Weird Steering Question

roperninja · October 9, 2010

When I am driving down the highway or at a decent speed is the only time its very noticable but I have no clue what this could be.

Lets say I am cruising at 60mph and the highway starts to curve left not too hard but enough for almost a quarter turn of the steering wheel.

Now, as soon as I begin to turn the steering wheel (I have slack in my steering maybe an in or so on the wheel), as soon as it starts to steer tightly, the wheel feels like all of a sudden for a split second the wheel just feels wayyyy loose for maybe what is a couple centimeters of the turn of the wheel, almost like everything just let go, but then it goes away and turns tightly throughout the rest of the turn and does nothing wierd coming out of the turn. The feeling is one as if it were not to almost immediately quit feels so loose you are sure to go flying left or right out of control with no resistance whatsoever.

At first, I thought this was only turning one direction but it does it left or right, it doesnt matter, but I do not think it ALWAYS happens, but it might be and I might just not notice.

Is this making any sense?

RayGMC · October 10, 2010

Go to an alignment shop and ask them to inspect your steering components. They will tell you if you need to replace any of the parts due to worn bushings.

roperninja · October 10, 2010

I just had it aligned and I just put all new steering components on (tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, ball joints, wheel hubs) prettymuch everything but a steering box. Does this information matter. It did this before and after.

Go to an alignment shop and ask them to inspect your steering components. They will tell you if you need to replace any of the parts due to worn bushings.

RayGMC · October 10, 2010

There should be some adjustment left in the steering box if it hasn't been used already. They can tighten it up some. My 01 started doing the same thing at 130,000 miles.

roperninja · October 10, 2010

From my understanding there are two adjustments that can be made to the steering box and I am only able to find one place to do so and it is the adjustment that tightens the steering while the other is to lessen the slack, any idea where to look for the other adjustment? I only plan on doing it slightly to see if it changes the problem.

There should be some adjustment left in the steering box if it hasn't been used already. They can tighten it up some. My 01 started doing the same thing at 130,000 miles.

builderpaul · October 10, 2010

When I am driving down the highway or at a decent speed is the only time its very noticeable but I have no clue what this could be.

Lets say I am cruising at MPH and the highway starts to curve left not too hard but enough for almost a quarter turn of the steering wheel.

Now, as soon as I begin to turn the steering wheel (I have slack in my steering maybe an in or so on the wheel), as soon as it starts to steer tightly, the wheel feels like all of a sudden for a split second the wheel just feels Way loose for maybe what is a couple centimeters of the turn of the wheel, almost like everything just let go, but then it goes away and turns tightly throughout the rest of the turn and does nothing weird coming out of the turn. The feeling is one as if it were not to almost immediately quit feels so loose you are sure to go flying left or right out of control with no resistance whatsoever.

At first, I thought this was only turning one direction but it does it left or right, it doesn't matter, but I do not think it ALWAYS happens, but it might be and I might just not notice.

Is this making any sense?

Sounds like a failing EVO sensor. This is located on the steering column under the dash. It varies the amount of power steering pressure in relation to the speed. I changed mine, in a 98 2500, after similar symptoms.

gmtech4 · October 10, 2010

+1 ^^^^^^^^^

roperninja · October 10, 2010

I like to think I am pretty handy guy but I didnt even know that part existed. Is an expensive part? I was on rockauto and could not find anything that said EVO sensor.

When I am driving down the highway or at a decent speed is the only time its very noticeable but I have no clue what this could be.

Lets say I am cruising at MPH and the highway starts to curve left not too hard but enough for almost a quarter turn of the steering wheel.

Now, as soon as I begin to turn the steering wheel (I have slack in my steering maybe an in or so on the wheel), as soon as it starts to steer tightly, the wheel feels like all of a sudden for a split second the wheel just feels Way loose for maybe what is a couple centimeters of the turn of the wheel, almost like everything just let go, but then it goes away and turns tightly throughout the rest of the turn and does nothing weird coming out of the turn. The feeling is one as if it were not to almost immediately quit feels so loose you are sure to go flying left or right out of control with no resistance whatsoever.

At first, I thought this was only turning one direction but it does it left or right, it doesn't matter, but I do not think it ALWAYS happens, but it might be and I might just not notice.

Is this making any sense?

Sounds like a failing EVO sensor. This is located on the steering column under the dash. It varies the amount of power steering pressure in relation to the speed. I changed mine, in a 98 2500, after similar symptoms.

gmtech4 · October 10, 2010

call a dealer ,thats all bud

the price is what it is .

txab · October 10, 2010

Look under steering wheel motion sensor. Look under "Body - Interior"

Here's a Dorman part # 905510, I think it's for your model. Double check to be sure

roperninja · October 10, 2010

Called the auto parts store to no avail. Im guessing its a dealer only part?

roperninja · October 10, 2010

Whoops, posted without seeing your last reply. Here I go again!

roperninja · October 10, 2010

Works in conjunction with speed sensitive steering and anti-theft electronics.

^--- what the one next to the part number you suggested says. Is this not me?

txab · October 10, 2010

Works in conjunction with speed sensitive steering and anti-theft electronics.

^--- what the one next to the part number you suggested says. Is this not me?

Check with your local parts place and ask about "steering wheel motion sensor". Maybe they can find it that way. Also you could give them the Dorman #'s and they could cross it. They should carry the part

ollie2009 · December 6, 2010

Works in conjunction with speed sensitive steering and anti-theft electronics.

^--- what the one next to the part number you suggested says. Is this not me?

Check with your local parts place and ask about "steering wheel motion sensor". Maybe they can find it that way. Also you could give them the Dorman #'s and they could cross it. They should carry the part

Hey, did you ever get resolution to your steering problem? I have a 97 5.0L Sierra, with 125K, and the exact same problem ever since I got it at 118K. Same as you, when I went to the parts dealer they couldn't find anything around steering wheel sensor or steering sensor.