looking to tighten up front end

[metalderek]

Should I just go crazy and start replacing everything? There is nothing that seems to be threatening. Just rough and Shakey over potholes and small-medium bumps. I'm pretty much looking for advice on what components to change to make is nice and tight again

 

[awood]

I'm looking at the same thing. I'll keep an eye here to see if you find a fix.

I know my shocks need replacing. It wouldn't pass inspection until after I changed the drivers side ball joints, but that didn't seem to help much. (When summer comes, I'll do the other side and align the front end, but it's tight right now). My wheel bearings are not loose. The steering seems loose, and hitting bumps seems to exaggerate the problem. I've searched a lot online, and I've read where you can tighten up the steering box (underneath the A/C compressor), but that seems to have mixed results - mostly that it doesn't work. I'm also going to look at the steering box input shaft (with the rubber flex joints) but there's not a lot of info that I can find out there. Maybe I'm not using the right search key words! As far as I can tell, all the steering linkage is tight, tie rod ends etc. The safety/emission inspector must have thought so too, since it passed inspection.

 

[Anime]

The radius arm bushings are a good place to start, along with the shocks.

The ball joints should be checked, usually they need to be replaced if they are original, wheel bearings should be at least checked as well.

It's a good idea to inspect the rear suspension as well, rusty old shackles that are falling apart, worn old spring eye bushings, and worn leaf spring pads can all make for less than optimal suspension performance.

 

[metalderek]

I just put new bearings, pads and rotors on it. I can bet the ball joints are original. I plan to replace then when the funds are right. I'll probably replace all the tie rods, Pittman arm, shocks too. Question is. If I chose to do the skyjacker 2 inch lift will I need new tie rods? That's next year sometime but im just curious.

 

[Anime]

You don't need new tie rods unless the ones that are on it are loose. If they are still tight, just use a grease gun and lube 'em up. A pitman arm with a small drop might help the alignment and steering with a 2 inch lift, but the stock pitman arm can be fine and you can just align it with the bushings.

 

[4x4junkie]

and I've read where you can tighten up the steering box (underneath the A/C compressor), but that seems to have mixed results - mostly that it doesn't work.

If you have up to a couple inches of play in the steering (measured at your steering wheel rim), and you've positively eliminated all other possible causes and know for sure it's within the box, there's a good chance for success by resetting the meshload on it. Big thing is to be careful you don't overtighten it otherwise this can bind up the box, possibly ruining it, or worse, causing you to lose control of your truck.

You'll need to raise both front wheels up so you can check that the steering turns freely across center as you adjust it.
Loosen the lock nut and adjust the center screw in in quarter-turn increments until you can just feel the steering bind lightly right at center (straight ahead), then back it off just enough to fully eliminate the bind. Retighten the locknut, again checking for bind.

If there's still play in it after adjustment, then it's possible you may need to replace the steering box.

Hope that helps

 

[awood]

Bringing up an old thread, but after doing all the above steps, the final fix was replacing the steering box.