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Steering issues. What could be wrong?

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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:16 PM
  #1  
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Steering issues. What could be wrong?

Looking for a little help. Just before I left for a long road trip i had the complete front end rebuilt. Here is what was done.
1. Complete set new ball joints (XRF)
2. Upgraded steering linkage and pitman arm
3. Skyjacker dual steering dampener
4. PCS sector shaft steering stabilizer
5. Alignment

The truck now has worst road wander than before. You can be driving on a nice smooth road and the sterring wheel will jerk to the right or left. Not a lot but enough to notice. It just does not feel right.
What could be wrong? I'm not much of a front end person.
I called the folks that did the work and they said bring it in. Just looking for some suggestions.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:32 PM
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thenrie's Avatar
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From: Salem, UT
Alignment is off. Likely the caster needs to be set a bit more toward +4 degrees or so. Search the stickies for a good article on custom alignment settings to help bump steer.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:34 PM
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I am not much of a front end guy either but I would start with the basics like making sure all bolts are tight. You had a good amount of work done and it is easy to overlook a nut or bolt.
If it is all good I would probably look at the dampener next. I have seen a few dual set ups do this.
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Old Jul 7, 2010 | 09:35 PM
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They should have noticed it when the ball joints where being done, but I'm wondering if there's an axle joint that's seized.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 01:02 AM
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I had a similar problem with an old Land cruiser that I had in college. It turned out that the axle had rotated clockwise a few degrees and it screwed up the steering geometry. Long story short I re indexed the axle and bye bye steering issues.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 04:19 AM
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Track Bar???? Did you address it?
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 11:25 AM
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I would check alignment first like thenrie said.
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Old Jul 8, 2010 | 11:25 PM
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From: PA.
CHECK track bar, if it loose the truck will wonder
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 11:16 AM
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I just did the same. My steering is the best its ever been..


check your bolts or alignment
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 11:35 AM
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From: SE PA
Originally Posted by RockinJohnny
I had a similar problem with an old Land cruiser that I had in college. It turned out that the axle had rotated clockwise a few degrees and it screwed up the steering geometry. Long story short I re indexed the axle and bye bye steering issues.
How did you re-index the axle?
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 12:26 PM
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From: Cedar Creek, Texas
The combination of a lifted truck and 315 BFG tires has caused a lot of people problems. Some people haven't had a lick of trouble but lots and lots have had steering problems as well as------DW. Just something else to think about
Jay
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Old Jul 9, 2010 | 12:35 PM
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I think some of the tie rods that came with the Mopar steering upgrades must have been defective. At least one I got was. The first inner tie I had (on the pitman) lasted a whole 4k miles, and it started to wander. Replaced with a Moog greaseable been fine for 10k now.
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Old Jul 12, 2010 | 02:14 PM
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Took the truck im this morning. Passanger side track bar was 1/2 turn loose. No more road wander os steering wheel movement.
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