Steering question

[Mog]

My rig always feels like it's just kinda floating around when I'm driving. Steering just feels sloppy. Anybody have ideas on how I can tighten it up? Not looking for a sports car feel or anything that extreme, just less slop.
Thanks.

[Zenupe13]

great question, I have the same problem. Almost have to over correct sometimes.

[jamie72]

same here... i have looked all over the front end for warn parts but all seem good... love driving it but sometimes its just a chore..

[litebulblsc]

Check tire pressure, replace bushings if they are old, make sure all joints are tight, replace if worn and you can tighten the steering box slop if it is loose

[jamie72]

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

Check tire pressure, replace bushings if they are old, make sure all joints are tight, replace if worn and you can tighten the steering box slop if it is loose

done it all......

[truckster]

I'd add checking the tie rod ends and ball joints, and the rag joint in the steering column.

[mustardjimmy71]

if everything else is new try a quick ratio steering box. redhead brand

[old man jimmy]

new drag links have always cured my road wander.

[litebulblsc]

Originally Posted by jamie72

done it all......

Make sure U-bolts are tight and check the rear suspension too.

[jamie72]

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

Make sure U-bolts are tight and check the rear suspension too.

done it...

[71RestoRod]

Get under the truck while someone else is turning the wheel back and forth. Look for where the movement is coming from. Pay particular attention to the steering box and frame where it mounts. Look closely where the spring hangers are riveted to the frame. Make sure the pitman arm is tight.

Post back what you see.

[JDSurge]

I have a serious problem with keeping my 72 Blazer between the highway lines. Everytime I hit a bump or there's some rough part of the road, it vears 0ff to the left or right. I am constantly correcting the steering wheel while driving. I've had several Blazers before, a 72- 2 wheel drive, 75- 4 x 4 and a 77- 4 x 4 and never had this problem.
I have replaced all the brakes, shocks, tie rods, ball joints, new tires, and the PS Gear box and had it aligned by someone I trust. Everything except the stabilizer shock.
Could this condition be caused by a worn stabilizer shock?
Need help

[hemi43]

Here's something that hasn't been mentioned.
Check your front spring mount in front of the steering box. All the rivets on mine were loose, causing the spring to move back and forth when turning the wheel left to right.

[JDSurge]

Didn't think of that Hemi, I'll check it out. I figured someone out there would have the same problem.

[bamachem]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Here's something that hasn't been mentioned.
Check your front spring mount in front of the steering box. All the rivets on mine were loose, causing the spring to move back and forth when turning the wheel left to right.

I had the same problem. Fixed it with a welder. I also had play in the drag link ends. Replacing the drag link for $60 was some of the best money I spent on it getting it ready for the road. Getting the front spring mounts tight to the frame, replacing the rear spring eye bushings, and replacing the drag link is all mine needed to feel great on the road. I can/have driven 70MPH and it's rock solid and steady with 33/12.50 tires.

Also, make sure your toe is dead on. Toe in about 1/2 degree to 1 degree is all you want. When the front wheels are fighting either other (excessive toe in or almost any toe out) you can get a LOT of Bump-Steer as the suspension articulates and as tires get differing contact points with the pavement. Alignment is VERY important when you have bump-steer issues. The design of the K5's steering is already prone to bump steer so doing everything you can to minimized is time/money well spent.

[bamachem]

Originally Posted by JDSurge

I have a serious problem with keeping my 72 Blazer between the highway lines. Everytime I hit a bump or there's some rough part of the road, it vears 0ff to the left or right. I am constantly correcting the steering wheel while driving. I've had several Blazers before, a 72- 2 wheel drive, 75- 4 x 4 and a 77- 4 x 4 and never had this problem.
I have replaced all the brakes, shocks, tie rods, ball joints, new tires, and the PS Gear box and had it aligned by someone I trust. Everything except the stabilizer shock.
Could this condition be caused by a worn stabilizer shock?
Need help

Check the leaf spring eye bushings, spring shackle bushings, and spring mounting brackets at the frame.

[JDSurge]

Thanks Bamachem, I just looked at the bushings and they are shot and the drag links don't look good either. The rivets seem to be fine but I need to lift it up and see if I can rock the leaf's back and forth but I think the bushings might just do the trick.

[bamachem]

That's most likely your issue. It was contributing to my early steering problems. As I would steer the truck the rear eye of the springs could move as much as 3/8" in either direction, changing the thrust angle of the front axle. The bad thing was that it also moved around as I went over bumps in the road, changing the thrust angle without any steering input, which felt very unnerving. Once I changed the bushing I found the slack I was feeling via the worn out drag link. To compound that, I also had excessive toe-in.

Driving this truck was an experience for sure when I first got it. I had constantly changing thrust angles, slack (about 45-degrees of steering wheel movement without any wheel input) along with some weird alignment pulls and vibrations.

Once I corrected all three, it's been a dream to drive.

Best of luck!

[Kevin McPherson]

Before you weld, remove half of the original rivets. Drillthem out to 7/16 as the rivets are 3/8 use two alignment pins one in the bottom, one in the top, to keep bracket alligned. The weld will break if you don't retighten the bracket. I used grade eight fine thread bolts and didn't weld. Then replaced all front bushings, it drives like new.

[JDSurge]

It seems my PS is very sensitive. Has anyone here use a pressure reducing kit to lower the PS hose pressure? If so, can you give me some specs on it. I'm still having problems with the bump-steer area. I still need to replace the leaf spring bushings but everything seems to be tight under there.
Thanks,
JD

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by JDSurge

It seems my PS is very sensitive. Has anyone here use a pressure reducing kit to lower the PS hose pressure? If so, can you give me some specs on it. I'm still having problems with the bump-steer area. I still need to replace the leaf spring bushings but everything seems to be tight under there.
Thanks,
JD

What pump are you using? I'm using an 03 pump, but I'm using the original pressure reducer that came originally on my truck. They used the Saginaw pump for decades, and most parts are still interchangeable.
Bump steer is not pump related. Check to make sure your steering link is parallel to the ground, and that you have around 1/8-3/16 of toe in.

[JDSurge]

Thanks Hemi, I'm recovering from Hip surgery right now but I'll check out what pump I'm using and the orientation of the steering link as soon as I can.
JD

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by JDSurge

Thanks Hemi, I'm recovering from Hip surgery right now but I'll check out what pump I'm using and the orientation of the steering link as soon as I can.
JD

Good luck on your recovery !!

[Braveheart]

I went with the ORD crossover steering with the 2 wheel drive steering box. stiffened up the steering completely. Handles very nicely now

[Ryanz]

Originally Posted by Braveheart

I went with the ORD crossover steering with the 2 wheel drive steering box. stiffened up the steering completely. Handles very nicely now

Is yours a 4x4 Braveheart? I know nothing about the cross over steering - can you explain? I'm running 33x12.5 tires on my 72 4x4. Was planning on getting a Redhead steering box as I've heard they're the best. However, I'm now seeing more guys going to the ORD cross over - and having good results. Even one guy who was happy with his Redhead said he's gone to the crossover.

Please elaborate.