New HD Ball joints.

[Royal Sierra 454]

Checking to see if anyone else had the same issue. I have all new suspension and steering components. When driving at 40 MPH or above. It seems to wander on the road. Notice it more on a rough road. I called Wuff Off Road specialist in AZ. Nice and patient guy. I was told it could be a few things. The most common is using HD ball joint. Need to break them in. (500 miles). Or a caster issue. I was told to try this, drive it slow turn to the left or right and see it the wheels centers itself. No, it doesn't. I'll put a few more miles on it to see if the issue goes away.

 

[Ricko1966]

Keep us posted,sounds like a caster issue to me.

 

[idahovette]

Sounds like it may be "tight" ball joints. Drive it on those same roads and concentrate on whether it is wandering or "sticking" right or left and you have to bring it back yourself.

 

[AuroraGirl]

if you have a separate ps belt, wouldnt hurt to pull it and try driving a stretch. See if the natural inclination is to wander or if the steering is out of adjustment. (most likely would be a box issue, but a generic aftermarket ps pump with an incorrect flow control valve could cause steering to behave but i would only ever say that if you eliminate other possibilities or that was the only thing replaced before issue started

 

[AuroraGirl]

Checking to see if anyone else had the same issue. I have all new suspension and steering components. When driving at 40 MPH or above. It seems to wander on the road. Notice it more on a rough road. I called Wuff Off Road specialist in AZ. Nice and patient guy. I was told it could be a few things. The most common is using HD ball joint. Need to break them in. (500 miles). Or a caster issue. I was told to try this, drive it slow turn to the left or right and see it the wheels centers itself. No, it doesn't. I'll put a few more miles on it to see if the issue goes away.

Also, can you drive this section of road with another vehicle of known road manners? just to establish what it "should" do if that makes sense

 

[Grit dog]

After installing new bjs and before hooking up the tie rods, how easily did the knuckles rotate?
Possible a sticky new steering box as well.
Too low of Caster would also cause it to wander or feel floaty as well.
Toe out is a similar feel.
But if it’s just sticky and having trouble returning to center I’m on the tight ball joints theory as well.

Perfect opportunity to use it for all your errands and in town trips where you’re exercising the steering a lot!

 

[CalSgt]

Piggybacking what @Grit dog said, IIRC the knuckles (unhooked from the steering) should turn with 25 foot pounds if tightened correctly.

In the Jeep world we tell people to drive washboarded dirt roads at moderate to high speed to speed up the break in period. I've heard lots of people talk about 500 to 1500 mile break in range.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Piggybacking what @Grit dog said, IIRC the knuckles (unhooked from the steering) should turn with 25 foot pounds if tightened correctly.

In the Jeep world we tell people to drive washboarded dirt roads at moderate to high speed to speed up the break in period. I've heard lots of people talk about 500 to 1500 mile break in range.

that sounds correct if I rememeber right. The manual suggested using a fish scale for that even lol

 

[rpcraft]

I've never really heard of new ball joints needing to be broken in to be honest but maybe that is just something with these supposedly HD balljoints? What brand and part # are they if you have that info? MIght pay to know more about the ball joint itself and if there is a more durable unit I would like to know more.

 

[Royal Sierra 454]

During the assembly of the front axle. I noticed in the shop manual showing the fish type tension scale. The passenger side was pretty tight. I feel it might loosen up in time. Still need to call the Diff. shop that did the work.

 

[Ricko1966]

I'd read and try post 7 it can't hurt,wouldn't be hard and sure makes sense to me. Work then balljoints al little bit to loosen them up.

 

[Radiohead]

Not to discount the obvious, but you did properly lube the new joints upon installation?

 

[Royal Sierra 454]

That is what the shop also told me to try to loosen them up. I'm back in the shop working on other loose ends. One step forward and two steps back. Plus, this time of the year, so many other things going on.