steering stiff after new ball joints

[west chevy hd]

I have a 2008 silverado 4x4 1500. I installed a 2.5 level kit last summer. I had bad ball joints so i replaced all of them with new ones and got an alignment. The truck will drive straight and its tight but if you turn the wheel it wont self center. It feels stiff. After making a turn it just wants to stay there and i have to re steer it back to straight. I went to a different shop and had it re-aligned with the same results. Something is sticking. My guess is the ball joints. How can i fix this. Its kinda dangerous feeling.

[oldmann]

I am not a mechanic, but it sounds like someone installed the castle nuts on the steering idler arm with too much force. Back it off a cog and see if that helps.

[gmtech4]

Sorry but the idler arm has nothing to do with ball joints so don't do that

[gmtech4]

Don't 08 half tons rack and pinion steering , ? So no idler is even on the truck

[MikeNH]

I thought faster is what would effect the wheel not returning to center? It's been seven years since I worked in a shop so I'm a bit rusty.

[west chevy hd]

Still looking for help on this. It has to be something to do with the ball joints. Its the only thing that was changed. I greased them again and still has that stiff feeling. Its not a wandering feeling its like it just wants to stay going where the steering wheel was let off at. I think the term is called "Memory steering". I guess what im looking for is if anyone else has had this issue and how long does it take for it to break in.

[gmtech4]

loose the lift and see what its like ,,,maybe an alignment

 

who did the ball joints ?

[hzhardy]

Depending on how they were in stalled they could have been damaged by deforming its case. Did you originally top them off with grease wjen installed ifnyou did it? Most meed to be topped of when installed.

[LeoS41280]

Not real familiar with R&P steering. If it it was an older truck with a steering gear I,d say it was the spool valve.

[TooTall1]

I thought the ball joints on the NNBS weren't replaceable, that you had to replace the control arm?

[west chevy hd]

truck has 160k miles. I replaced the upper arms w/ball joints and the lower ball joints. I installed them my self and the bottoms went in true and straight. I topped them all with grease. I had it aligned by two different shops. The tires are brand new. I cant remove the lift or my tires wont fit. When i had an alignment they said my caster adjustment was maxed out. Im starting to think that its not so much to do with the new joints but that it cant be aligned right. I started a new thread asking about a caster/camber kit to add more adjustment and where to find it. Still no answers on it.

[gmtech4]

then change tires ,,,,remove the lift !!! ,your truck is messed up

[west chevy hd]

then change tires ,,,,remove the lift !!! ,your truck is messed up

 

 

I think i'll try and save some money and just fix the alignment issue rather than spending another grand on a new set of smaller tires. I was just trying to get some pointers on others that have done the same thing i have done.

[gmtech4]

I get that , abviously , you have to start some where , go over your work maybe a good place .... Idk bud

[TooTall1]

Which upper control arms did you install? Were they stock or ones designed for a front end lift? I know the Rough Country replacements for the 3.5" lift help correct the ball joint geometry.