Steering problems

[parli22]

a few years ago ai did a 3in body lift and ever since then i have had wheel slop. I mean a lot of play in the steering wheel. I know it in the shaft in the engine compartment. I want to know if there any want to correst or fix the playin the steering shaft.

 

[RangerX]

Some body lift kits come with a steering shaft extension. I don't know how necessary they are, but do you have one?

 

[j602]

Might want to try a steering stabilizer also. Crappy steering is one of the sacrifices of a body lift.

 

[parli22]

I already have a steering stablizer and the steering shaft adapter was pu in then the body lift was put on

 

[prozachappy]

Did you try tighting the bolt on the steering extension where it connects to the upper steering shaft? The BL steering extension bolt is notorious for working lose and causing horrible slack and vibration in the steering wheel. I'd try that if you haven't already.

 

[unclemeat]

How are your radius arm bushings, ball joints and tie rod ends? Also front bearings. Any of these things can vive you sloppy steering, that is amplified by the body lift.

 

[Infragate]

I have also read that a few people have had problems with that steering shaft extention that comes with the Body lift too, which has caused play in steering due to quick wear of the extension. But there is alot of things that will cause it as mentioned above, the steering gear could be at fault too.

 

[prozachappy]

I replaced both tie rod ends, the connecting rod, adjusted my gear box, repacked my wheel bearings, and took it down and had the wheels balanced...trying to chase down my steering problem! Then while kicking and spitting at my truck because I still had horrible slop and vibration...I happened to reach down and grab the steering shaft, the BL steering extension just about fell off in my hand! I tightened it down as hard as I could and then preceded to kick myself for not checking the most obvious...lol Man can you imagine if that extension had disconnected from the shaft while I was driving???!!! Anyway, yeah check the extension bolt...then move on to tie rods and other contributing factors.
good luck, J.

 

[Creager]

a few years ago ai did a 3in body lift and ever since then i have had wheel slop. I mean a lot of play in the steering wheel. I know it in the shaft in the engine compartment. I want to know if there any want to correst or fix the playin the steering shaft.

Is it very noisy too? And it’s tight as it will ever go?

You’re probably in the same boat I am. You need to have a custom steering shaft made to accommodate the greater steering angle.

www.flaming-river.com is recommended by explorer4x4. I have talked to them; all you need is the length of the shaft from the gear, to the output shaft from the steering wheel. They will fab something up for ya to fix all the problems.

Expect to pay a nice price though. The cheapest shaft from these guys is a whopping $239.99. But u-joints on eaither side of the shaft fit perfectly for your application is PRICELESS when you are used to sloppy, noisy, loose steering.

 

[parli22]

all the steering componets have been replace, wheelin bearing repacked and torqu to spec, steering box replaced. IS it possible to replace the steering coupling in the steering shaft. and al bolt ahev been checked and rechecked.


And if anyone have a pix of the new steering shaft in could you post it I would like to see the pix if possible

 

[Creager]

That thing looks totally bulletproof. And guess what it comes with?


Shaft kit includes 3 inches of up & down movement to absorb chassis flex and will collapse in the event of collision. We can make an EZ Fit shaft for any two u-joint system - just specify the length and column and box size.

Shock Absorbing Design
Factory-assembled steering shaft system
Install easily in minutes with ordinary hand tools
No cutting or Measuring - EZ fit telescoping Action
Spring-loaded shaft absorbs road shock and chassis flex
Hexagon shaft is the ultimate in strength and reliability
EZ fit Shaft is plated for corrosion resistance



This is what you need. Its what i need also, ill be purchasing once of their 'EZ shafts' next week once i get paid =).

Your problem is from the steering extention isnt it? If you take the extention out, and turn the wheel a couple times does the squeeking and whatnot go away? Yes the slop would be from the extention OR the Tie Rod ends... Did you check/replace those?. Or did you try getting the Steering gear adjusted? i dont know if that has much to do with sloppy steering but i know it can be adjusted

 

[parli22]

right now after a very long inspection of the truck I have learned that a tie that i replace two monthes ago is no good, upper ball joint on driverside is no good and that damm couplin/extnestion is loose. Tried to tight but no goos and that extnestion is the main reason for all the extra play in the steering

 

[Creager]

right now after a very long inspection of the truck I have learned that a tie that i replace two monthes ago is no good, upper ball joint on driverside is no good and that damm couplin/extnestion is loose. Tried to tight but no goos and that extnestion is the main reason for all the extra play in the steering

Yeah im having the same problems at the momment. Im going to be buying that steering shaft + new tierods to fix the problem with the extra play. The play is weird with the extention. its not exactly free play, it steers a tiny bit. Its just really loose with very unreasponsive steering for the first 1/4 of a turn during the steering cycle, then it gets really noisey, picks up and steers normal. Kinda unsafe.

 

[parli22]

Does anyone have a pix of the the falming river steering shaft installed in their truck.And also does anyone know the exact length of the steering shaft for the truck?

thanks