Strange Steering Issue - Solved !

[Goldie Driver]

I could not find any info on this posted - hope this helps someone.

My 1980 K1500 Suburban 4wd has had steering issues since I got it.

What that means is that the steering wheel would change the straight ahead position after a turn, and there were pops while turning the wheel at a stop.

A new front drag link did not solve it, and having the leaf spring bushing bolts tightened helped but did not solve it.

The other day I noticed while turning the steering wheel while parked I could see the left front wheel move about a half inch backwards and forwards before the wheel began to turn.

The solution : loose ubolts that mount the axle to the spring.

Now, things that aren't supposed to move don't and things that are supposed to turn do .

Problem solved - now on to the next !

Britt

 

[Blue Ox]

That's one for the archives. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I could not find any info on this posted - hope this helps someone.

My 1980 K1500 Suburban 4wd has had steering issues since I got it.

What that means is that the steering wheel would change the straight ahead position after a turn, and there were pops while turning the wheel at a stop.

A new front drag link did not solve it, and having the leaf spring bushing bolts tightened helped but did not solve it.

The other day I noticed while turning the steering wheel while parked I could see the left front wheel move about a half inch backwards and forwards before the wheel began to turn.

The solution : loose ubolts that mount the axle to the spring.

Now, things that aren't supposed to move don't and things that are supposed to turn do .

Problem solved - now on to the next !

Britt

Thats cool you found it, but I’d be replacing the U bolts I’m sure they were fatigued being loose. You seriously don’t want them to break driving down the road.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Sounds scary!

Uhhhhhh...*gulp* !

 

[theblindchicken]

Good stuff! Thanks for sharing the symptoms and solution, but as mentioned I'd swap out the ubolts as well just for safe measure.

 

[Action Jackson]

Thannks i been looking for the answer to that movement on my k5.

 

[Goldie Driver]

Thannks i been looking for the answer to that movement on my k5.

Was it the same issue ?

I had a nasty pull to the right, too - bad tires.
Alignment guy clued me in to that one.

Good luck!

Britt

 

[Action Jackson]

Got under it yesterday and it does look like i have some movement there i just picked up the new ones today i also have bad tires just trying to get the frontend done before i get new ones. My truck is all over the place tuff to keep a lane