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Side To Side Play In Steering Rack?

illMATTic

By illMATTic
in Ask A GM Technician

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illMATTic Enthusiast

illMATTic

Posted
Posted

Service has had my truck for close to a week now. I took it in because I heard some noise in the steering and had some side to side play. When i move the steering wheel back and forth, you can see the steering rack move side to side in conjunction with the noise I hear.

 

They told me there is supposed to be play in it. Is this true? I can see a good 1/4" movement right where is bolts to the frame on the driver side.

 

thanks, Matt

rodram Enthusiast

rodram

Posted
Posted

.... welll, I have heard of some '07s that have worn out ball joints already!!!!!

.... particularly on trucks with lift or lowering kits

 

.... normal....? who knows what is normal, but it is happening!

 

.... if it is at the dealership, then there is a perfect chance to compare the 'normal play' in the steering to an equivalent truck with 0 miles on it from their inventory

 

... my bet is you need new ball joints (if that is what it is, it should about 10 minutes to diagnose, and two years to fight for the warranty replacement)

 

... the noise could come from shocks or shock mount bushings as well.... but again, pretty easy to diagnose

Matt_ Senior Enthusiast

Matt_

Posted
Posted

There should be NO side to side play between the crossmember and the steering rack.

 

Good idea posted above, have the idiot that's telling you it's normal walk outside and show you it do the same on a brand new truck.

 

FYI, if they are persistent that it IS normal, then tell them to put it in writing and sign off on it..... and mention the words safety hazard & liability and see what they say :shakehead:

illMATTic Enthusiast

illMATTic

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ok service has blamed everything on the lowering kit ofcoarse. They didnt even look at the steering rack. As soon as they put it up on the lift and looked at it, they immediatly blame the lowering kit. Damn it!

 

I was acctually under the truck with the tech and pointed out the spot where I saw the movement.

He said "oh yeah they are supposed to have some movement. The rack is mounted with rubber bushings". WTF????

 

So now the service mannager tells me that what ever his tech tells him he has to go with. I said a few choice words and then asked him if all the trucks on the lot have this play. The manager replied with his shoulders in the air, "well if my tech says so".

 

No work was performed at all. What do I do now?

 

Matt

Matt_ Senior Enthusiast

Matt_

Posted
Posted

Matt, the steering racks are mounted with rubber bushings... but they shouldn't have 1/4" of play!! Actually, with the truck in the air there should be 0" of play because there's no force on them... imagine how much your rack must move when you're taking a corner when all that force is transferred through the rack&pinion.

 

At this point, its you Vs them which SUCKS because you won't get good service and then even if you make them put another truck on a lift and the steering rack has no play, it sounds like they'll still try to blame it on the lowering kit.... so its all about how much you're willing to argue.

 

Me personally, id go up the chain in command.

 

If you didn't already demand that they put another truck on a lift and show you the play in a brand new vehicle, you may want to just try finding a different dealer. you gotta be able to put your foot down man :shakehead:

illMATTic Enthusiast

illMATTic

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I am going to try to talk to the service manager tomorrow. He was not around today when I was there. :shakehead:

 

No pics of the kit yet. Its only been on for two weeks now. It is just a set 2" spindles and 2" strut up front. Its the same style kit that 1000's of people have used for years now.

 

thanks guys, Ill let you know what I come up with tomorrow.

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