Outer Limits 4x4 Board

my 86 SWB sierra has got SSS - SUPER SLOPPY STEERING!!!

theres alota play in the steering from side to side without actually turning the wheels!!!! how do i fix this? anything i can adjust? also need to hold the wheel to the right to keep it driving straight other wise it steers to the left... what needs adjusting? anyone else had this problem? how did you fix this?


thanks for any help guys/gals

cheers, islandvit

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There is heaps in here about this.
Adjust the box and get a wheel alignment.... problems solved.

islandvitara wrote:my 86 SWB sierra has got SSS - SUPER SLOPPY STEERING!!!

theres alota play in the steering from side to side without actually turning the wheels!!!! how do i fix this? anything i can adjust? also need to hold the wheel to the right to keep it driving straight other wise it steers to the left... what needs adjusting? anyone else had this problem? how did you fix this?


thanks for any help guys/gals

cheers, islandvit

ok as old as this is, you did not sat its fixed and the search nazi's didnt help too much...


it can be a number of things being.....
steering box worn, (adjust the grub screw on the top of the box, (you need 2 people to do this to make it easy) undo the retaining nut on top of the box and screw the grub screw clockwise, do not tighten it up too much, you do need some play in the box or it will either break the spur gear or wear it quicker.
steering tierod ends worn, replace these, still better to have 2 people for this job.
kingpin bearings (lower and upper where the knuckles join to the diff, jack up and place hand top and bottom of tyre then evenly pull towards and away from you, if it moves check both wheel bearings for adjustment and kingpins for up and down movement.
as above wheel bearings, check the same as above...
also not that it usually matters on a std sierra but check your steering dampener to see if it is stuffed if it has one (doubt it being the year it is).


once you have done the above go get a wheel alignment and it should drive sweet..

ps... the first things i mentioned required 2 people, this is simply for one to move the steering wheel back and forth whilst the other watches how much the rest moves.

cheers mark