Strange Steering Issue - Solved !

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
3,925
Reaction score
6,375
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
I could not find any info on this posted - hope this helps someone.

My 1980 K1500 Suburban 4wd has had steering issues since I got it.

What that means is that the steering wheel would change the straight ahead position after a turn, and there were pops while turning the wheel at a stop.

A new front drag link did not solve it, and having the leaf spring bushing bolts tightened helped but did not solve it.

The other day I noticed while turning the steering wheel while parked I could see the left front wheel move about a half inch backwards and forwards before the wheel began to turn.

The solution : loose ubolts that mount the axle to the spring.

Now, things that aren't supposed to move don't and things that are supposed to turn do .:D

Problem solved - now on to the next !

Britt
 

Blue Ox

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
4,831
Reaction score
10,633
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
That's one for the archives. Thanks for sharing.
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,789
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
I could not find any info on this posted - hope this helps someone.

My 1980 K1500 Suburban 4wd has had steering issues since I got it.

What that means is that the steering wheel would change the straight ahead position after a turn, and there were pops while turning the wheel at a stop.

A new front drag link did not solve it, and having the leaf spring bushing bolts tightened helped but did not solve it.

The other day I noticed while turning the steering wheel while parked I could see the left front wheel move about a half inch backwards and forwards before the wheel began to turn.

The solution : loose ubolts that mount the axle to the spring.

Now, things that aren't supposed to move don't and things that are supposed to turn do .:D

Problem solved - now on to the next !

Britt
Thats cool you found it, but I’d be replacing the U bolts I’m sure they were fatigued being loose. You seriously don’t want them to break driving down the road.
 
Last edited:

theblindchicken

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2013
Posts
1,518
Reaction score
265
Location
SoCal
First Name
Christian
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
K10 5" lift + 2" BL
Engine Size
350-4, 0.030" over
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing the symptoms and solution, but as mentioned I'd swap out the ubolts as well just for safe measure.
 

Action Jackson

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
Detroit Mich.
First Name
Jason
Truck Year
!976
Truck Model
Chevy K5 Blazer
Engine Size
427
Thannks i been looking for the answer to that movement on my k5.
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
3,925
Reaction score
6,375
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Thannks i been looking for the answer to that movement on my k5.

Was it the same issue ?

I had a nasty pull to the right, too - bad tires.
Alignment guy clued me in to that one.

Good luck!

Britt
 

Action Jackson

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
Detroit Mich.
First Name
Jason
Truck Year
!976
Truck Model
Chevy K5 Blazer
Engine Size
427
Got under it yesterday and it does look like i have some movement there i just picked up the new ones today i also have bad tires just trying to get the frontend done before i get new ones. My truck is all over the place tuff to keep a lane
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,851
Posts
903,500
Members
33,365
Latest member
rossivey
Top