Scrubbing/binding while turning at near full lock

[SnowDrifter]

Here's one for you... I can't make heads or tails of it

When I got my truck it had some free play from both inner tie rods and the lf outer tie rod.

I replaced inner/outer tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm, and idler arm bracket with moog parts. They're a bit stiff, takes more effort to turn the wheels while in the air and the car is reluctant to return to center.

I got it aligned by a friend as I don't have access to an alignment racks. It's the new hunter Hawkeye laser stuff, pretty precision.

Well since replacing everything I can turn my wheel 1 turn in either direction. Any more than that and the front wheels bind and skip. It feels similar to it being in 4x4. It's an odd sensation as it feels like my turning radius increases when the tires bind and skip. It did it before the alignment as well but I had assumed it was a toe issue.

Alignment angles are all good, dead in the center of spec. I've verified that I am NOT in 4wd. I can climb under and the front driveshaft spins freely. I can jack up the front, 1 side at a time and spin the wheel freely.

I'm not entirely sure where to go from here

 

[DenaliBQ]

front diff maybe check fluid for metal ?

 

[SnowDrifter]

front diff maybe check fluid for metal ?

I changed it out ~750 miles ago. Didn't look like anything special other than really old diff fluid. Typical metal filings on the magnet but no large shavings or chunks

 

[SnowDrifter]

Could someone post some pictures of how their center link attaches to their inner tie rods + zerk fitting orientation? I'm wondering if I got the left and right side flipped around

 

[SnowDrifter]

A picture at this angle would be SUPER helpful

 

[SnowDrifter]

I did some playing around with it today. I seems to have a high degree of toe-in when the wheels are turned, regardless of which direction I turn the wheel

 

[SnowDrifter]

Anyone? Under car picture? Please?

 

[mattbta]

No help, but following. Mine skips/hops all over the place when turning but I'm 2WD. On brand new concrete it acts like it's in ice/snow when pulling into a parking spot. On a gravel lot, it damn near jumped into the car in the next spot over. It also won't hold an alignment...they can get it set, go for a drive around the block and it's already out. Over the past three years it's had 2 sets of pitman/idler arms replaced and all tie rods. I've taken it to two shops and they all claim there's no play anywhere.

I'm slowly replacing parts on my own. Next step is new UCA's...but I doubt that will do anything for it. From there, I'll get yet another set of pitman/idler and a steering gear box. Hope you get some help that might perhaps help me.

 

[SnowDrifter]

You can help us both by posting a picture

 

[mattbta]

I'll try and do that tomorrow, but it will look different I suspect as I'm 2wd.

 

[mattt]

Make that 3 of us with the same issues! Mine is an 04 4wd and it scrubs & hops when turning. I've experienced the same problem with holding an alignment, it goes out fairly quickly and I've been told by multiple shops that everything is tight.
I don't think everything is tight, as I have a rattle from the front suspension when going over rough road, or over speed bumps in a parking lot. I have a thread here from a few months ago and have replied in various threads of others with the same issues. I've looked underneath to see if subframe bolts were loose and didn't see anything obvious, but it's difficult from the ground on your back to check everything well. Hope this thread turns up the answer.

I'll try to get a picture SnowDrifter

 

[mattbta]

Sorry, I haven't gotten a pic of the underside but wanted to ask you guys if you experience this issue: When parking, does the outside tire from a turn leave tons of rubber? Mine does and it doesn't matter what pavement surface. Brand new concrete does it worse obviously but really old does it too.

 

[SnowDrifter]

Can you tell if it's toe in or toe out?

That's basically what mine is doing, though not to that degreee. Any luck on that picture?

 

[osiris94ej]

Steering gear (Box)?

Edit:
Second thought it seems more like an alignment issue.

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[SnowDrifter]

I think I have mine figured out

 

[mattbta]

Well? Fixed?

I'll definitely try and get a pic this weekend if you still need.

 

[SnowDrifter]

My left side and of the center link were flipped. It's non symmetrical. It moved the tie rods further forward and out of parallelism with the rest of the suspension

 

[SnowDrifter]

In case anyone was wondering this is proper orientation for the center link. Tie rod droops are angled down and towards the rear.

 

[mattt]

I'm buying tires this week and would be stoked to find the solution to a problem that sooo many people with this generation of 00-06 GM seem to have. All ears over here...

 

[bottomline2000]

I have a similar problem and alignment issue. I have heim links from FFR instead of tierods and my heim joints appear to have some play in them. It seems to be just enough to throw my alignment off and make driving a PITA... EVERYTHING else is new except my steering box..not a happy camper..

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