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[Help] Can you identify this?

RedAlert

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RedAlert New Member

RedAlert

Posted
Posted

Hello, I've recently had my entire front end replaced on my 1994 gmc suburban k1500 4x4 suv. Pitman, ball joints, idle arms, alignment, everything but the gear box and steering column. It cost me ~$1400 dollars and I still have extreme pulling as soon as I let go of the steering wheel while driving to both the right and left. I decided to peek under the front end and see if my mechanic actually replaced the parts or screwed me, because the extreme play is still present. This is getting very hard to control on the road. I must look like a drunk behind the wheel. This is what I found...

 

CAM00324_1.jpg
img LEFT TIRE/SIDE

 

CAM00325_1.jpg
RIGHT TIRE/SIDE

 

What are these two tall "bolt-like" parts called? My left tire also feels like it's about to break off and fly down the road when I get up to about 55-60 MPH, which is the one in the pic with no washer/rubber thing on it.

 

Both parts actually move when I touch them. Is this normal?

 

Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

Look like the swaybar end links

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

 

kstruckcountry Senior Enthusiast

kstruckcountry

Posted
Posted

Swaybar links like Chris said. They aren't essential and aren't what's causing your problem. They're not right though that's for sure.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RedAlert New Member

RedAlert

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you both for such quick replies. From what I hear, play is 'very common' in 1990's suburbans...Do either of you know what the problem could be? My mechanic doesn't seem very competent...I'd rather go to a GMC dealer at this point (and bring the lube).

 

I have no idea what to do about this play...I feel like I've replaced everything that I possibly could so far....

Chris Senior Enthusiast

Chris

Posted
Posted

I wish I knew

 

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

 

kstruckcountry Senior Enthusiast

kstruckcountry

Posted
Posted

Well I think the play usually comes from a "rag" joint in the steering shaft. It can usually be replaced with a shaft that doesn't have it. But if the truck is pulling really bad I'd guess the alignment is way off too. Maybe your mechanic didn't align it after he installed all the new parts? And as far as the swaybar links, they should be very easy to fix.

 

I would err on the side of caution and take it to someone who knows their stuff.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

LongrangeLauber Senior Enthusiast

LongrangeLauber

Posted
Posted
Well I think the play usually comes from a "rag" joint in the steering shaft. It can usually be replaced with a shaft that doesn't have it. But if the truck is pulling really bad I'd guess the alignment is way off too. Maybe your mechanic didn't align it after he installed all the new parts? And as far as the swaybar links, they should be very easy to fix.

 

I would err on the side of caution and take it to someone who knows their stuff.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

+1 on the rag joint. They have a replacement for it. Instead of rubber it uses an aluminum spacer. You feel a little more through the steering but better than replacing it all the time.

 

Sent while drinkin' a cold one...

 

 

j-ten-ner Senior Enthusiast

j-ten-ner

Posted
Posted

Well I think the play usually comes from a "rag" joint in the steering shaft. It can usually be replaced with a shaft that doesn't have it. But if the truck is pulling really bad I'd guess the alignment is way off too. Maybe your mechanic didn't align it after he installed all the new parts? And as far as the swaybar links, they should be very easy to fix. I would err on the side of caution and take it to someone who knows their stuff. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

x2...on the alignment.

 

so long

j-ten-ner

RedAlert New Member

RedAlert

Posted
  • Author
Posted

 

I appreciate all of the replies. I took a look under the hood again and followed the diagrams of where/what one looks like for a suburban...and I'm not even seeing anything that remotely resembles a rag joint on the steering column going to the steering gear box. It has to have one though, right? Also, I don't believe it was aligned at all because no receipt existed. What are your opinions on mudders/modification shops? (people who actually have a passion for 4x4's and stuff)are they better to go to rather than these little mechanic shops? I feel like they might be. Or at least know their 'stuff' better. I'm dealing with a slush sound right now too because the guy didn't put my hose on right and I have an air pocket somewhere in the engine/radiator... I want to get this done right and fix this problem.

**EDITED FOR PICTURES**

 

I think I found it.

 

CAM00326.jpg

This looks like it could be my rag joint coming from the steering wheel column through the firewall.

 

CAM00327.jpg

A boot that looks broken to me. No idea what it does or if it even is, but the boot looks bulged.

 

CAM00328.jpg

Top-down view of the steering/gearbox. You can see where my bolt/nut has been stripped a bit from me tightening it every now and then. It use to fix the problem for a few days.

Btuggle88 Senior Enthusiast

Btuggle88

Posted
Posted

If you tighten the nut and it fixes it for a few days replace your gear box it sounds like when you tighten the adjusting screw it works but not for long so it sounds as if the gear is wearing out and don't take it back to that guy if he can't put all your parts on and help you diagnose your problem.

Duelin Enthusiast

Duelin

Posted
Posted

I think it is time to find yourself a good front-end shop. A shop that works on front-ends every day. I have talked about this before on the forum. Talk to your friends or anyone as far as that goes and find out who is the best front-end shop in your area and go there. Another thing I would never go to a dealer for a front-end alignment.

1997SierraSLT Enthusiast

1997SierraSLT

Posted
Posted

First pic shows incorrect installation of sway bar linkage. It should have rubber bushing above and below the sway bar as well as rubber bushing above and below the lower control arm.

 

As others have said, this is independent of alignment. Second, for $1400, this mechanic should have replaced all steering linkage (tie rods, center link, and idler pitman arm) at minimum and hopefully upper/lower ball joints at the control arms.

 

If the vehicle is pulling hard after replacement of these components, it's likely there is an alignment issue.

 

A bad rag joint would only cause slop in the steering.

LongrangeLauber Senior Enthusiast

LongrangeLauber

Posted
Posted
I think it is time to find yourself a good front-end shop. A shop that works on front-ends every day. I have talked about this before on the forum. Talk to your friends or anyone as far as that goes and find out who is the best front-end shop in your area and go there. Another thing I would never go to a dealer for a front-end alignment.

 

Hmmm the only place I get my truck aligned at is the dealer. Actually the cheapest place around for me and the only ones that do the job right the first time around. They don't like it that they have to work on a lifted truck, but they always do an outstanding job for me!

 

Sent while drinkin' a cold one...

 

 

Duelin Enthusiast

Duelin

Posted
Posted

Hmmm the only place I get my truck aligned at is the dealer. Actually the cheapest place around for me and the only ones that do the job right the first time around. They don't like it that they have to work on a lifted truck, but they always do an outstanding job for me! Sent while drinkin' a cold one...

1: Dealers don't do alignments or front-end work all day long.

2: You very seldom get the same tech doing the job.

3: Most dealers have their tech working flat rate. And a tech is not going the spend an hour or an hour and a half doing a alignment when he only get paid for .5 hour. So you get a rushed job. Not necessarily the best job because it is rushed.

4: How many techs on flat rate is going to take the time to calibrate the machine when he might only use it once a week.

5: How many flat rate tech is going to take the vehicle for a test drive after he get done and see how it drives and handles when he don't get paid for it.

6: So when you pick up your vehicle the steering wheel isn't centered. And you go back 3 or 4 times to get it corrected and it still don't get done.

7: Would you rather have a flat rate tech who only does an alignment once in a while. Or someone who has been doing alignments all day every day for the last 25 or 30 years. I think that is a no brainer.

These are a few reason. And prior experience with different dealers. And I could go on and on.

 

Just remember doing an alignment and doing an alignment correctly are two different things

 

I am glad you have had good luck with your dealer. But in the majority of the cases that is not the customers experience.

 

The shop that I go to is the one that corrects all the alignments that the dealers have screwed up. He had a Chevy Suburban the other say that a dealer installed 4 new tires and aligned. In four weeks it was ripping the tires off the front.

RedAlert New Member

RedAlert

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all the replies.

 

Looks like I'll be calling around to find out where a good front-end shop is in either Tampa, FL or St. Pete., FL.

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