Variable steering issue

[chevbro]

Greetings from Vancouver Island!

I have been having issues with my 99 Tahoe when traveling the rural streets and going around gentle curves. It is like the power assist steering hesitates. Going into the corner it feels normal then all of a sudden the power assist kicks in and I over steer.
Anybody else expierence this?
What was the fix?
:umn:
I was also wondering what size tire I can fit under the stock truck without body or suspension lifts.

Any ideas??

 

[NYrr496]

Hey!! I gotta watch this thread. My 98 Yukon does exactly the same thing. I noticed that it does it less when you rotate the tires. Once the rears are on the front, it doesn't do it at all for a short time.
I just installed slightly wider tires on my truck and had it aligned and it's doing it less as well... I still feel the problem is there.

BTW I went from stock 245 75 16s to 265 65 17s on Avalanche rims. Height is ALMOST exact... Extra width looks fantastic on the truck.

 

[BBCCARGUY]

steering goofy

hey all sorry but glad to hear I'm not the only one I have 95 tahoe and when I bought it it was out of align up front I have the knowledge and tools I aligned it to computer specs found not one bad front end part and now am having the same prob thought I messed up put it back on the rack and found it is in the green what gives????????

 

[chevbro]

I had an alignment as well, front end was within specs. I was wondering if it could be related to the serpentine belt slipping or....... something to do with the variable assist?

 

[chevbro]

Cool |I found the other post re. the EVO sensor I bet that is my problem, I wiil give that a go next week.

 

[79powerwagon]

My 95 with 156,000 miles on it doesn't do that, it is the typical GM "one finger" steering. But mine is sloppy. I have a line on a used steering gear box which I'll buy and probably rebuild, but in the mean time, can the old one just be adjusted some?

 

[NYrr496]

You may need to rebuild your tie rod ends and your idler arm and pitman arm. That's what causes those to get sloppy. My 98 has 224,000 miles and I rebuilt those parts about 70,000 miles ago. Been nice ever since.

I saw the other post about the sensor. Pickin' one up tomorrow.

 

[Rawkuz323]

How much did they charge you to fix this??

 

[NYrr496]

How much did they charge you to fix this??

Are you asking about the steering sensor or the tie rod ends and idler arm?

If you're asking about the front end components, I think I paid about 100 bucks for all the parts and 25 for the pitman arm puller.

 

[Rawkuz323]

Thanks, I think my Tahoe is going to need all that...

 

[NYrr496]

There's a pitman arm puller that has the ram on the inside so the tool is more compact. It allows you to separate the pitman arm from the steering box with the box still in the frame. HUGE time saver. I'll post the name and part number later if you want.

 

[Mars Barz]

I had this problem also. The fix for me was a steering wheel position sensor. Might also be known as an EVO sensor. Scares the crap out of you the first couple times it happens. But its a easy fix. Should only take like 10-15 min. The sensor is under the dashboard on the steering colum. And make sure the steering wheel is pointed to 5 o'clock it will make the job much easier. there is one plug in for the sensor. its about 6 inches up the colum from the sensor, just remove the tape from the plug in and connect the new one.

 

[Rawkuz323]

This info helps alot!! thanks!

 

[BBCCARGUY]

Steering box rebuild kit

I was wondering if there is a kit for rebuilding the steering the box.I found in my case the box has too much play in it. It couldnt be a tie rod or link it had to be the box any help would be good thanks.

 

[olpir8]

steering

I had the exact problem on my 99 "hoe" and the problem was the
steering speed sensor.
It sits on the steering column near the floor board. Take one bolt out of the
column, push the rod coming through the floor board down enough to slip the
sensor off the column, unplug it from a nasty tape job and replace it with a
new one. About a 30 minute job... works every time...
The sensor is anywhere from $35 to $50.
Good Luck... I promise that will fix the problem.