Steering Wheel Alignment Off with Play

[Orange]

Hello All,

I've done a lot of research on this subject (search function on the forum works well) but I'm having trouble narrowing down what I should look at next.

1999 Cadillac Escalade. Bought a few months ago. Recently replaced upper & lower ball joints, pitman arm, and idler arm. Had the truck aligned at a good suspension shop, and asked them to align wheel, which they did, but still have it cooked to the right about 1 o'clock position most of the time.

Steering wheel has play in it while parked (and moving) from about 1 o'clock to 11 o'clock. Will driver "straight" both ways, but it switches up from both positions, and in between.

I've narrowed it down to 3 things:

EVO sensor: thought this might be it, but most threads on TYF point to issues at freeway speeds, and do not mention issues while parked (and engine on).

Gearbox: possible, but truck is very solid overall (2 older previous owners who took amazing care of the truck) with only 100K miles.

Intermediate steering shaft - I hope not, heard it's almost impossible to find at the dealer, and costly if you can find it.... There is an "upgrade" proposed using an old cherokee shaft, but as far as I can tell, it won't fit the 96-99 OBS trucks.

I don't want to throw parts on until I find the problem, looking for recommendations.

Bonus question - what will cause slight steering shake at 70 MPH? Will one missing front lug nut cause this vibration? Or do I need to check something else.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[SunlitComet]

get some dial gauges and various mount on hand they will find the cause real quick. slight vibrations can be loose steering parts or a incorrect balance on a wheel/tire assembly that may or may not have damage or dirt bild up on it. or it may have not seated correctly on the vehicle. regardless fix the lugnut issue asap.

 

[blairian]

x2, fix the lug nut issue. Could also be an improper balance or alignment that is causing the shake.

As far as the steering goes..quite a few variables play into that...my guess would be the shaft.

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[willxfs]

My truck is a 1998 with about 235k miles. I changed out upper/lower ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman arm and idler arm/bracket, and the center link just cause everything else was being changed. I had a shop do an allignment which fixed the off center steering wheel. I still had slop in the steering. I changed the EVO sensor with no luck. I finally did the adjustments to the steering gearbox described in the following thread. Steering feels new again. The thread is titled: Sloppy/Loose Steering Fixed!

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46957&highlight=gearbox

 

[Orange]

Will try to adjust gearbox. Any other opinions as to how to narrow things down?

 

[Orange]

Escalade steering box is the same as the obs Tahoe's?

 

[SunlitComet]

as well as yukons and pick-up and chassis cabs in general.

 

[McFizzl]

I would love to try this but I would just make matters worse. I already know.

 

[Orange]

as well as yukons and pick-up and chassis cabs in general.

I thought I read somewhere where the Escalade and SS pickup each had a different gear box?

 

[SunlitComet]

you need to give me specific model details to compare. or go to oreilly look up part for your truck and click on compatibility tab for more info.

 

[Orange]

you need to give me specific model details to compare. or go to oreilly look up part for your truck and click on compatibility tab for more info.

99 Escalade compared to 99 Tahoe? I thought I read it had something to do with difference handling expectations (escalade=softer feel, 454SS pickup = tighter handling).

 

[Tricky]

I had my steering box changed after riding 5 years with my 22's on it. At least every year after putting the wheels on I was getting the steering box adjusted until it could not be adjusted anymore. But once it was changed she rode a hell of a lot better and steering wheel was firm. With these trucks having the age that they have it may be preventive maintenance to change out anyway. I have a 2000 Tahoe Limited with 217K and counting.


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[Orange]

Finally got around to adjusting box. Steering is much more firm, but I still have slop!

 

[SunlitComet]

Nothing like a sloppy hoe.

 

[qukon 95]

You will need to replace the rubber donut that connects the steering shaft to the gearbox.
Autozone sells it . You will have to grind the rivets off to replace it I have to change my
Gear box for the second time it has play in it good it's a LTW part.

 

[Orange]

You will need to replace the rubber donut that connects the steering shaft to the gearbox.
Autozone sells it . You will have to grind the rivets off to replace it I have to change my
Gear box for the second time it has play in it good it's a LTW part.

Is that the same as the rag-joint I've been readying about? Where is it located, near the firewall, or closer to the box?

 

[RedCrush]

does any one have a pic of what exactly is being adjusted? I replaced everything ball joints, idler, pitman with the exception of the gear box and it is 95 times better, but i noticed that when I am driving straight, and I am slight turning, it seems like the steering is binding up then it starts to turn, almost like a clock, not nice and smooth if you know what i mean.

 

[SunlitComet]

the adjustment is that big bolt with the nut on the gear cover to the left. the rag joint is under the round cover you see on the right. the adjust can help but it is a temp fix really eventually it will not work anymore and will have to be overhauled or replaced. could me a few months maybe a year or two hard to tell really.

 

[Orange]

How do you get the cover off the rag joint?

 

[SunlitComet]

slide it back.