The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline A little wiggle in the front end

We can all appreciate "A little wiggle in the front end", but not if it is the front end of our trucks.

Saturday I had some errands in town (10 miles one way) and decided to take my '52 GMC 3/4 ton. On some real smooth pavement I noticed a slight wiggle in the steering wheel at 40 mph. When I slowed to 35 it went away. Decided to limp home (35 in a 60 zone for 7 of the miles and nobody came up behind me - quiet road).

Yesterday I had some time for the truck. Jacked up the passenger's side front wheel. I could feel a little slop when I grabbed it at 3 & 9 o'clock and wiggled. Wiggled some more and could tell that the looseness was on the driver's side. Put the passenger's side back on the ground and jacked up the driver's side. Took the tire off.

I grabbed the disk (CPP 1/2 ton 5 lug front disk brake kit adapted to my truck BEFORE I bought it) at 3 and 9 and wiggled. The steering arm, tie rod and drag link were all moving when they shouldn't be. Turns out the replacement bolts that CPP supplied to hold their custom bracket to the steering arm and knuckle were loose. The nuts that CPP supplied are those 1/2"-13 "nyloc" self locking type. They both needed about 1 turn to get really tight. I haven't had them off since I bought the truck 11 years ago.

Didn't have time for a test drive, so I'll continue this story when I get back from the gym this afternoon.