Just had this front end apart last night. Replaced both sides upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod, drag link and both adjusting sleeves.

We did notice that the steering damper is leaking fluid slightly, so that is next on my list to replace.

We also (obviously) pulled the wheel hubs and half shafts to do the job. The cv shafts are fine, the wheel hubs definitely need to be replaced, which is on my short list, just haven't had the chance to get out there and get it done yet.

Took it straight to the shop this morning and had it aligned.

Here's the problem:

NASTY clunking sound under the front end after about 45mph or so that increases with speed.

The steering is also still loose and wanders a good bit, which I believe is a combination of the steering damper and a worn gear box since no matter what the alignment shop did, he could not get the steering wheel to stay straight while aligned.

At any rate, any guesses on the clunking under the front end?

And am I on track with the wandering steering and cocked steering wheel?

Any assistance appreciated.

 

I would say the clunking is your bad hub bearings letting the rotors beat up the brake pads. The wandering is your steering box. The steering damper only slows down abrupt changes in steering action. It's the same thing as a shock absorber.

 

That makes sense. Didn't think about the potential of the rotors wobbling being the cause of the klunking.

I was afraid it would ultimately be the steering box. How bad is that to do?

 

The hardest part of changing the steering box is removing the power steering hoses without ruining the fittings. The drag link, steering column shaft, and the mounting bolts are a PITA but doable.

A friend and I limped a Chevy truck home about 60 miles on the interstate with a busted steering box. It would steer left but not right. We put about a dozon bungee cords on the center steering link so it would pull right and drove slowly on the shoulder. We were out hunting and hit a rock!

 

Well, I've aleady had the drag link off because I just replaced it, so hopefully that won't be too bad. Its going to have to wait a bit, need to get the wheel hubs done first.

 

Sounds like a good plan.

 

Ok, so I had an issue the other day. Seized up the driver's side brakes. Complete with smoke coming off the wheel. Ended up doing a front brake job in the parking lot at work. New rotors and pads on both sides.

Got the wheel hubs installed yesterday.

I'm still getting some odd vibrations at 45 mph or so.

So far I've done:

Inner and outer tie rods, drag link, both adjusting sleeves, upper and lower ball joints on both sides, rotors and pads on both sides, new wheel hubs on both sides. And a passenger side brake caliper about 3 weeks ago.

What I know: The steering damper lost its seal and leaked fluid, the steering box is loose (good deal of play in the steering) and the steering wheel is cocked about 30 degrees to the left when the wheels are straight, even after an alignment and steering wheel adjustment during said alignment.

The front tires have a VERY slight, almost unoticeable cupping, with good tread (about 1/2 to 3/4 tread left). The front and rear tires are different treads, but they are matched in pairs (so front is the same left to right, and back is the same left to right)

I did have a rear tire low in pressure. Equalized the pressure to 40 lbs all around and that helped, but there is still a vibration.

Could it be as simple as the tires?

I'm going to replace the drivers side caliper this week (since I did the passenger side a few weeks ago, and I just had a seizing issue the other day) as well as both brake hoses, but I'm not so sure that is the cause of the vibration.

 

Always replace calipers in pairs, and you might as well replace the hoses too. Get the tires balanced and air down to 35psi. You can center the steering wheel by adjusting the sleeve near the pitman arm.