'95 Suburban Steering Loose

gtj · April 12, 2005

Dear Group,

I have a '95 Chev Suburban 1/2 ton 4X4 @ 220,000. The steering has been getting loose and the vehicle wanders. Other drivers notice it much more than myself, likely because my other truck ('92 Trooper @ 300,000) wanders much worse. Regardless, I had the front end checked out and the steering box replaced but still similar situation. Could the steering arm/connections be the possible culprit? If so, what is the recommended fix? PS - No clunking.

Thanks for your input,

Glenn

citydriver · April 12, 2005

Dear Group,

I have a '95 Chev Suburban 1/2 ton 4X4 @ 220,000. The steering has been getting loose and the vehicle wanders. Other drivers notice it much more than myself, likely because my other truck ('92 Trooper @ 300,000) wanders much worse. Regardless, I had the front end checked out and the steering box replaced but still similar situation. Could the steering arm/connections be the possible culprit? If so, what is the recommended fix? PS - No clunking.

Thanks for your input,

Glenn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Welcome to the Forum

IF everything in the front end is tight, it may be a tire or alignment problem.

Try rotating the tires and adjusting the air pressures. Also may want to double check the control arm bushings for excessive wear. Hope this helps.

snoman · April 12, 2005

Dear Group,

I have a '95 Chev Suburban 1/2 ton 4X4 @ 220,000. The steering has been getting loose and the vehicle wanders. Other drivers notice it much more than myself, likely because my other truck ('92 Trooper @ 300,000) wanders much worse. Regardless, I had the front end checked out and the steering box replaced but still similar situation. Could the steering arm/connections be the possible culprit? If so, what is the recommended fix? PS - No clunking.

Thanks for your input,

Glenn

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Welcome to the Forum

IF everything in the front end is tight, it may be a tire or alignment problem.

Try rotating the tires and adjusting the air pressures. Also may want to double check the control arm bushings for excessive wear. Hope this helps.

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At 200K I would replace ball joints and check control arm bushings. The bottom ball joints are always the first to go and I have little doubt that they are well worn and need replacing. WHen they get worn, front ends that seem tight otherwise will wander a lot at times. Worn bushings can have simular results too but my first bet is ball joints.

cedjunior · April 13, 2005

I assume when you say loose steering, you mean you can turn the steerin wheel in either direction for a short distance before the tires start to turn.

There are usually 3 causes for loose steering on these trucks. It could be one or any combination of them.

Pitman arm

Steering box

Rag joint.

The pitman arm connects the steering gear box to the center link and the female splines get worn and end up being too loose on the steering box shaft. For the steering box, the gears inside usually develop excessive gear lash and steering becomes loose, but you already eliminated that possibility. The next cause could be the rag joint. It connects the intermediate steering shaft to the top part of the steering gear box. The joint gets loose over time. The only way to fix it is to buy a new steering shaft, $200-$300 depending on if you go OEM or after market and where you buy it.

A good way to find out where the slack is, is to have someone inside the truck turn the steering wheel until the slack is gone, back and forth, with the wheels on the ground (or ramps) and while they are doing that check the pitman arm and the rag joint, see whats moving and whats not. Also a good time to double check the Idler arm and the points where the pitman and idler arms connect to the center link and tierod ends.

Hotwire · April 14, 2005

There are usually 3 causes for loose steering on these trucks.

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cough cough

#4... idler arm

I've replaced so many of those dayum things it's not even funny.

gtj, look at the arm that is bolted to the pass side frame rail, try pushing up and down on it and see if the joint from the arm to the frame is loose, if so, that is most likely where your slop is coming from.

IF the arm moves up and down failry easy, here's what you can do: $20 for the idler arm replacement, $20 tool rental from auto zone for idler arm joint seperator, some grease from a grease gun, and you're good to go!

good luck.

*EDIT.. sorry, didn't read the original, I'm used to working on 2wd, not sure if 4wd has the same setup.