sense of lose steering?

[mike lane lawn care]

hey guys, my 2005 GMC sierra extended cab 4x4 with 47k on it seems to have a little wander in the steering system. it never wants to stay straight over 55MPH and bounces all over the lane. It's due for an oil change so when i bring it to the dealer i'll have them inspect everything. but i was wondering what it could be, because i won't believe that it's just the truck's design as the dealer told me last time.

thanks guys

[TXNSLighting]

My gosh you sure are having alota problems with that truck...

[mike lane lawn care]

My gosh you sure are having alota problems with that truck...

not really, i'm a perfectionist, so i knit pick everything until it's the way i want it. i have had no other problem with this truck other than wind noise from the rear doors, which i solved with some RTV sealant. this is still a fantastic truck and i will buy another one when this one comes time for retirement, just next time a crew cab diesel. i'm going to bring it to my buddies shop that deals with front ends, and see what they have to say.

[PTP]

Bad tires or bad alignment.

[PlatinumLandCon]

My front end is a disaster. Its going into the shop tomorrow.

[TXNSLighting]

Yeh my front end has entirely been replaced.

[South Florida Lawns]

Front end out of alignment is my guess. I just had my 2003 aligned. I also had a bad intermittent steering shaft. They replaced it under warranty twice. I don't know if the 4x4 2500's had any problems like my 1500 but they are both IFS so who knows.

[Jerry Lee]

do u snow plow, or have u been hitting curbs or 4 wheeling or anything?

[Gravel Rat]

What do you expect with a Chevy they always had suspension problems with that crap IFS. The twin I beam Ford wasn't much better.

Take the truck to a alinement shop its the only way your going to know if there is a problem. Wandering at speed sounds like you may have some ball joints that are worn out. As you drive the wheels shimmy slightly it is like a shopping cart with a wobbley wheel.

What tires do you have ?

When is the last time you greased your front end ?

The IFS is a maintenance pig you have 4 main ball joints, tie rod ends, idler arm and A arms. With a 4x4 you have the torque bars which is your suspension.

The best solution is gut all that IFS crap out and install a dana 60 and leaf springs :laugh:

You need to go to a good shop that has a electronic rack to do the best wheel alinement possible.

[Swampy]

Jack the front end up off the ground and get your steering wheel to lock. Shake the tire back, forth, up, and down. Listen to hear clicking noise/excessive movement, and up and down play is your ball joints, any left to right movement is your tie rods/idler arm/P arm or it may be your steering box going. If it was tire or alignment you should be able to let go of the wheel and it should pull to either side all the time, but account for the crown of the road.

My dodge has that drifting problem as well and its the steering box. I've replaced the whole shabang twice in my truck to get it tightened up but I have to drive down roads that make the Illinois tollways look pretty.

[topsites]

Shoot, and I'm not trying to scare you but that could be anything...

Shot bearings, worn tie rod ends, loose or worn steering knuckle,
bad rack and pinion, tires worn unevenly, shocks, wrong caster setting,
not sure if yours has this but worn king pins, heck it could even be dragging
brake pads heating up the grease inside the bearings making the balls float
in a round-about way but the fact is we just don't know.

Might be as simple as a $5 unevenly inflated tire fix, could be as bad as
$500 to a thousand but all that aside, all I am saying is unless you have a
good idea of what is up under there your best bet is to let the
mechanic tackle it.

And hope it's nothing too serious.

Peace

[Gravel Rat]

The Tires Tell The Troubles :laugh:

Not kidding you if the tires are showing odd wear its a good sign something might be out of whack.

Chevy trucks do wear the tires into a wheel barrow tire shape.

If the truck is lifted then it really affects the alinement.

[mike lane lawn care]

i have newish (8k) transforce HT tires 245,75,R16. the front end gets greased every oil change, i have an appointment on Tuesday with the dealer for an oil change and an appointment on thursday with a front end shop.

[Gravel Rat]

Did you have the same problem before the new tires ?

What you are experiencing is some tire squirm. The Tranforce are a closed shoulder modified rib tread. It will follow the ruts in the road plus it makes your steering feel really positive ie any steering wheel movements the truck will move. If you have a tight limited slip diff you will really feel it.

If you have a slight toe in it will help.

[mike lane lawn care]

Did you have the same problem before the new tires ?

What you are experiencing is some tire squirm. The Tranforce are a closed shoulder modified rib tread. It will follow the ruts in the road plus it makes your steering feel really positive ie any steering wheel movements the truck will move. If you have a tight limited slip diff you will really feel it.

If you have a slight toe in it will help.

come to think about it, it wasn't near this bad before the transforce HT tires. i know they are a hard compound tire for long life. but what would have been a better tire choice?