Jon Karnes
Junior Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2018
- Posts
- 28
- Reaction score
- 24
- Location
- Shreveport, LA
- First Name
- Jon
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- V20 Suburban
- Engine Size
- 5.9 12 valve Cummins Conversion
Thanks guys for all the advice. I posted a thread about super sloppy steering several weeks ago. I recently had a Cummins Swap done on my 87 V20 Suburban. That included a complete rebuild of the front end. Every bushing balljoint tie rod end etc... was replaced on the entire vehicle. Inspecting the guys work and it's obvious he is a hell of a fabricator and mechanic. But when I got it back, it had sloppy steering and about 4 to 6 inches of play in the steering wheel. Took it to half a dozen different shops and they all put it on the rack and decided everything was perfect. Many said I needed to re-rebuild the front end, or add a crossover steer, or put in a dual steering stabilizer, etc... Needless to say none of their suggestions made much sense and all cost well over a grand. I did the steering shaft swap, didn't do any good, but at least I have u joints in there now. Had some great suggestions from the group, but nothing fixed it. Finally found and old codger mechanic to take it to. He put it on the rack and said the same thing, this thing is perfect, just like brand new. Then he put it on the ground had me bounce the wheel very slightly and then did it himself and showed me where the shaft and steering box have 0 play. Then he showed me where the ball joint in front of the right front tire was moving a little and flexing, but the tire wasn't moving. He said, "you need to pack those with grease." I told him it the entire front end was brand new with less than 6000 miles and I was pretty sure that wasn't the problem. So he bet me a 12 pack of beer that it was dry. Put it back on the rack and sure enough, it took 8 pumps of the grease gun to fill that ball joint. Turns out every single fitting on the entire truck was bone dry. He wouldn't take any money for it, so I bought him two 12 packs of beer and let him know he had earned a customer for life.
It now handles and drives better than it probably did coming off the assembly line 31 years ago. Zero Play or bump steer. With the faster ratio steering box, it steers like a modern truck, but feels like a truck should. It's just a beautiful thing
Moral of the story: 1. Listen to old mechanics, their experience is more valuable than any of your vehicles. 2. Just because your builder is a master craftsman, doesn't mean that everyone that works for him is as skilled. 3. Just because you press the fitting and squeeze the handle doesn't mean there is grease in the gun and many 19 year old helpers can't tell when it's empty.
Face meet palm.
It now handles and drives better than it probably did coming off the assembly line 31 years ago. Zero Play or bump steer. With the faster ratio steering box, it steers like a modern truck, but feels like a truck should. It's just a beautiful thing
Moral of the story: 1. Listen to old mechanics, their experience is more valuable than any of your vehicles. 2. Just because your builder is a master craftsman, doesn't mean that everyone that works for him is as skilled. 3. Just because you press the fitting and squeeze the handle doesn't mean there is grease in the gun and many 19 year old helpers can't tell when it's empty.
Face meet palm.
