1990 Z71 problems with steering

conkills19 · 03-29-2008, 12:53 AM

steering wheel has a lot of play in it.need to know what parts need replacing

Hayden · 03-29-2008, 07:35 AM

Could be numerous things. Upper and lower Ball Joints, Center link, Tierods/ends, Steering box. I'm sure others will add on to the list. What exactly is it doing?

gmctrucks · 03-29-2008, 09:32 AM

Just can get under the truck and try to find what parts you need or take it to a shop and see what they say you need the most make sure it's a shop you trust.

whooley · 04-01-2008, 09:45 PM

If it's like my 89 GMC it'll probably need every thing replaced, badly. When they get that loose there is alot bad. I major item to check is the pitman arm, I couldn't keep mine tight, I actually think it was the splines on the box that were bad.

Hayden · 04-02-2008, 04:51 AM

He PM'd me and wrote this. Maybe you guys can tell him more than I can.

truck is wandering while driveing fromleft to right,right to left u can move the
steering wheel several inches in either direction before you get any response
form it.today i had someone move steering whell while i watched under hood they
moved it several inches in both directions the rod that goes to the gear box
moved with stern wheel but where the rod is connected to the gear box there was
a lot of play in the ?bushing or something there that has what appears to be a
piece of rubber between 2 pieces of metal dont know what it is called the top
moved as the steering wheel did but it had to move quite a bit before it moved
where in went into the gear box

gmctrucks · 04-02-2008, 06:06 AM

That rubber piece that your talking about is a cheap fix can't remember the name of it right now my friends 4x4 Dodge Ramcharger was doing the same thing and the old man that he bought it from had replaced the gear box thinking that was it till we found out what really was wrong. Good luck! PS-My 57 F-100 does the same thing but the gear box is messed up BAD I have replaced the worm gear from another truck but it still has about two inches of play on it I gave the truck to my Lil brother I placed a 302 with a FMX trans on it many years ago with some 31'' tires on 10'' wheels and lifted it up it looks like a 4x4 it's also a short bed it looks tuff.

MORROWMUDDER · 06-15-2008, 07:47 PM

like they all said could be ball joints, steering box, center or drag link, could also use an alignment, might want to try the idler arm, think the one piece the one guy is talkign about is called the rag joint have'nt really heard of one of those going bad though. dont know if it is pulling more to one side than the other, but mostly on highways and newer roads its normal for them to pull to the left escpecially at higher speeds thats just the crown of the road. better way to check it for yourself is to jack up the front and move the tire up and down and sided to side so you can see what is acutally loose.

03-29-2008, 12:53 AM	#1
conkills19 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	1990 Z71 problems with steering steering wheel has a lot of play in it.need to know what parts need replacing

03-29-2008, 07:35 AM	#2
Hayden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay City,Michigan Posts: 365	Could be numerous things. Upper and lower Ball Joints, Center link, Tierods/ends, Steering box. I'm sure others will add on to the list. What exactly is it doing? __________________ There Is No Replacement For Displacement

04-02-2008, 04:51 AM	#5
Hayden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay City,Michigan Posts: 365	He PM'd me and wrote this. Maybe you guys can tell him more than I can. truck is wandering while driveing fromleft to right,right to left u can move the steering wheel several inches in either direction before you get any response form it.today i had someone move steering whell while i watched under hood they moved it several inches in both directions the rod that goes to the gear box moved with stern wheel but where the rod is connected to the gear box there was a lot of play in the ?bushing or something there that has what appears to be a piece of rubber between 2 pieces of metal dont know what it is called the top moved as the steering wheel did but it had to move quite a bit before it moved where in went into the gear box __________________ There Is No Replacement For Displacement

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03-29-2008, 09:32 AM	#3
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,721	Just can get under the truck and try to find what parts you need or take it to a shop and see what they say you need the most make sure it's a shop you trust.

04-01-2008, 09:45 PM	#4
whooley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	If it's like my 89 GMC it'll probably need every thing replaced, badly. When they get that loose there is alot bad. I major item to check is the pitman arm, I couldn't keep mine tight, I actually think it was the splines on the box that were bad.

04-02-2008, 06:06 AM	#6
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,721	That rubber piece that your talking about is a cheap fix can't remember the name of it right now my friends 4x4 Dodge Ramcharger was doing the same thing and the old man that he bought it from had replaced the gear box thinking that was it till we found out what really was wrong. Good luck! PS-My 57 F-100 does the same thing but the gear box is messed up BAD I have replaced the worm gear from another truck but it still has about two inches of play on it I gave the truck to my Lil brother I placed a 302 with a FMX trans on it many years ago with some 31'' tires on 10'' wheels and lifted it up it looks like a 4x4 it's also a short bed it looks tuff.

06-15-2008, 07:47 PM	#7
MORROWMUDDER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ohio/Montana Posts: 114	like they all said could be ball joints, steering box, center or drag link, could also use an alignment, might want to try the idler arm, think the one piece the one guy is talkign about is called the rag joint have'nt really heard of one of those going bad though. dont know if it is pulling more to one side than the other, but mostly on highways and newer roads its normal for them to pull to the left escpecially at higher speeds thats just the crown of the road. better way to check it for yourself is to jack up the front and move the tire up and down and sided to side so you can see what is acutally loose.