Still all over the road after rebuild and alignment

[Squirrelsmith]

I changed the ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, control arm bushings and it still drives like shit after a professional alignment. There is some play in the steering gear box maybe 1/2" to a inch....

If you let go of the wheel your going into oncoming traffic within 5 seconds but sometimes it likes to go right as well. If there is any imperfection in the road it grabs it hard and follows it. I am constantly correcting. There has been no change with the work i did.

Is there anyone out there who can let go of their steering wheel and their obs just goes straight, Like every other car i have ever driven?

The alignment shop blamed it on the steering suspension design, worn gear box and "oversized" tires 275/55/20

Is a nice straight drive achievable???? or am i just going to waste time and money?

 

[Squirrelsmith]

made a slight adjustment in the backlash... tightened my steering box. made a big difference. I may replace it. it still wanders some but its much better

 

[HiHoeSilver]

made a slight adjustment in the backlash... tightened my steering box. made a big difference. I may replace it. it still wanders some but its much better

My OBS drove straight as an arrow.

 

[Squirrelsmith]

My OBS drove straight as an arrow.

good to know it is doable. Have you done anything to achieve that?

 

[PatDTN]

The oversized tires can affect the steering. Also if the wheels are not stock for your vehicle and the offset is wrong it will cause the tramlining you describe. Don't forget the rear axle and checking all mounting components and even tire pressure.

 

[Squirrelsmith]

They are wheels off of a 2015 chevy tahoe, pretty damn close. When the guy at the alignment shop said this i figured he was fishing for reasons that didnt have to do with him.

 

[Squirrelsmith]

I have considered that the problem may be coming from the rear be it a alignment or even a bad wheel bearing. But my gut feeling is saying its the steering box..... i just dont know yet though. I am determined to track it down though so i will update my progress

 

[east302]

Is a nice straight drive achievable???? or am i just going to waste time and money?

The drive quality is all relative, but a straight drive is achievable. Mine’s not too bad, and it doesn’t behave like you described.

I had a bad-out-of-the-box Delco reman steering gear that was dead between 11 and 1 o’clock, it sort of behaved like that and required constant correction.

Your new work included the idler arm/bracket and pitman arm, correct?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Squirrelsmith]

The drive quality is all relative, but a straight drive is achievable. Mine’s not too bad, and it doesn’t behave like you described.

I had a bad-out-of-the-box Delco reman steering gear that was dead between 11 and 1 o’clock, it sort of behaved like that and required constant correction.

Your new work included the idler arm/bracket and pitman arm, correct?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did not do the idler and pitman, I felt they were tight when i checked then and the alignmant shop agreed there was no play

 

[Squirrelsmith]

In retrospect i probably should have anyways though