Over the last 1,000 miles the steering on our vehicle listed above 3500 has begun to noticeably be looser and wander while driving above 50 mph.
The steering was slightly loose for the last couple of years, but not bad enough to cause real concern.
We took a trip 4 months back from Wisconsin to South Carolina and on our journey down hit a large pot hole and damaged the front right wheel bearing. We were able to drive, but with slight vibration while driving over 70 mph. On our return I had the front end inspected and was advised that the right front and left front lower ball joints were gone in addition to the right front wheel bearing.
As such I replaced the upper and lower right front and left front ball joints, right front and left front shocks and right front and left front wheel hubs. I did not replace the outer tie rods.
After all of this, there is no more vibration, but the wandering or loose steering seems to have gotten worse.
I got under the van and tightened the steering box take-up screw until the steering would not return to center by itself when releasing the wheel in a turn and then loosened it just enough so that it would return.
I lifted the van up and tried to jerk the front wheels horizontally, but don't notice any looseness in the tie rods.
I don't feel any vertical movement either.
Could the issue be in the gearbox, pit-man arms, tie rods, alignment, etc?
Thoughts?
The steering was slightly loose for the last couple of years, but not bad enough to cause real concern.
We took a trip 4 months back from Wisconsin to South Carolina and on our journey down hit a large pot hole and damaged the front right wheel bearing. We were able to drive, but with slight vibration while driving over 70 mph. On our return I had the front end inspected and was advised that the right front and left front lower ball joints were gone in addition to the right front wheel bearing.
As such I replaced the upper and lower right front and left front ball joints, right front and left front shocks and right front and left front wheel hubs. I did not replace the outer tie rods.
After all of this, there is no more vibration, but the wandering or loose steering seems to have gotten worse.
I got under the van and tightened the steering box take-up screw until the steering would not return to center by itself when releasing the wheel in a turn and then loosened it just enough so that it would return.
I lifted the van up and tried to jerk the front wheels horizontally, but don't notice any looseness in the tie rods.
I don't feel any vertical movement either.
Could the issue be in the gearbox, pit-man arms, tie rods, alignment, etc?
Thoughts?
Jul 22, 2020 at 5:35 PM
