My Chevy pickup steering is loose. What's the problem?

Question

2004 Chevy Silverado 1500. With 100,000+ miles, I've noticed that my steering is loose. What (potentially) causes this? How do I correct it?

Answer 1

With 100000 miles you will start running into problems due to age wear and tear. Steering systems are rather simple when you get to the mechanics of it all. I don't know exactly what kind of system you have but I would start with the basics check your pressures and do a visual inspections. If you have a link style system I would probably check the pitman and idler arms connected to the steering links. If you have a rack and pinion system, i would check bushings and ball joints. Also a simple wheel alignment just might work good luck!

Answer 2

The steering box itself will loosen or wear over time. You'll probably get a lot of suggestions about tie rod ends and idler arms and maybe even ball joints. Truth is it could be any one or a combination of all of them.



I have adjusted the steering box on my '98 GMC C1500 because it got loosie-goosie and the dealer said my +/- 2 inches of freeplay in the steering was "normal". If you're mechanically inclined the adjustments are not that hard ...but you do need to remove the steering box from the truck. Most shops won't touch it because they don't know how to adjust it and they don't want to take the time to do it ...it's all labor.



And *do not* simply start wrenching on the lock-nutted hex drive screw sitting there on top of the steering box. That will *not* fix your problem ...on the contrary arbitrarily messing with it will make matters worse.



If you want an idea of how to do the procedure, look up "adjusting saginaw steering box". It may turn out to be one or more of your other steering components but if the box has slop in it you can replace all the other stuff (as in spend a bunch a money) and still have slop in the steering.

Answer 3

2004 Chevy Silverado Steering Problems

Answer 4

Along with what the others have told you, I'm going to take a different direction.

Do you mean the steering column is loose? Does it have a tilt wheel?

Common problem was the bolts that hold the tilt mechanism to the steering column come loose and allow play in the column.



Not a fun job as you have to remove the airbag and partially disassemble the steering column to get to the tilt bolts. Better left to someone who knows what they are doing.

Answer 5

Please check the steering joint, it may worn out. Or only need a wheel alignment.