rods about 1.5-2 years ago.

If it is a bushing, I don't know what bushing it is, It would cost me $800 in parts to replace all the control arms, or about $450 to replace the lower ones. This would include all new ball joints.

I could also try to replace the inner tire rods, i heard this could lead to issues.

When I replaced the steering box, I bought it off ebay as a new unit from what seemed to be a supplier, but i really wasn't sure. It could have been out of spec. I recently played with the preload screw on the box and I think I made crap worse.

I used Moog outer tie rods if that makes any difference, It seems as if the noises came after I replaced the outer tie rods, but not really sure.

What should I try to replace? LCA, UCA, Inner tie rods, out tie rods (again), steering box? I just want it fixed, I want the loose feeling gone.


How hard it is to replace the lowers on a 2001 Silverado 4x4?

the truck has 158K on it

 

I still have the old steering box and I could try turning the adjustment screw a quarter turn to tighten it up, I didn't really notice much difference going from the old box to the new, but it did stop making one noise when i did.

 

You're probably wanting new pitman and idler arms. Bad ones will allow the center link to rotate and cause the wheels to pull in and push out relative to each other. Easy test:
Jack front end up, put on stands. Grab both tires at the same time and push/pull on them together. If you see the center link moving, it's the pitman and idler arms worn out.

This test will also highlight any other weak spots. Like they say, the strongest man alive can't move a good tie rod end.

 

When I replaced the idler arm and steering box they included new pitman and idler arms. could they have gone bad in 30K miles, possibly but who knows

 

Give the test a try, you'll probably find the problem part with it.

If you think it's a bushing, get a pry bar and pry on each of the bushings and upper and lower ball joints.

 

yeah I was going to say the steering box preload on the worm gear. Might want to ditch the remanufactured one?

And not to recommend just throwing money at a problem you can't diagnose, but the cognito pitman and idler arm support brace kit is awesome for keeping the draglink tight. Even works with worn arms because it holds the link in double shear. I ended up putting the kit on both of my trucks.

good luck, and please update us on what you find!

 

Check your wheel bearings. Jack it up and rock the tire back and forth to check.

 

because I don't have easy access to tools at our apt, I caved and took it to the dealer, the tech said he didn't think there was anything particulary wrong with the steering, but he said the inner and outer tie rods had play in them. I replaced the Inner and outer tie rods on April/16/2010 with aftermarket units. He did say that they are showing more play then would be expected from fairly new tie rods. the noise I get while turning started in May 2010, I have suspected they were bad.

I replaced the steering shaft and gear box in 2009. Now I was stupid and thought the play was comming from the gear box and over adjusted it. I got it kinda back right, but it still feels nothcy sometimes while turning.

 

Went to the dealer and rode with the service advisor, he noted that there was a serious deadspot in the steering box.

I have a two options and they are basically the same cost.
I could replace the inner tie rods, out tie rods, and the steering box myself
or
I could have the dealer replace the Tie rods and adjust the the steering box. He said that they could replace the box, but he said there is no guarentee the new one would be any better. When I replaced the box, I didn't notice much difference between my original and the new one.

 

I think I have the same problem as yours but on my 2x4 lowers and on 22's when cruzing on the freeway 70-80 the wheel is very touchie any bump or dips seems to toss the truck. I jacked it up and check everything and it feels tight. While holding the steering shaft I had my girl turn the steering wheel and thre is minimum play. I am leaning towards the box