My 1989 sierra 4.3 has a good amount of play in the steering wheel. The steering wheel has to be turned almost 90' to the left just to drive straight. The tie rods are straight and it looks like all the bushing are still good. But not 100% sure if they are. Could it be the steering box and is there any way to adjust the slack out of it? Thanks
89 sierra 4.3 play in the steering wheel
- Thread starter thegmcguy
- Start date
Molson02536
New member
Check the rag joint first to make sure its not worn out. You can try to adjust the steering box.
There should be a set Allen screw with a lock nut on the side or top of the gear box that you can tighten to remove some of the slack. You need to be careful when adjusting it, go to much and you can cause damage to the gears by applying to much pressure and wreck the gears in there.
Tighten the screw only in 1/4 turn increments, then tighten the nut back on it again (keep the allen key in the screw to keep it from falling out of adjustment) and then check your steering again. Best to do it on flat dry pavement, so that you can judge if it takes less movement of the wheel before the wheels move themselves.
If that didn't help, tighten it another 1/4 turn. If its not helping at all by 1 full turn, then back it off a half turn and save money for a new steering box. That's if you're pitman and idler arms an tie-rod ends are good though.
Keep us posted
Molson02536
Check the rag joint first to make sure its not worn out. You can try to adjust the steering box.
There should be a set Allen screw with a lock nut on the side or top of the gear box that you can tighten to remove some of the slack. You need to be careful when adjusting it, go to much and you can cause damage to the gears by applying to much pressure and wreck the gears in there.
Tighten the screw only in 1/4 turn increments, then tighten the nut back on it again (keep the allen key in the screw to keep it from falling out of adjustment) and then check your steering again. Best to do it on flat dry pavement, so that you can judge if it takes less movement of the wheel before the wheels move themselves.
If that didn't help, tighten it another 1/4 turn. If its not helping at all by 1 full turn, then back it off a half turn and save money for a new steering box. That's if you're pitman and idler arms an tie-rod ends are good though.
Keep us posted
Molson02536
Thanks. I'll let you know if it works.