Ok, Here is the issue.

My truck has recently started wandering on the highway. Drives fine in town though. I have been under the front end looking at the ball joints, tie-rods, and I guess they are the drag links ( the ones that are bolted to the frame). But I cant find anything loose. I did this with the front end off the ground thinking that with all the weight it would be easier to see if things were loose but I couldnt find anything. I checked the air in the tires and left front was 48.5 psi and the front right was 50psi. I then aired both ties up to 60psi to see if this made a difference, it did but just slightly.


Should I have checked it with the weight on or could it be something not showing but getting close?

I have 134K on the odometer.

Phil

 

I have the same on my 99 QC 4x4 with 100k on it. Had the dealer check it out and was told the steering box it worn. about 1000 to replace, its not rebuildable

 

If it's 4wd check the track bar by having someone turn it back and forth with the wheels on the ground. You should see no movement at the ball joints at the end.

 

With the wheels on the ground have someone turn the steering wheel 1/4 turns R&L while you watch all joints for any kind of movement, and watch the tires to fender for movement also. Check the rear tires for pressure too. If you have the bigger lug tread on the tires that could cause some wander at higher speeds too, (tread squish) Good luck

 

Its only a 2 wheel drive. I appeciate the info. Ill check it this weekend. I dont really feel any play in the steering box and as its out of warrenty I would rather not have to take it to the dealer. I may try to tighten the worm gear a little and see if that helps.

I have never found a dealer I trust anyway, they just seem to want your money and then give nothing in return.

 

a reman box at napa is around $230.00,check your sector shaft coming out of bottm of steering box while turning teering wheel back and forth and the track bar, it's the bar that runs from drivers side frame to pass. side axle,the frame end goes out often.

 

My 99 dually 2wd wanders around a little, but I was told (here) that that was more or less normal. I drove the shop truck last week which is 4wd and I would hate to have to drive 850 miles home with it. it was like an off road experience. Unless you really have a lot of wander or are leaking out of the steering box or have something else..tie rod ends bad or ball joints I wouldn't worry too much.

With a load my truck is dead straight as the road. If the road is crowned or has paths worn in it from the big trucks it will drift a bit but not much.

bentwings

 

It only started doing it about a month ago and at first I just thought it was low tires but after checking them they werent that bad so I aired them up and it still does it. With a load it goes straight as an arrow but empty its now wandering.



Ill Have to check all the things mentioned here tomorrow.

Thanks Ill keep you posted on what I find.

Phil

 

I just replaced my gearbox with a rebuilt from Autozone and it cost me $ 129.00 exchange

 

I have an AGR steering box & I love it! A little more $$$ but its pretty nice!

 

Neighbor replaced his gear box on his wifes 99 last night, $205 from napa.

 

Try this-www.solidsteel.biz

 

As dodge demon said, look at the dss unit, it fixed mine and will not go bad again. Do a search on it as well.

 

You can check the tie rod ends very easily with a large pair of channel locks. Put 1 jaw on the bottom of the joint and the other on the ball stud or the top of the tie rod. If you can squeeze it together and see movement in the joint it needs to be replaced. I think they can cause steering to wander if the're worn.

 

Okay, After carfully checking everything under the frontend. I have narrowed it down to the steering box. There is a rather loud poppong noise coming from it when you just work the steering wheel from side to side enough to take out the slack. So It looks like I will be changing that prretty soon. .

Is there anything that I need to be careful of or watch out for doing this?


Thanks everybody.

Phil