Loose Steering

[Jasonsupafly]

2001 Z71 5.3......My steering feels loose....Got an alignment done and helped very little....The truck is hard to keep on the road and the slightest touch of the steering wheel and it really jerks the truck going down the road....is there a steering box or gear box that may need replacing ? Any ideas of what is wrong because it feels kind of dangerous.....When i say it feels loose i mean it feels loose..... Thanks

[toydeluxe]

Well, you're kinda contradicting yourself. Does it feel loose, like there's "play" in the wheel, or is it VERY sensitive, and jerky?

 

Does it feel like one minute there's play, and then all of sudden it over steers? That could be a broken tooth in a steering gear. IF there's play altogether, it could be the steering shaft.

Your truck is awful new to have a worn shaft, or any components for that matter.

 

Try to describe it a little more, and I might be able to help.

[Bish]

How many miles. Sounds like EVO sensor to me. Little donut shaped sensor arount steering shaft above the brake pedal. It is how the variable assist works. EVO sensor senses rate of steering change and applies more/less power as needed. Pretty common failure.

 

Of course if you are getting higher mileage, it could be front end components. Jack up front end and with assistant grabbing/moving wheel, look for play anywhere in suspension/steering. Any play means that part is worn out.

[Jasonsupafly]

When you turn the wheel it is very sensitive....It is like this all the time and no matter what speed....It used to be good and tight but now feels really mushy...round 65000 miles

[Bish]

When you turn the wheel it is very sensitive....It is like this all the time and no matter what speed....It used to be good and tight but now feels really mushy...round 65000 miles

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

That's the way mine felt before I replaced it. If on highway, sometimes the slightest input sent me changing lanes. Reasonably easy replacement. Just make sure you don't spin the steering wheel when ou have the shaft disconnected.

[Jasonsupafly]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

[toydeluxe]

Replace what?

[Bish]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

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EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

[Jasonsupafly]

Dealer has it and said they are going to put in a new shaft for my steering problem...will that fix the over sensitive action in my wheel ?

[Mr. Smith]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

[Bish]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Just another reason to love the Rock! Unfortunately, it was dealer only 3 years ago and I paid dearly for it

[Mr. Smith]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Just another reason to love the Rock! Unfortunately, it was dealer only 3 years ago and I paid dearly for it

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I did as well 6 months ago. Then imagine to my surprise when I found it on their site.

[Crofton]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Just another reason to love the Rock! Unfortunately, it was dealer only 3 years ago and I paid dearly for it

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

I did as well 6 months ago. Then imagine to my surprise when I found it on their site.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why would the steering box AND the EVO be out on a '99 Suburban 73K miles? Dealer is charging ~$1200 to fix it-- but the problem sounds exactly like what you guys describe in the email thread. Too late to save money but I am curious as to what fault this is.

 

Carl in Crofton

[vodapas]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Do you happen to have a link to this? I just checked on Rock Auto under steering and didn't see the listing.

[Mr. Smith]

Bish, so all you did was replace the sensor? Did you have to get it at a dealer or does an autoparts store carry them ? How much do they cost ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

EVO sensor = dealer only item.

 

IIRC, around $60 and yes, all I did was replace it. Of course, another 60K and I had to rebuild my front end but at 150K I didn't think that was too bad.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Not true, Rockauto has them on their website for 29 bucks.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Do you happen to have a link to this? I just checked on Rock Auto under steering and didn't see the listing.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta dig...

 

http://www.rockauto.com/ref/RB/Detail2.htm...wrap1/31025.jpg