Loose steering

[Humvee21]

My steering has a ton of play. I had it aligned not too many miles ago (less than 500 I believe). What should i be looking for? Please be descriptive as i am not even the least bit mechanically inclined. I undestand some may say to bring it into a mechanic but all the mechanics near me just want my money, unfortunately...

 

[Humvee21]

I would also like to mention that I have to counter steer a lot on the highway. I really hope there's a simple solution to this

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

You probably need your tie rods replaced, idler and pitman arms.

 

[seventwozero]

You probably need your tie rods replaced, idler and pitman arms.

More than likely it's this... hopefully it's not the tie rods/ball joints (shouldn't be). The H2, Chevy/GMC 2500's are notorious for eating pitman and idler arms, I would go out on a limb and say 95%+ of the members here have changed theirs at-least once.

If that is the problem, while you're having them replaced, do yourself a favor and buy the Cognito pitman/idler support kit. You'll tighten things up and (hopefully, most do see) prolong the life of the components.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

I smoked through those parts so often I had everything between the hubs and steering box custom manufacturered out of chromemoly including the center link. I have over 2 grand just in parts.

Dont get anything other than Moog for the idler and pitman. Never get stock replacement on the tierods. Its kinda a crap shoot for what aftermarket tierods to get as fabtech and cognito both have their **** manufacturered overseas now and are lesser quality (still far better that the stock junk).

 

[Humvee21]

Can you guys point me to an install or how-to thread?

 

[DJinCO]

Probably best to take it to a trusted mechanic at a front end shop. Not the kind of job for an inexperienced DIY'er.

Unless you have lots of time and you have the patience of Job.

 

[seventwozero]

Probably best to take it to a trusted mechanic at a front end shop. Not the kind of job for an inexperienced DIY'er.

Unless you have lots of time and you have the patience of Job.

Yeah, if you're changing tie tod's you'll want to have an alignment done after.

If you borrowed a pitman puller from O'Reills, or a similar auto parts store, you could swap all the parts yourself, eyeball the tirods and then have it aligned by a pro. It's not exactly the easiest job for a weekend warrior type though.

IMO, if you're going to do it, do it all at once and get it over with. The Dmax store sells a kit that includes their tierods and center link (which are pretty much the best on the market), MOOG pitman and idler arms, the Cognito support kit, the dmax support kit and frame gusset. http://dmaxstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_68&products_id=498

If I could go back in time (and know what I know now), this is the route I would've gone in the first place. There is no point in paying someone to rip into the front end twice, and align it twice.

 

[Scarsman]

Definitely go to the D-Max store, and go with the Kryptonite parts. There is nothing better out there. I did the tie rods, and they are awesome!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

 

[Zach]

Definitely go to the D-Max store, and go with the Kryptonite parts. There is nothing better out there. I did the tie rods, and they are awesome!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

The rare parts tie rods are just as comparable. Actually same maker. No issues since I switched to them. Although the Cognitos were junk

 

[Scarsman]

True, same maker and I've never heard of any issues with them at all.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

 

[Big2dabank]

X2 on the Kryptonite setup. My steering is very tight once I changed the centerlink, tie-rods, idler/pitman, and added the idler/ptiman support kit.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

Definitely go to the D-Max store, and go with the Kryptonite parts. There is nothing better out there. I did the tie rods, and they are awesome!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

Well not "commercially" yet. No one has a total package like I put together. I just need to get my ride back on the road to test it.

 

[twinmill28]

Hey Mud, what parts do you have over and above the D-Max $1300 set-up? One day when I get my sheckels together I'd like to put together a super tite steering assembly that I won't have to worry about.

 

[Big2dabank]

Hydro assist would also be a nice addition to a good steering setup. I think Summitup had a thread somewhere about his custom hydro assist setup on his H2.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

Hey Mud, what parts do you have over and above the D-Max $1300 set-up? One day when I get my sheckels together I'd like to put together a super tite steering assembly that I won't have to worry about.

You tell me? You dont think there is anything that can be done to their centerlink and tie rod setup for improvement? They dont offer an idler or pitman option either.

I'll be posting my **** as soon as the freight truck shows up. Machine shop said last week...talked to the driver today who said he isn't even scheduled to be in MI untill next week. ****s been in the works since march...I'm getting antsy.

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

Hydro assist would also be a nice addition to a good steering setup. I think Summitup had a thread somewhere about his custom hydro assist setup on his H2.

You guys need to feel how much power a good steering pump puts out over the stock pos. A built AGR pump is more than enough to push you off what ever you may be wedged up against. Thats if the rest of your steering is capable of holding that force. I can throw my steering wheel at a complete stop on hot asphalt easily turning the tires. Best mod i've even done to my rig!

 

[Zach]

When I called AGR about a replacement higher flow pump, the guy told me it would not do any better than the stock. And then told me I would need to get the ram assist system they have which was $1300 or so :whaa:

 

[[__--MUD--__]]

When I called AGR about a replacement higher flow pump, the guy told me it would not do any better than the stock. And then told me I would need to get the ram assist system they have which was $1300 or so :whaa:

Forget who I talked to there...guy had me on the phone for an hour talking about all the **** they do. You must of got someone that didn't know what was going on or having a bad day.

Anyone forum member that would want to drive my rig is more than welcome to feel how the power steering should have been done right from gm. I have the exact same pump that comes w/ the ram assist kit, but w/ upgraded bearings and chromemoly shaft. I snapped the steel shaft in half on my last pump...that wont happen again. Seriously this should be the first mod anyone does.