steering issues

95RedStripes · 03-23-2008, 09:37 PM

Ok, I have a 95 4 door jimmy. It has always been maintained and runs great except for this one problem. The steering has always had some play in it, but now it is REALLY bad. When driving around the city it doesn't bother me so much, but on the highway, it feels like I'm driving a boat. Regular bumps and wind gusts cause it to walk all over the place. I have to turn the wheel a significant amount to keep it going straight. I'm constanlty up on the wheel trying to keep it in my lane and it has become very unpleasant to drive. I know it's not the springs or shocks or anything like that because that was all replaced in the past few years. The vehicle has never been in an accident either. A mechanic shop looked at it and said everything checked out alright, that it's just old and worn and is how it is. I know this is a bunch of bs. Anyone have any guess at what the problem could be??? Thanks.

Shawn-GMC · 03-24-2008, 02:26 PM

maybe bad front end parts, ball joins, tie rods? Or it could be ur power steering gear box?

joshuaT · 03-25-2008, 01:10 AM

I'm thinking I have to replace my also. It doesn't look too hard but the price for the steering box is pricey.

oilyted · 03-25-2008, 10:33 PM

These trucks all seem to have problems with the idler arm and pitman arm wearing out prematurely.

95RedStripes · 03-26-2008, 01:43 AM

Yea, that's what i've been hearing. The idler arm was replaced in November. I'm dropping it off at a shop tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what the problem turns out to be.

95RedStripes · 03-26-2008, 05:51 PM

Ok, just had the vehicle checked out. All the suspension and steerings parts looked good and were tight. The steering gear box was the problem. After 163000 miles it finally started to wear out. A new one costs about $500.

firstgenon24s · 03-26-2008, 06:59 PM

i would say check the jy's but hell chances are they are worn too.

Shawn-GMC · 03-26-2008, 10:31 PM

i was right :P haha yeah gear boxes suck, but they dont look to hard to change tho, let us know how it all goes if ur doing it urself

joshuaT · 03-27-2008, 02:26 AM

$500 installed???? I think brand new ones are about $200ish. Look at Autozone or Checkers.

95RedStripes · 03-27-2008, 03:01 AM

no, i just payed to have it installed. i'm up at college in the city and have no place to work on it. it was $400 for a refurbished unit and $200 for installation. it's amazing how much better the thing drives. i actually enjoy driving it again.

ipaintshit · 03-30-2008, 02:15 PM

if the problem continues its got a bad rag joint i just replaced mine and it fixed the problem only took a few minutes very easy

Killerzmurf · 06-14-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by oilyted

These trucks all seem to have problems with the idler arm and pitman arm wearing out prematurely.

I have the same problem with my 2002 with 80k on it. What is the idler and pitman arm and what does it do? and where do I get new ones?

joshuaT · 06-15-2008, 01:54 PM

I ordered mine online, don't remember the store. I got an after market one and it was twice as big as the original. Sorry I can't remember the site or the name of the company that made the arm.

03-23-2008, 09:37 PM	#1
95RedStripes Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: User is: OffLine	steering issues Ok, I have a 95 4 door jimmy. It has always been maintained and runs great except for this one problem. The steering has always had some play in it, but now it is REALLY bad. When driving around the city it doesn't bother me so much, but on the highway, it feels like I'm driving a boat. Regular bumps and wind gusts cause it to walk all over the place. I have to turn the wheel a significant amount to keep it going straight. I'm constanlty up on the wheel trying to keep it in my lane and it has become very unpleasant to drive. I know it's not the springs or shocks or anything like that because that was all replaced in the past few years. The vehicle has never been in an accident either. A mechanic shop looked at it and said everything checked out alright, that it's just old and worn and is how it is. I know this is a bunch of bs. Anyone have any guess at what the problem could be??? Thanks.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-24-2008, 02:26 PM	#2
Shawn-GMC Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 471 Location: Canada User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues maybe bad front end parts, ball joins, tie rods? Or it could be ur power steering gear box?
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03-25-2008, 01:10 AM	#3
joshuaT Still fixing the Blazer Age: 35 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 194 Location: North Las Vegas User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues I'm thinking I have to replace my also. It doesn't look too hard but the price for the steering box is pricey.
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03-25-2008, 10:33 PM	#4
oilyted Registered User Age: 49 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 22 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues These trucks all seem to have problems with the idler arm and pitman arm wearing out prematurely.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-26-2008, 01:43 AM	#5
95RedStripes Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues Yea, that's what i've been hearing. The idler arm was replaced in November. I'm dropping it off at a shop tomorrow. I'll let you guys know what the problem turns out to be.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-26-2008, 05:51 PM	#6
95RedStripes Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues Ok, just had the vehicle checked out. All the suspension and steerings parts looked good and were tight. The steering gear box was the problem. After 163000 miles it finally started to wear out. A new one costs about $500.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-26-2008, 06:59 PM	#7
firstgenon24s Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,693 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues i would say check the jy's but hell chances are they are worn too.
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03-26-2008, 10:31 PM	#8
Shawn-GMC Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 471 Location: Canada User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues i was right :P haha yeah gear boxes suck, but they dont look to hard to change tho, let us know how it all goes if ur doing it urself
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-27-2008, 02:26 AM	#9
joshuaT Still fixing the Blazer Age: 35 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 194 Location: North Las Vegas User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues $500 installed???? I think brand new ones are about $200ish. Look at Autozone or Checkers.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-27-2008, 03:01 AM	#10
95RedStripes Registered User Age: 23 Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues no, i just payed to have it installed. i'm up at college in the city and have no place to work on it. it was $400 for a refurbished unit and $200 for installation. it's amazing how much better the thing drives. i actually enjoy driving it again.
	[Reply w/Quote]

03-30-2008, 02:15 PM	#11
ipaintshit Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325 Location: shippensburg pa User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues if the problem continues its got a bad rag joint i just replaced mine and it fixed the problem only took a few minutes very easy
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-14-2008, 04:45 PM	#12
Killerzmurf Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues Quote: Originally Posted by oilyted These trucks all seem to have problems with the idler arm and pitman arm wearing out prematurely. I have the same problem with my 2002 with 80k on it. What is the idler and pitman arm and what does it do? and where do I get new ones?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2008, 01:54 PM	#13
joshuaT Still fixing the Blazer Age: 35 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 194 Location: North Las Vegas User is: OffLine	Re: steering issues I ordered mine online, don't remember the store. I got an after market one and it was twice as big as the original. Sorry I can't remember the site or the name of the company that made the arm.
	[Reply w/Quote]