Loose Steering

Piney · August 11, 2004

I have a '93 Silverado with 120K miles and in an attempt to "tighten" up the front end, I've replaced all the ball joints, tie rod ends and upper and lower control arm bushings. The steering just feels loose and it's driving me crazy. Anybody have any suggestions on what I need to do to eliminate this? Thanks!

Wingnut · August 12, 2004

Idler arm and pittman arm.

My 89 went through those like candy. When they started to go, I would have a lot of play in the steering wheel, and the truck like to pull to the high spots in the road.

If you replace them, I would suggest spending the extra money and investing in a higher quality part than OEM. I put Moog parts on it the last time, and they never wore out.

Piney · August 12, 2004

Wingnut,

I forgot to mention those, but I replaced those as well. Used MOOG brand on everything. Matter of fact, after I replaced all these items, the steering actually felt a little more loose than it did before. I am talking about the left to right steering feeling "sloppy"....

Wingnut · August 13, 2004

Can it be aligned?

Piney · August 13, 2004

yeah, alignment is good. Somebody told me that sometimes the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame work loose, but mine are tight. Someone else told me that there is part of the steering shaft between the firewall and the steering box that can wear out and can be replaced, but I can't figure out what "part" that is.

Wingnut · August 13, 2004

The intermediate steering shaft maybe?

Here is a post for lubing it...But it sounds like yours might need replaced.

But without driving it, that's pretty much another shot in the dark, as I don't know if 93s even had that type.

aczr2k · August 13, 2004

How about adjusting the backlash on the steering box?

Piney · August 13, 2004

Okay....I don't know how to do that...is it easy or complicated? I figured that these year model trucks were notorious for this because I bought this truck new and it's had a realtively easy life, and for it to have gotten this sloppy with easy use...I thought it would have been an issue that a lot of other people have dealt with.

wmako · August 20, 2004

You didn't mention replacing the pitman arm, or the idler arm. I just went over my 1994 2500, and those had more wear than anything else. I also have about 120k.

JamesB · August 21, 2004

How about adjusting the backlash on the steering box?

This must have been what was done on my '02 Z71. I took it to the dealer for warranty work at about 16K miles because everytime I would turn the wheel to the right it would groan like it was out of power steering fluid. They replaced the power steering pump and the sterring gear box. After I picked it up, the steering felf too 'free'. Like you could almost spin it with a finger...

Took it back and they said they adjusted the steering box. All is well now.

James.