hi i have a 84 frame with a 86 cab. my steering has a lot of play in it. it has push pull steering, no PS. it also has 33in tsl swampers on it which is about 30-35% thread. when driving it has a lot of play and also every so often it will pull kind of hard to either side in which i have to steer it back on course. any of you guys have a diagnosis on what it could be. any input would be appreciated. thanks!

 

have someone crank the steering wheel back and forth while you poke around under the hood or under the truck. Look for the point one part of the linkage moves and the next part does not. The joint between those two parts will be where (some of) the play is coming from. If it were all tight, if you turned the steering wheel a little, the tires would move at the same time. If there is play, then you turn the steering wheel more and more until the tires finally move. So work back from the tires to the steering wheel looking for the source(s) of the play.

 

what he said..to add to this, if your alignment sucks, it will tend to pull to one side or the other. so if you find that your tires are reacting to the steering wheel, check that too.

 

Okay thanks guys. Will go and check dat out and let you guys know how that goes

 

also, get rid of the tsl,s, they ride like ass, and there wore out, unless your going to be mostly off road, thier not worth it in my opinion, or at least get a set of radials to use on road and switch to the tsl,s if your going out to play. of course, what the fellas said above me, you have wore out parts on the front end........its weird, i have a 84 cab/86 chassis too, lol

 

Yah I plan on getting new tires too. they suck on road and just too loud for my liking. Was prbly gonna pick up some Baja claws or mud terrains.

 

Tightened all my bolts, come to find out my drag link needs to be replaced. Hopefully that will help. Also gonna buy new tires and get it aligned. Thanks guys!!

 

my drag is bad too, when you jacked up the front to check for loose suspension parts, din you put a bar under the wheels and check for up and down movement?

 

Yahh. My suspension parts look okay and so did my joints. There was no play. I'm sure its my drag link bcuz when I turn I can hear it making a sound.

 

that cant be good........just sayin