Friend has a 2002 1 ton duramax 4x4 welding truck. When he bought it the mechanic he said $4500 in ball joints needed to be done. I put it in the air and the ball joints don't move at all, but the steering is as loose as a $2.....loose thing. The tie rod ends seem good. It looks like most of the wobbliness comes from the pittman and idler arm and where they attach to the center link. Is there anything else I should be looking for when I tear things apart? Steering boxes dying or anything like that? Pretty much all of my steering experience has been with rack and pinion steering so this old stuff is new to me. If it were my truck I'd just replace everything that moves and call it good, but the guy is on a very tight budget and getting things working so he can start making money with the truck is the top priority.
Look at the steering box for looseness/play. I believe Chevy has a bulletin but not a recall. Looks like lots of customers aren't very happy.
In reply to ebonyandivory:
Is it fixable or does that just mean the box is dead?
mazdeuce wrote:
In reply to ebonyandivory:
Is it fixable or does that just mean the box is dead?
Apparently there is a grease fix that is temporary and sure doesn't seem to address the issue. I'll see what else I can find.
Is it a knock or clunk or is there play in the wheel?
I found this, as far as I can tell this is the most common issues and a "fix".
http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Silverado/2002/steering/steering_shaft_knock.shtml
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=6GigDxHKz2Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D6GigDxHKz2Y
Play in the wheels and a reported fantastic shimmy at speed. Tie rods all feel tight both in and out but with wheels in the air the center link is all kinds of wiggly when someone pulls on the tire. I can clearly feel that the joint on the end of the pittman is clunky when I wiggle stuff, so that has to go, but it feels like there's a lot of other play in the system. I just read about adjusting the box via the nut and Allen screw on top of the box. Good idea to hit that too?
ebonyandivory wrote:
I found this, as far as I can tell this is the most common issues and a "fix".
http://www.carcomplaints.com/Chevrolet/Silverado/2002/steering/steering_shaft_knock.shtml
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=6GigDxHKz2Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D6GigDxHKz2Y
Thanks for this, I'll check that as well.
If you have side to side slack in the pitman arm, you will have a terrible slack feel. Idler arm is likely to have a worn pivot bushing, which will contribute.
Hal
Dork
4/28/13 12:41 p.m.
mazdeuce wrote: I just read about adjusting the box via the nut and Allen screw on top of the box. Good idea to hit that too?
Yes, but don't over do it. It may be OK and all the slop is in the other parts but you should check it.
Thanks for the help. The plan is to replace both arms, evaluate steering box adjustment and adjust if necessary, check the intermediate steering shaft, and then see where we're at.
If you adjust the box, make sure the wheels are centered when you do it. There is a thing called an "overcenter high spot" machined into the gears to snug up the steering without making it tough to turn off center.
