LUVTruck.com

ok guys, i wasnt getting a straight answer by posting for an answer, so let me try again.

i have been having some steering issues with my 79 4wd, and today, while headed home from the scrap yard, the truck was pulling HARD both to the left and right randomly. i almost hit someone in the lane next to me, and almost drove right into a K-rail. NOT GOOD

i stopped, checked everything underneath, but didnt find anything out of the ordinary.

so!

as of right now, i have the truck on stands, and the suspension hanging free. it turns ok, but it doesnt display and obvious signs of wear or/and damage.

i have just checked the gearbox, and it's still full of fluid, so i know its not dry.


please help me out. i need to get this taken care of TODAY. the wife and i are leaving to california on friday, and i dont intend to drive it this way until it;s resolved. (that also means i can't earn any money)


HELP!

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

Sounds like a caster problem

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Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

so you think it just needs an alignment?

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

how wide are the tires?
it sounds like my luv. use to be .lol the freeway was fun. NOT

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4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

i went with slightly bigger tires. i think im running 215, 70 14 on there right now.

i thought to check the brakes in case it was grabbing, but i didnt see any evidence that it was pulling

i will call around to see if its a case of alignment,


another thought. will having the torsion bars cranked all the way up affect the steering geometry? i need to check for height, but i think they are currently turned all the way up.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

i spoke with my mechanic today,

he suggested that the ball joints are worn, and that is what is causing the steering issue.

any thoughts on this?

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

On a 69 Camaro purchaced by a friend we amlost crash due to worn out ball joints and steering link.

I agree that it could be the problem.

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Mine has been doing the same thing for a few months. I greased the ball joints and it was fine for a month or so. I have a squeak when I turn left sometimes. It seems like it acts up the most after I hit a bump while turning. I have hard spots in my steering sometimes too. I'm hoping it lasts until it warms up to fix it. I did a price check on all of the parts I need: ball joints, cv axles, shocks, brakes,tie rod ends outer and inner, wheel bearings, spindle hub bearing, and u-joints. Most of this I think ought to be done while Im doing the ball joints. It came to a total of almost $1150.00 not subtracting about $200 in core charges. napa prices. My cv-joint boots have been torn since I bought this truck in 2006. Thats $300.00/ $186.00 core for both cv driveshafts. Or I can just do the ball joints on one side for a little less than a $100.

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1980 4x4

well, after taking it to my mechanic. we found that i have wiggle in the passenger side front wheel, and its a wheel bearing. but the most likely culprit of this whole problem is a bad gearbox. looks like its time to install a new one, or do a power steering swap.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

i fixed my luv .a long time ago. all it was is the tire size was to wide.
after rebilding the frunt of it. the same thing with the wide tires.
so i tryed some stock wheels and tires . it was fixed.

try some stock tires and wheels .
hope this helps

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4.3l V6. 5 speed MT 2.55 in the back.

i'm just gonna chance a rebuild, and also a swap for another box.

i guess i will find out soon enough!

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

I jest did the front end of my 80 4x4 ( I'm putting the last of it together today) I did the lower ball joints, 1 tie rod, left iner, and outer wheel bearings, both spindle hub bearings as will as the iner, and outer CV boots on the left side, and one brake hose.

I got most off my parts from Auto Zone it ran me about $500.

Hey guys, not trying to hijack this thread but I have the same problem as MTI, 09. My truck squeaks when i turn left. Is this just a ball joint problem or a combination of a few different parts giving out? Thanks for any replies.

oh thats right!

i remember hearing the squeaking during the winter. i thought it was just the bearing inside the column, but now it doesnt do it, and i'm getting the hard spots when i turn the wheel.



anywho, i got a gearbox from phantom stranger, but still have several days until i can install it. (im in arizona right now)

mti, take the coulmn out of the truck, and spin it and see if the squeak is in the column or in the gearbox. make sure you have gear oil in the box.

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To the Oquirr hills for awesome thrills! Go-go 4wd, Activate!

If you have too much play in the steering box, you can adjust it. Loosen the jam nut on top and turn the screw a turn or 2 and check the steering. Too tight the steering is very heavy and likely a wear problem.

which way should it be turned?

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You turn it in, clockwise to tighten.