I have my torsion bars cranked up to the bump stops and was thinking about taking my sway bar off, but as it is right now when I am driving down the road the steering feels really loose. Almost as if something is fixin to fall off. I was wondering if the loose steering is because the bars are run up so much or if there is another problem I should be looking for. I have changed (recently) lower ball joints, outer ties, idler arm, pitman arm. The hubs are also new timkin hubs, and the upper ball joints look good. Any help would be greatly appreciated to get rid of my sloppy steering.

 

Did you get an alignment after cranking up the bars?

 

I did have it aligned, but then I cranked them up some more when I put the blocks in the rear. It does need aligned again but would that cause it to be really sloppy? It seems like when I hit a bump or something it wants to make me go to one side or the other like im moving the steering wheel when im not. The inner ties may need replacing also but I dont know what else could be causing it to do that. I just want it to be tight enough that it dont make me feel like im all over the road.

 

The alignment could very well be your problem. It could also be the upper ball joints and inner tie rods... its hard to say without being able to see it myself, but it sounds to me like you have 3 very good possibilites to look at!

But don't go get it aligned if you are thinking about making more modifications! Do that last. Go ahead and get the sway bar off, and replace the tie rods and ball joints and then get it aligned.

 

Are the upper ball joints harder to change than the lower ball joints. I already have new inner tie rod ends I just have to replace them. I will probably go ahead and replace the upper ball joints and inner ties and have it aligned and then all my parts will be new. Sounds like a good job for this weekend. lol

 

Are they pressed in like the lower or are they the ones that I have to use that ball joint socket and a big breaker bar for? Also I just thought I would add that when I go over a good dip in the road it bounces pretty good also. Its not stiff like you would thank it would be with the bars crunk up. It is springy. It will bounce a good 5 or 6 times before it smooths back out. I dont know if that has anything to do with it but I thought I would add that as well.

 

The upper ball joints are threaded in.

That is weird that they aren't stiff, but it also sounds like you need shocks!

 

Going slow on a bumpy road they are stiff but 50mph and hit a dip in the road it will bounce like crazy. I was thinkin it probably needed shocks. It still has the factory shocks on it. Will I have to remove the steering knuckle to replace the upper ball j's like I did with the lower or can i just loosen it and screw em out and replace them? Sorry for all the ?'s just trying to figure out what im in for.

 

You will have to remove the upper ball joint from the steering knuckle, but the steering knuckle doesn't have to come all the way off. Then just thread off the balljoint (this part will suck) and thread the new one on. Then reattach the steering knuckle to the new upper ball joint.

I don't remember what kind of tool is needed for the upper ball joint, but it gets tightened to 125 ft*lbs

 

Ok thanks. I know what kind of tool I need. It looks kinda like a big socket that is 3/4" drive. It comes in the ball joint press kit that you can rent from advanced auto. Thanks for your help once again. lol