The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering

49 Suburban with 84 GMC 1/2 ton IFS. I have 560 miles on the Sub as of today. Although it drives and handles well I notice that when coming out of a turn like around the corner of a city street I have to manually turn the steering wheel back to the neutral position. It does not want to come back to neutral or almost neutral by itself. Could this be a function of the front end alignment? I had the front end aligned professionally before the front clip was installed because it was easier to get at all of the adjustment points. I estimated the front clip weight and and compensated using a plank loaded with cement blocks on the bumper brackets. I suspect that the weight of the now installed front clip has changed the alignment causing the problem described. What do you guys think? Can the alignment be tweaked to solve or minimize this condition? I don't think the truck is unsafe it just feels a little weird at the wheel. It probably needs to be realigned. Thanks in advance for any help.


Weeds

I would get it aligned again. Positive caster is necessary for the steering wheel to return to center after cornering. I don't know what your donor suspensions caster spec is, but 4 degrees positive would probably be a good place to start.

John

The spec is 2.5-3.5 degrees, I would shoot for about 3. Camber and toe will have to be reset as well.

Weeds, I replaced the tie end rods on my 37 stang front suspension and had to work on the edge of my spring tower. Afterwards mine did the same thing....instead of "returning to center" I had to manually turn it back.....after a trip to my favorite alignment shop it now drives great. Something must have slipped. I'm sure a "re-alignment" will do wonders. Keep us posted.

When you have it aligned ask them to do a 4 wheel alignment, make sure the thrust angle is good. Something could have slipped in the rear causing the back of your rig wanting to steer it.

Pulled the specs at the shop today, the spec will vary according to ride hight. I went wiyth a middle of the road 3' hight spec when I looked it up, and came up with a 3.2 degree caster spec, with a .50+- tolerance. When they aligned it with the clip off, that would make the caster be way off due to the ride hight difference.

Alvin and all, I had it re-aligned and it is a little better. I think I will take it to a different shop with the suggested specs offered by LONGBOX55 and see what happens.

Weeds