Hey guys, i have a steering issue with my truck... i started noticing it after i did the bodylift and shocks.
Symptoms:
-the steering wheel will be either cocked to the left or right, the slope of the road has very little impact on it. for example: if i'm in the right lane, and the road slopes to the right, it doesnt impact the way the wheel is cocked (can be cocked left or right)
-when i go around a corner the wheel stays cocked in the direction of the turn after i straighten out. for example: the steering wheel is cocked to the right, i go around a left hand curve, after i straighten out the wheel is cocked to the left
-now for the scary part: if the wheel is cocked to the right and i make a curve on the highway there is like a dead spot in the steering... it is not a smooth turn

the wheels turn fine, no binding, thumping, or other weird noises. tie rod ends are less than a year old, rack and pinion is less than a year old... i had planned on getting an alignment but dont want to waste the $50 yet if i'm going to have to replace steering parts...

anyone have any ideas? i'm stumped on this one... i would have thought tie rod ends but they're new and tight

THANKS!

 

get an alignment done asap

 

If you take it to a shop and explain this to them, they should look at it and tell you whats wrong, let you take it to repair it and bring it back for the alingment, well thats what 1 shop did for me. I have a 1971 d 340 Dart and he checked it, it needs a steering box, he said go put it on and bring it back, so maybe they can do that for you

 

Look at the rubber boots on the rack and see if there's any fluid in them, if not my next guess would be tierods or maybe even a bad steering linkage? Hell idk.

 

no fluid in the boots.

i might give that a try smkn..

 

Sounds to me like an alignment issue. The wheels aren't perpendicular to each other.

 

Sounds to me like the steering linkage extention may have damaged/stripped splines or has gotten loose....Assuming you used one of course with your body lift.

 

My truck does it too but its a high mileage 2500 with lots of stuff to have play in it so I just deal with it.

 

no splines on the steering extention... its kinda square actually so theres no splines to strip. that was the first thing i checked

i will get an alignment when i have an extra $50 layin around and if that doesnt fix it i will just deal with it..

 

The wider tire also is not helping your situation as well just as an FYI. They tend to follow the ruts in the road differently than a skinnier tire.