dont let her go...

My steering has a little play, and does cause a very small sway on highway. but i have new wheel bearings, and ball joints. tie-rods are good, trac bar is good, drop pitman arm is good. the only thing thats bad is sway links. Ive gone to the alignment center, and nothing is off. Theres nothing wrong with my gearbox or my shaft. Its just natural for them to become loose. you may not ever get the tight steering back again. I dont know how bd yours is, but im used to mine, and dont have a problem at all anymore. i know how to handle and prevent the swaying now as well.

Its just not worth to get rid of it due to loose steering IMO. like stated above, its a full size truck, its not going to have the capabilities of a Nissan Maxima lets say (which is my fiancees car). Get the new gearbox in it, and if it doesnt fix it, then get a second opinion and have someone else look at the front end. It's very possible they may have missed something.

 

Ok, thanks

 

I think I see your problem ,,,,

 

She is an older college graduate working in the car service business many years who never blinks when asked a question and has driven many many vehicles with owners while discussing matters. She knows the workings of cars inside and out.

 

The frame in the steering box area flexs during turning. it seems to do it more as the truck ages. I have seen some aftermarket stabilizers that say that they work. I am not sure if they do since I haven't purchased one. But here is a link to a site that sells a kit to stiffen this area up. http://www.solidsteel.biz/ See what you think. Others please chime in especially if any of you have tried one of these kits or something similar.

 

Thank you.

 

Oh, I bet I could make her blink.
If she gets her education out of a book and never gets her hands dirty, there is no way that I'd take anything she said with more than a grain of salt.
Hands on experience is the 1 and only true prerequisite of diagnosing & fixing mechanical problems.
Seems like you either need to:
* Seek other opinions, as already advised
* Reconcile yourself to lose steering
* Dump the vehicle

You said it got worse after he tightened what, the pitman nut ?
If so, that must be the problem area.
Inspect it yourself for excess play/wear, take it off and inspect the splines on the shaft & pitman, same with idler arm.

 

Since skipping Auto Shop in high school for more important endeavours leading to greener pastures I've never looked back on fixing cars with fondness but do enjoy paying those trained in the profession, whatever the profession may be ;-)

 

Well, I and 99% of the membership here don't enjoy paying others, and the satisfaction we get is doing the job ourselves, thus knowing it is done right.

That said, of course there are various problems which fall outside of our abilities, in that case we are forced to pay ,,, But the more knowledge you have of the technical areas, the better your bargaining position will be when forced to pay someone to do something that you can't, or won't.

Nothing wrong with getting a little dirt under your fingernails ying, try it some time, you may like it - And save some $$ in the process.

 

Nah, I leave the work to others, that's what they are paid to do.
Me I like running a clean cloth over the hood every couple days after getting it waxed every 2 weeks.