99 Tahoe steering issue

[M38A1]

Hi all,
Just picked up a '99 Tahoe 4WD with 119k miles and in excellent condition for it's age. However, I think something is not quite right in the front end under a specific condition.

I normally drive a Ford F250 PSD 4x4, so I know what the feeling of being 'locked in' on the front is like in a tight turn. The little chirp&jerk on a full wheel lock to either side.

So the new-to-me Tahoe does the same thing when in a full lock to either side. A chirp&jerk, yet the 2WD light is illuminated. And when I go to 4WD, it's much more pronounced, so back to the 2WD and it pretty much goes away, but not totally.

I've also noticed the front tires are considerably more worn on the first inch of the outside.

It just feels like it's locked in and there's the same bind feeling like locked in when all indications are it's not.

Is this normal or is there something in the system I can start poking around with and troubleshoot?

Thanks in advance....

 

[lesterl]

Unlike your ford the front wheels and axles are full time engaged, the front end should drop out and the actuator could be bad there..... Jack up the front end and spin one tire, other souldnt spin and neither should the driveshaft, try the other should be same result.

 

[M38A1]

Well, I apologize for not responding. Life kind of throws a curveball every so often.

I did do the above test by jacking the front end up, both wheels off the ground and spun first the drivers side and only that wheel spun/no driveshaft movement. Then repeated on the passenger side and only that wheel spun, again with no driveshaft movement.

It's done this from day one of new ownership when my Dad bought the truck in '99. Under a full right or full left wheel lock, the front just seems to chirp/jerk/drag a bit. More noticeable if there's a little debris like rocks, pebbles or mud on the road surface, but does it without fail in the dry concrete driveway and roadways.

Any other ideas?

Some folks on another board non-truck related suggested the following:

1) Check the front wheels toe in.
If it has too much toe in you will get the excessive outside edge wear.
GM trucks front end geometry has the inside when turning in more in tight turns so a bit of that fighting feeling is normal. Too much toe in will make it much worse.

My Observations: I'll be replacing the front and rear sway bar bushings, installing new shocks on all for points, and cranking the torsion bars for about 3/4" up soon so I'll get it aligned at that point. I've put the 2005 version of Tahoe/truck wheels on her to freshen up the looks and still have the same chirp and jerk.

My parents had a very hard right turn INTO their driveway, then the same hard right turn backing OUT of their driveway. Could that be part of the tire wear? Sure doesn't address the chirp part though. Not sure it's a bearing problem as it's too consistent in it's presentation.

 

[lesterl]

Definitely get it aligned....

Rotate the tires regularly.....

 

[M38A1]

Yes, totally agree this is really leaning towards an alignment issue. Thank you

 

[Todd D]

I know these model tahoe's turn VERY sharp and can sort of give the locked in feeling since the tires are skipping a little at full turn. Hope this helps.

 

[Mayhem]

Are the tires hitting the frame at full turn? Even my 2wd acts funny at full turn and it does very turn sharp for a truck. Its about 2 ft shorter than the new 2014 pick up I have.

 

[lesterl]

Mine had lowered spindles on it and the wheels would rub on the lower control arm at lock.