Front End Parts

[97SierraGMC]

Alright im having my Idler and Pitman arm replaced and getting an alignment after that... yesterday as the truck was zig-zaging down the highway i figured there a little worn... is there anything else i should replace before i get an alignment?

[Bowler807]

Do you know for sure that the idler and pitman arms are actually bad??? You may want to have the alignment mechanic check what is bad before he tries to align it. That way you will know everything wrong and can replace it all at once. I don't believe in just throwing parts at something. That gets expensive fast.

[97SierraGMC]

no, i know for sure there bad... the truck was going by it self so the wheels have play without me steering it... also i have about a 1/8 turn of the steering wheel and nothign will happen its super loose.. and the steering wheel is crooked and doesnt go straight... idler arms are pretty common to go out on these trucks i had 3 of them go out on the old truck...

[97SierraGMC]

i might get one of those lifetime alignment things so i can just have it done whenever...

[2000DV4.8]

It's not necessarily the pitman/idler arms, it could be the inner and/or outer tie rod ends also. Check before you start throwing parts at it.

[97SierraGMC]

maybe ill just replace it all... Idler Pitman Tie Rods Shocks... then everything should be fine and dandy

[alaska511]

Raise the truck and let the suspension front hang free, check your ball joints too. With everything relieved you can check idler and pitman real well.

[97SierraGMC]

i had the truck on a lift at work today... and found the tail seal on the T-case leaking so i bought one of those.. and 1 of my power steering hoses was leaking so i got a new one of those... but the bad part is.. it looks like my rear main seal is leaking... should i try and replace the pan gasket and see if it stops? i couldnt get the inspection cover off without taking the exhaust down... is there anyway i can check? and if it has to be replaced what has to be done? move tranny back? rip motor apart?

[alaska511]

You should be able to get that cover down enough to shine a light up there and check the rear main. If it needs replaced the transmission must come out, remove the flywheel/flexplate, and you can remove the adapter for the rear main seal. You will be doing a pan gasket at that time as well.

[pj5454302]

Sounds like a pain in the a$$.

[97SierraGMC]

well i really dont want to replace the main seal.. anybody have any luck with that Main seal stop leak stuff? i guess is worth a try if it works it works if it doesnt i am going to have a pretty hefty labor bill.... this truck is starting to get expensive..... im going to have to get another job to pay for parts...

[97SierraGMC]

well today i replaced my power steering liine.. those fittings kicked my A$$!! but i got it done and doesnt seem to be leaking which is good so far... ill see 2 marro when i park at school if there are any spots.. not only that but some of the fluid drained out (About a pint and a half) so i have some "Fresh" stuff in there which is also kind of nice.. me and my dad and a guy i work with was taking a look at the oil pan again and it "LOOKS" like the oil might be leaking out of the oil pressure sensor.. has anybody ever seen this before? and 1 more question does anybody know a good degreaser / oil eater to spray under my truck to get rid of all that gunk and oil that used to be leaking?

[97SierraGMC]

so has anybody ever heard of or seen oil leak through the oil pressure sensor?