loose steeering question-gear box adj

93bluesilverrad · 07-01-2009, 08:48 PM

checked front end, alignment done, steering wheel centered, tie rods, idler, pitman, tight, bearing seem right so looks like steering box or what else in steering could cause over 3" of play in steering wheel, makes it where I always am correcting while driving. how do I adjust steering box to take up slack.....imputs please...thanks.

leolkfrm · 07-01-2009, 09:13 PM

did you ask the alignment person why there is so much play in the wheel?

mudseeker · 07-01-2009, 09:30 PM

should be an adjustment nut on the side or top that takes a wrench an allen wrench. i would only turn the allen screw a quarter turn at a time.

brutis · 07-10-2009, 06:44 PM

i have adjusted what mudseeker said all over the place serveral times on differant trucks and the only thing it seams to do is make the drag on the wheel tighter or loose er , tighter is way worse harder to correct while driving, i read in chiltons just to day to snug it up then back it off 1/2 turn ,

most of the time it ends up the same way it was as fare as looseness

what about ball joints ? ask alignment guy about it

ps my son has the same problem with a 96 silver

gmctrucks · 07-11-2009, 12:58 AM

Sometimes it can just be the steering coupler examples below. And I had my front end checked and they found nothing till my buddy and I looked for worn parts.
Good luck! GMC
PS-My buddy bought this truck from this older man well the guy had even changed out the steering box and he could never get the play out till we found that the rag coupler was totally tore up.

1996 96 CHEVY TAHOE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLER JOINT:eBay Motors (item 400056351809 end time Jul-16-09 15:54:01 PDT)

77 78 79 80 CHEVY PICK UP STEERING COUPLER RAG JOINT:eBay Motors (item 360163660829 end time Jul-17-09 21:54:23 PDT)

brutis · 07-11-2009, 08:05 AM

about the rag joint , i priced it out at the dealler a new one and you have to buy the shaft with it about 200.00 , a used one would probably be just as worn, auto parts sell a universal one cheap i used a couple of times but after a month or two it was just as loose , the newer trucks have a safty stop if you look at it and it won't get any worse after it starts hitting the stops

silverhairdeere · 07-11-2009, 02:37 PM

i made my own from a piece of rubber , mine was $ 200.00 too i made a post here about it but can't find it now . maybe a mod can find it .

shd

gregd · 07-11-2009, 10:41 PM

hi 93blue, i just picked up an 89 K1500 Sierra, same prob. if you've had everything from the gearbox to the tie rod ends replaced/or checked, it may be the steering shaft, w/rag joint mentioned above? from what i'm seeing, there's a company called Borgeson that makes a direct bolt in replacement, and it's about $224. i'm checking further, but all i've seen sounds like this piece is 100% better than OEM and that rag joint will definitely cause excessive slop in the steering

gmctrucks · 07-12-2009, 05:59 AM

Well now that im thinking about it I gave good advise for a change.......so all of you guys start adding to my rep points.
He! He! GMC
PS-I'm waiting...................watch that not be the problem forget the rep points wait till we know for sure then rack them up.................and up................this might just be the best advise since I have been on here but PLEASE don't agree with me BRAD/LEO.

gmctrucks · 07-13-2009, 09:52 AM

I wonder if the problem was fixed. Please post what it was so we will know or learn.

07-01-2009, 08:48 PM	#1
93bluesilverrad Full Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 45	loose steeering question-gear box adj checked front end, alignment done, steering wheel centered, tie rods, idler, pitman, tight, bearing seem right so looks like steering box or what else in steering could cause over 3" of play in steering wheel, makes it where I always am correcting while driving. how do I adjust steering box to take up slack.....imputs please...thanks.

07-01-2009, 09:13 PM	#2
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,223	did you ask the alignment person why there is so much play in the wheel? __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

07-01-2009, 09:30 PM	#3
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,316	should be an adjustment nut on the side or top that takes a wrench an allen wrench. i would only turn the allen screw a quarter turn at a time. __________________ i'd rather be hunting

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07-10-2009, 06:44 PM	#4
brutis Full Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 35	i have adjusted what mudseeker said all over the place serveral times on differant trucks and the only thing it seams to do is make the drag on the wheel tighter or loose er , tighter is way worse harder to correct while driving, i read in chiltons just to day to snug it up then back it off 1/2 turn , most of the time it ends up the same way it was as fare as looseness what about ball joints ? ask alignment guy about it ps my son has the same problem with a 96 silver

07-11-2009, 12:58 AM	#5
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 3,945	Sometimes it can just be the steering coupler examples below. And I had my front end checked and they found nothing till my buddy and I looked for worn parts. Good luck! GMC PS-My buddy bought this truck from this older man well the guy had even changed out the steering box and he could never get the play out till we found that the rag coupler was totally tore up. 1996 96 CHEVY TAHOE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLER JOINT:eBay Motors (item 400056351809 end time Jul-16-09 15:54:01 PDT) 77 78 79 80 CHEVY PICK UP STEERING COUPLER RAG JOINT:eBay Motors (item 360163660829 end time Jul-17-09 21:54:23 PDT)

07-11-2009, 08:05 AM	#6
brutis Full Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 35	about the rag joint , i priced it out at the dealler a new one and you have to buy the shaft with it about 200.00 , a used one would probably be just as worn, auto parts sell a universal one cheap i used a couple of times but after a month or two it was just as loose , the newer trucks have a safty stop if you look at it and it won't get any worse after it starts hitting the stops

07-11-2009, 02:37 PM	#7
silverhairdeere Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: land between the lakes tn Posts: 1,118	i made my own from a piece of rubber , mine was $ 200.00 too i made a post here about it but can't find it now . maybe a mod can find it . shd

07-11-2009, 10:41 PM	#8
gregd Full Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 26	hi 93blue, i just picked up an 89 K1500 Sierra, same prob. if you've had everything from the gearbox to the tie rod ends replaced/or checked, it may be the steering shaft, w/rag joint mentioned above? from what i'm seeing, there's a company called Borgeson that makes a direct bolt in replacement, and it's about $224. i'm checking further, but all i've seen sounds like this piece is 100% better than OEM and that rag joint will definitely cause excessive slop in the steering

07-12-2009, 05:59 AM	#9
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 3,945	Well now that im thinking about it I gave good advise for a change.......so all of you guys start adding to my rep points. He! He! GMC PS-I'm waiting...................watch that not be the problem forget the rep points wait till we know for sure then rack them up.................and up................this might just be the best advise since I have been on here but PLEASE don't agree with me BRAD/LEO.

07-13-2009, 09:52 AM	#10
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 3,945	I wonder if the problem was fixed. Please post what it was so we will know or learn.