Front End - 99 C1500 5.7L Vortec Suburban

[shultzee13]

Have replaced:

Idler Arm
Steering gear box
Pittman Arm
Steering Speed Sensor (SMH)
Upper and Lower Control Arms
Upper and Lower Ball joints
Shocks
Power Steering Pump

Suburban still all over the road.

If I unplug the EVO sensor at the back of the power steering pump will it help? I don't want a SES light on though. Will is throw a code?

Could my mechanic have installed the steering sensor wrong, like facing the wrong direction?

I am at a loss.

Ive had it lined up. New tires twice now, but something is wearing out the front tires pretty quick, both times Ive replaced! I am using the tires that the inside of the door calls for.

Thanks Guys

[sntrym95]

Is that new steering box a reman? If so, it might be loose. How's the steering wheel feel? If it feels loose, the steering box might need to be tightened up. Did you check/replace tie rods? How about control arm bushings when you replaced the control arms?

[95 S_Trucker]

Check the tie rods

Check the rag joint. Check the steering shaft. I had 2 loose joints in my 99.

Did they give you a printout after they did an alignment? A lot of shops cut corners with alignments. Some only do a toe-n-go.

[shultzee13]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

Check the tie rods

Check the rag joint. Check the steering shaft. I had 2 loose joints in my 99.

Did they give you a printout after they did an alignment? A lot of shops cut corners with alignments. Some only do a toe-n-go.

Posted via Mobile Device

[shultzee13]

No print out but I did put in a brand new rag joint when I did the steering gearbox. Yes it is a reman. It seems nice n tight. Sub just wonders all over the road. New bushings came with the control arms.

Can tie-rods be tight yet worn out from age?

Local mechanic says everything is tight. it don't drive tight.

[shultzee13]

The steering wheel is not physically loose feeling. Hard to explain, but the steering itself is loose yes. I had the whole complete bottom part of the shaft out when doing the rag joint. It just slid out from the top part.

The mechanic made a remark when installing the new control arms that they "didn't go in very easy. Maybe it's been wrecked" How would I know that? I'm the second maybe third owner. I bought it 3 yrs ago from an individual.

Doesn't look like it was ever wrecked.

[sntrym95]

If you put the front end up in the air, grab the tires, and give them a good yank from side to side, how much play is there? Any noises?

[speedygonzales]

Have the alignment checked at another shop. There are very few things that can mess up the tires.

[speedygonzales]

Do you know if the knock outs have ever been removed so it can actually be aligned correctly?

Did you wrench on it AFTER the alignment?

[shultzee13]

There is a slight wiggle when I yank on the tires with it in the air. Speedy the knockouts have been removed.

[shultzee13]

Originally Posted by speedygonzales

Do you know if the knock outs have ever been removed so it can actually be aligned correctly?

Did you wrench on it AFTER the alignment?

No. I put on the new steering gear and then went and had it aligned.

[shultzee13]

Originally Posted by sntrym95

If you put the front end up in the air, grab the tires, and give them a good yank from side to side, how much play is there? Any noises?

No noises at all.

[shultzee13]

I unplugged the EVO sensor at the power steering pump and the truck doesn't wonder anymore. But it still sounds/feels rough when going over pot holes/road bumps. Very loose feeling.
Can the tied rods wear out from age, but still be tight enough not to notice.?

[speedygonzales]

How old are the front end bushings?

[shultzee13]

Control arm bushings upper and lower are new. They new control arms came with them.

[starterman99]

What is the tire pressure set at. Some inexperienced tire installers will fill to max pressure labeled on tire which can cause wandering,loose feeling and hard ride. when you say tires wear out quick how do they wear, inside edge, outside edge or center, or even all across tread.

[shultzee13]

Both inner and outer tie-rods shot. I mean GONE. Yep steering shaft is loose as well. I don't really see anything to tighten though.

[speedygonzales]

Originally Posted by shultzee13

Local mechanic says everything is tight. it don't drive tight.

Originally Posted by shultzee13

Both inner and outer tie-rods shot. I mean GONE. Yep steering shaft is loose as well. I don't really see anything to tighten though.

Time to find another mechanic not to mention the guy that did the alignment that didn't find it either.

[shultzee13]

Originally Posted by speedygonzales

Time to find another mechanic not to mention the guy that did the alignment that didn't find it either.

Speedy is there a fix for this loose steering column in the engine bay?
Posted via Mobile Device

[speedygonzales]

There is no supports in the engine bay. All the supports are under the dash. The shaft goes to the rag joint but support in the engine bay is strictly from the steering box.

Poke under the dash with a flashlight and see what's moving.