03 steering problem

[jasper10101010]

I have the same type problem on my 03...

I bought the truck used, it has been in a slight wreck at one point...Nothing major, but could contribute. My right front tire is wearing on the outside...It was pulling to the right, but I had the dealer I bought it from replace the tires, I paid to have it aligned at the tire place. Still, it wears on the front right...only on the outside...Sounds like my camber is out???

Help!!!

 

[graphicideas1]

I have no tire wear at all.

 

[Old Goat]

Tspain,

I'm a Chevy tech and you would be suprised how many alignments we do, that people have just picked up from Firestone, Goodyear, etc. and brought to us to verify the alignment. They are almost always out of specs. Alot of the times, the plastic knockout tabs are still in the upper control arms, meaning, they didn't adjust anything, just set the toe to center the steering wheel. And even then, the toe is still out of specs.

So, what you are saying is that those blue & white plastic thingy's are preset adjustments put in at the factory, and are generaly taken out when an alignment is done?
http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?t=3844

 

[RIDE N FLY]

I have never had that type of problem with the steering, but i do have the occasional locking up. The steering locks up for a few seconds mostly when the motor is cold. once it has warmed up i usually don't have this problem. Could this be the gear box or the power steering pump going bad?

 

[graphicideas1]

i found another problem, when towing a brand new 18' aluminum fishing boat I get a small vibration in the steering wheel only felt when towing.

 

[tspain]

Tspain,

So, what you are saying is that those blue & white plastic thingy's are preset adjustments put in at the factory, and are generaly taken out when an alignment is done?
http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?t=3844

Yes, those are put in at the factory and have to be removed to adjust camber/and or caster.

 

[tspain]

i found another problem, when towing a brand new 18' aluminum fishing boat I get a small vibration in the steering wheel only felt when towing.

It may be just enough weight to raise the front of the vehicle up so the front tires lean out (positive camber) and cause a little vibration. Check to make sure you dont have a worn idler arm / pitman arm or both.

 

[graphicideas1]

Went uder the car again today. Put it on jack stands, everything looks & feels good. On the ground under load I feel , but not hear or see, a knock. I can only feel it on the driver side, but I can not see where it is coming from. I also get a growl from under the hood that is steering related that i feel in the steering wheel, it is not a typical power steering whine. This growl happens when I am driving/turning and is ramdom. I am going crazy with this, had shops look and everyone says everything is tight. I dont want to just swapping parts.

 

[tspain]

Went uder the car again today. Put it on jack stands, everything looks & feels good. On the ground under load I feel , but not hear or see, a knock. I can only feel it on the driver side, but I can not see where it is coming from. I also get a growl from under the hood that is steering related that i feel in the steering wheel, it is not a typical power steering whine. This growl happens when I am driving/turning and is ramdom. I am going crazy with this, had shops look and everyone says everything is tight. I dont want to just swapping parts.

Do you have the new intermediate steering shaft? Or has the current one you have been lubed lately?

Also, I've been replacing lower steering column bearings like crazy for them being loose and worn. It makes a horrible knocking sound in the steering, over bumps and turning. It sounds just like the steering shaft.

It's really easy to check for. From under the dash on the inside, grab the bottom of the steering column where the steering shaft bolts to, and try and move it up and down (push / pull) and see if there is any movement in it.

The bearing is #1 in the pic below.

 

[graphicideas1]

the shaft is good, it is more a grawl than a bump anyway.

 

[graphicideas1]

i may replace my steering gear box. I read when changing the shaft that the wheel must be locked with a speacial tool, is that true with the PS gear box also? How much does the colum have to ture before damage?

 

[tspain]

It doens't have to be locked with the tool for either the shaft replacement, or gear box replacement. Just make sure the steering wheel remains centered and the front wheels are pointed straight ahead when you disconnect the steering components.

If the SIR coil gets turned off center and you put everything back together, when you go to make a turn, the cable inside the coil will snap.

Just keep the wheel from turning and you'll be alright.

 

[lskipper]

For what it is worth, I had a S-10 doing the same thing. It was the ball joints. All were replaced, everythng tightened right up.