We did notice some flex in the main steering knuckle arm on driver side because we run some really wide tires compared to stock. We upgraded the steering arms to the 3/4 ton version they bolt right in but are not reproductions and originals are really hard to find it took us a while finding some in someone's back yard pile of truck parts out west.
Maybe it is just my bad luck, but I actually broke two of these steering arms over about a 15 year period. The first was trying to turn while backing out of a parking space. I didn't realize that there was a curb on the right side of the truck and that the tire was right up against it. I pulled on the steering wheel and it didn't turn (much) so I pulled harder. SNAP! Then it turned real easy.
The second steering arm broke at a dead stop waiting to make a left turn. Again I turned the steering wheel hard and SNAP! Afterwards, you could see a crack in the curved portion of the arm about 1/4 of the way through with rust showing in the crack, then fresh metal.
Later, I decided I wanted power steering. BIG mistake. The only kit that would fit my GMC (with a stock Pontiac V8 that has the starter on the driver's side) had a GM 800 series power steering box, mounted outside the frame and forward of the axle. It had a real short drag link that was not parallel to the ground. That made for nasty bump steer, especially when you hit a nasty expansion strip that was at an angle to your direction of travel.
This one died when a bolt pulled out of the kit-supplied substitute for the stock steering arm. Again at zero speed. My brother had backed it out of my driveway and was turning to go forward down the street.
