2001 Tahoe 2wd steering wander

[Fless]

the newer models are using electronic steering they use a Rack and Pinion with electric motor.... very nice to use way smoother,less whining and faster response

Speaking of less whining, let's get back on subject. Stop diluting the conversation with unneeded and unwanted "info" that is not germane to the thread. SMH

 

[exp500]

You are speaking of wander on a "perfect" road correct? Does it feel better driving in the rain? Looking at the alignment sheet, my preference would be to lower the front some, up to an inch or so, to make the camber able to zero. The rest of the numbers are in perfect range.
A not so smooth/flat road or truck grooved can change the contact patch of the tires to give a weird feeling. Rain will improve the feel because of less scrub. Thats the best indication of Will alignment help?
If you have time and space, you can draw a box around truck to measure everything. Frame alignment locations given in the manual. Good luck!

 

[Dalt10]

My Yukon starting doing the same thing out of nowhere. Was getting bad enough I didn't drive it much. I replaced the Idler arm and it helped some. I put new shocks on the front and it helped a little more but still would wander. Thought it might be the hubs/wheel bearings but they felt tight. I changed both front hubs anyway and put two new tires on it and it drives fine now. No wandering. Almost drives like a new truck again. I still need to change the Pitman arm since I bought one. Don't know if that would solve your problem but it did for mine. I do have 20x9 rims with 305/45-22"s on it.

 

[Battledrift69]

My Yukon starting doing the same thing out of nowhere. Was getting bad enough I didn't drive it much. I replaced the Idler arm and it helped some. I put new shocks on the front and it helped a little more but still would wander. Thought it might be the hubs/wheel bearings but they felt tight. I changed both front hubs anyway and put two new tires on it and it drives fine now. No wandering. Almost drives like a new truck again. I still need to change the Pitman arm since I bought one. Don't know if that would solve your problem but it did for mine. I do have 20x9 rims with 305/45-22"s on it.

My hubs and bearings seem fine as well but i did just buy new ones that will be delivered Friday. So I’m hoping after that everything will be good.


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[TheAutumnWind]

My Yukon starting doing the same thing out of nowhere. Was getting bad enough I didn't drive it much. I replaced the Idler arm and it helped some. I put new shocks on the front and it helped a little more but still would wander. Thought it might be the hubs/wheel bearings but they felt tight. I changed both front hubs anyway and put two new tires on it and it drives fine now. No wandering. Almost drives like a new truck again. I still need to change the Pitman arm since I bought one. Don't know if that would solve your problem but it did for mine. I do have 20x9 rims with 305/45-22"s on it.

Good call. Bearings helped mine somewhat, but did not completely solve it.

 

[ortiz domimguez]

My Yukon starting doing the same thing out of nowhere. Was getting bad enough I didn't drive it much. I replaced the Idler arm and it helped some. I put new shocks on the front and it helped a little more but still would wander. Thought it might be the hubs/wheel bearings but they felt tight. I changed both front hubs anyway and put two new tires on it and it drives fine now. No wandering. Almost drives like a new truck again. I still need to change the Pitman arm since I bought one. Don't know if that would solve your problem but it did for mine. I do have 20x9 rims with 305/45-22"s on it.

Did ur truck have any sway before u replaced the hubs ?

 

[Dalt10]

Mine drove fine for about a year and a half after I bought it. After I thought about it, it started to wander and sway a little and pull to the left some a few months back. It kept getting worse. You would be driving along and it would just start wandering around the road, then smooth out. almost would go into the oncoming lane. I thought it might be the Idler arm and pitman arm. Replaced the pitman arm. I then checked the hubs, right side was tight and the left was just a little loose. I went ahead and changed them and the tires and it hasn't did it since. My truck has 140,000 miles on it. Low miles for hubs to go but with the heavy rims and tires I'm sure it wore them out sooner.

 

[Tonyv__]

@Battledrift69 Do you have aftermarket wheels? I had a set of 24x10 iroc replicas and my 2000 Tahoe wandered wherever the road would take me. Tires seemed good. Rims weren’t bent. They balanced fine. But no other set of wheels did that.

 

[Tonyv__]

Mine drove fine for about a year and a half after I bought it. After I thought about it, it started to wander and sway a little and pull to the left some a few months back. It kept getting worse. You would be driving along and it would just start wandering around the road, then smooth out. almost would go into the oncoming lane. I thought it might be the Idler arm and pitman arm. Replaced the pitman arm. I then checked the hubs, right side was tight and the left was just a little loose. I went ahead and changed them and the tires and it hasn't did it since. My truck has 140,000 miles on it. Low miles for hubs to go but with the heavy rims and tires I'm sure it wore them out sooner.

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You post just gave me anxiety watching that jack stand in the grass lol. But I use recalled harbor freight stands. So who am I to judge

 

[Dalt10]

I get it. The jack stand was there as back up to the jack that was on wood. Could have sank some if the jack failed but under that grass is hard Clay. I'm out in the middle of no where Georgia.

 

[BentleyArnage]

Just picked up an 02 Tahoe. Same poor tracking at speed. Wanders all over. I'm used to it and can keep it relatively under control. This is the 4th starting with a 1998 that has done the same thing. The 99 steering actually locked and I ended up rolling in a ditch.

So this new to me 02 is going for a couple of days and the power steering just stops. No weird noises, you can hear inside the pump like normal. No leaks. Fluid clean. Well GM decided to take a perfectly good steering system and put computer control to the hydraulic pressure with a solenoid on the back of the pump. Somehow, I found some information about a kit GM makes to fix the BS computer steering control. (I forgot to tell you without working power steering, there is no wander going down the road. Just as steady as a 20 year old truck without this crap). The part number is 19168825. It's a GM number, but OReally can look it up by number and find it. You won't find it without the number. It's like $50 or so. It has a new high pressure pump nut without all the valving inside, a pipe that fits into the new nut and allows the stock high pressure hose to hook right into the system. I suspect all the steering issues will be gone with this upgrade.

The earlier trucks have a collar around the steering column that can be replaced inside the cab that does the same thing. More to come on this one. I should have my new part tomorrow. We'll install it and report back as to the results.

 

[exp500]

BentletArnage- That is the EVO delete kit for 97-99 I believe. You may have better luck just changing the flow control valve alone, or with a shim kit (Bills Hotrod parts co P/N 1001) to reduce the pressure.