sjphi26
TYF Newbie
Sorry for the long post. I'm trying to keep my thoughts organized here... The thing is, I am really good at firing the parts cannon. I am not very good at all at diagnosing. I want to be, but I'm not. It's just not a skill set I've been able to properly develop.
I can steer right. I can not steer left.
For the past few months, when first starting, steering was difficult (left or right) for the first 2-3 parking lot speed turns, or the first 30 seconds of driving. Also, when turning right (only right) from a full stop, there was a groaning for approximately one second. I chalked it up to just old truck things, but overall it was doing pretty well.
Yesterday, my wife got stranded. She was unable to turn to the left. I had to get it towed home.
Today I put it up on jack stands. It turned perfectly both ways. Wheels back on the ground, and I can turn right only and not left. Very strange.
I put it back on jack stands and did a visual inspection. Other than one ball joint, which I will talk about below, all looked pretty good. I couldn't feel any play. The only thing I did notice was some fluid on the bottom of the pitman arm, where it attaches to the gear box.
I already had an upper control arm I had ordered. My left upper ball joint boot was completely gone, and was just metal. I suspected it was maybe binding somehow. I replaced that upper control arm today. And the problem was not resolved. Again... wheels in the air? Steering good. Wheels on the ground? Can't steer left.
I am thinking the steering gear box is the only option? It's new, I put it on about 15 months ago. It was leaking very badly so it was easy to diagnose. It was a reman, and it is still under warranty. I can get a new one, but I'm just going to be in the same position if my diagnosis is wrong.
One thing I did want to mention, I grabbed the intermediate steering shaft, near the coupling of the lower and upper, and there is what feels like a lot of play. Like if I had to estimate, maybe an inch of play. I don't know if that's normal, because I don't have another GMT800 in the driveway to compare it to. Idk if that is useful info. The thing is, both of those are relatively new too... I replaced those and the column bearing trying to get rid of steering wheel sounds about a year ago. They are cheap Dorman shafts.
Idk, any advice?
I can steer right. I can not steer left.
For the past few months, when first starting, steering was difficult (left or right) for the first 2-3 parking lot speed turns, or the first 30 seconds of driving. Also, when turning right (only right) from a full stop, there was a groaning for approximately one second. I chalked it up to just old truck things, but overall it was doing pretty well.
Yesterday, my wife got stranded. She was unable to turn to the left. I had to get it towed home.
Today I put it up on jack stands. It turned perfectly both ways. Wheels back on the ground, and I can turn right only and not left. Very strange.
I put it back on jack stands and did a visual inspection. Other than one ball joint, which I will talk about below, all looked pretty good. I couldn't feel any play. The only thing I did notice was some fluid on the bottom of the pitman arm, where it attaches to the gear box.
I already had an upper control arm I had ordered. My left upper ball joint boot was completely gone, and was just metal. I suspected it was maybe binding somehow. I replaced that upper control arm today. And the problem was not resolved. Again... wheels in the air? Steering good. Wheels on the ground? Can't steer left.
I am thinking the steering gear box is the only option? It's new, I put it on about 15 months ago. It was leaking very badly so it was easy to diagnose. It was a reman, and it is still under warranty. I can get a new one, but I'm just going to be in the same position if my diagnosis is wrong.
One thing I did want to mention, I grabbed the intermediate steering shaft, near the coupling of the lower and upper, and there is what feels like a lot of play. Like if I had to estimate, maybe an inch of play. I don't know if that's normal, because I don't have another GMT800 in the driveway to compare it to. Idk if that is useful info. The thing is, both of those are relatively new too... I replaced those and the column bearing trying to get rid of steering wheel sounds about a year ago. They are cheap Dorman shafts.
Idk, any advice?
