Suburban steeriing while towing
bjmorty
10-20-2004, 07:04 PM
My 97 burb when it is towing a trailer seems to wander all over the road. It is a 1500 with an add a leaf suspension in the rear end. I tow a house trailer and a four horse trailer. The steering has play in it and I am not a mechanic but I need some advice. Thanks
TrailLeadr
10-21-2004, 12:27 PM
You probably do, but I just need to ask....
Do you use a stabilizer bar when you tow?
Do you use a stabilizer bar when you tow?
Megamister
10-30-2004, 02:16 PM
If your truck doesn't have one you can also use a steering stabilizer. I use a Rancho from Summitracing.com for about $50. Look for a shock mounted between the frame and the steering center link. It will add some resistance and smooth out the steering play especially while towing.
IA-Suburban
10-31-2004, 01:59 PM
Anybody know how long a oem steering stabilizer should last? I have an 89 and it "seemed" ok when I took it off for evaluation.
Craigvalk
10-31-2004, 02:15 PM
My 97 burb when it is towing a trailer seems to wander all over the road. It is a 1500 with an add a leaf suspension in the rear end. I tow a house trailer and a four horse trailer. The steering has play in it and I am not a mechanic but I need some advice. Thanks
Your problem may not be related to your towing, but rather more noticeable when towing.
There is a sensor in the steering column that fails often. common problem, and a fairly easy fix.
Don't go replacing steering components before trying this sensor.This sensor is located on the steering column, above the brake pedal.
I replaced and the problem was over with and done.
Pasted below from another thread on the subject....
************************************************** ***
I asked the mechanic there how to do the operation – he said it takes them 1-2 hrs depending on experience. I was prepared to spend the better part of a day as I am NOT a mechanic – it took me about 20 minutes! And totally solved the problem. Because of it’s location you have to be a bit of a contortionist, laying on your back working up on the steering column. You first have to unbolt the steering column – and it will separate into 2 pieces. There is a rubber boot that goes around the column where it passes through the firewall be careful with this boot as you spread the steering column apart, and don’t push this boot into the body cavity. The steering column will spread apart allowing you to remove/install the sensor. The sensor is shaped like a large washer, flat and round with a hole in the middle for the steering column and is held in place by some plastic clips. You can pop the sensor free with a screw driver (remember the orientation for the new sensor) and unplug it from wiring harness. The hardest part of the operation is getting the plug through some small little space between the metal frame structures? Maybe it will be easier for you?
Installing the new one is easy. Slip it over the steering column and clip it in place. Plug it in to the wiring harness and bolt the steering column back together
Your problem may not be related to your towing, but rather more noticeable when towing.
There is a sensor in the steering column that fails often. common problem, and a fairly easy fix.
Don't go replacing steering components before trying this sensor.This sensor is located on the steering column, above the brake pedal.
I replaced and the problem was over with and done.
Pasted below from another thread on the subject....
************************************************** ***
I asked the mechanic there how to do the operation – he said it takes them 1-2 hrs depending on experience. I was prepared to spend the better part of a day as I am NOT a mechanic – it took me about 20 minutes! And totally solved the problem. Because of it’s location you have to be a bit of a contortionist, laying on your back working up on the steering column. You first have to unbolt the steering column – and it will separate into 2 pieces. There is a rubber boot that goes around the column where it passes through the firewall be careful with this boot as you spread the steering column apart, and don’t push this boot into the body cavity. The steering column will spread apart allowing you to remove/install the sensor. The sensor is shaped like a large washer, flat and round with a hole in the middle for the steering column and is held in place by some plastic clips. You can pop the sensor free with a screw driver (remember the orientation for the new sensor) and unplug it from wiring harness. The hardest part of the operation is getting the plug through some small little space between the metal frame structures? Maybe it will be easier for you?
Installing the new one is easy. Slip it over the steering column and clip it in place. Plug it in to the wiring harness and bolt the steering column back together
bjmorty
10-31-2004, 03:39 PM
Thanks for the help everyone. I'll start with the steering sensor and go from there.
Blake
Your problem may not be related to your towing, but rather more noticeable when towing.
There is a sensor in the steering column that fails often. common problem, and a fairly easy fix.
Don't go replacing steering components before trying this sensor.This sensor is located on the steering column, above the brake pedal.
I replaced and the problem was over with and done.
Pasted below from another thread on the subject....
************************************************** ***
I asked the mechanic there how to do the operation – he said it takes them 1-2 hrs depending on experience. I was prepared to spend the better part of a day as I am NOT a mechanic – it took me about 20 minutes! And totally solved the problem. Because of it’s location you have to be a bit of a contortionist, laying on your back working up on the steering column. You first have to unbolt the steering column – and it will separate into 2 pieces. There is a rubber boot that goes around the column where it passes through the firewall be careful with this boot as you spread the steering column apart, and don’t push this boot into the body cavity. The steering column will spread apart allowing you to remove/install the sensor. The sensor is shaped like a large washer, flat and round with a hole in the middle for the steering column and is held in place by some plastic clips. You can pop the sensor free with a screw driver (remember the orientation for the new sensor) and unplug it from wiring harness. The hardest part of the operation is getting the plug through some small little space between the metal frame structures? Maybe it will be easier for you?
Installing the new one is easy. Slip it over the steering column and clip it in place. Plug it in to the wiring harness and bolt the steering column back together
Blake
Your problem may not be related to your towing, but rather more noticeable when towing.
There is a sensor in the steering column that fails often. common problem, and a fairly easy fix.
Don't go replacing steering components before trying this sensor.This sensor is located on the steering column, above the brake pedal.
I replaced and the problem was over with and done.
Pasted below from another thread on the subject....
************************************************** ***
I asked the mechanic there how to do the operation – he said it takes them 1-2 hrs depending on experience. I was prepared to spend the better part of a day as I am NOT a mechanic – it took me about 20 minutes! And totally solved the problem. Because of it’s location you have to be a bit of a contortionist, laying on your back working up on the steering column. You first have to unbolt the steering column – and it will separate into 2 pieces. There is a rubber boot that goes around the column where it passes through the firewall be careful with this boot as you spread the steering column apart, and don’t push this boot into the body cavity. The steering column will spread apart allowing you to remove/install the sensor. The sensor is shaped like a large washer, flat and round with a hole in the middle for the steering column and is held in place by some plastic clips. You can pop the sensor free with a screw driver (remember the orientation for the new sensor) and unplug it from wiring harness. The hardest part of the operation is getting the plug through some small little space between the metal frame structures? Maybe it will be easier for you?
Installing the new one is easy. Slip it over the steering column and clip it in place. Plug it in to the wiring harness and bolt the steering column back together
Megamister
10-31-2004, 05:16 PM
Bjmorty, Your description of the steering sounds to me like it wouldn't be the steering sensor. You might want to have the front end checked out also. The sensor problem is usually described more like a sudden jump or jerking of the wheel. Thats what mine felt like. I replaced the sensor and it hasn't changed (also common). Might be slightly improved but still there only occasionally though. Its up to you to try it. It is a relatively cheap easy fix. Order from gmpartsdirect.com or something they are like $35.
But your description of the wandering sounds like either front end issues or could be solved by a stabilizer. Before my stabilizer while towing the front end was very light and free feeling. Hardly any resistance could be felt and seemed to follow the grooves of the pavement. Now with the stabilizer it has a more positive feel to it. Though still lighter than I prefer, but much better. The sudden changes in the pavement aren't transmitted through to the steering wheel, there is a much smoother feel to it. These are all just suggestions and possible solutions to the problem. If you do solve post back with the results so other readers have more info.
IA-Suburban, The stabilizer is just a normal shock on a special bracket. Shocks on average last around 40k mi. There are many factors in the life of them brand, application, type of internal gas or oil, quality of seals etc etc. If your stabilizer shock isn't leaking oil gives a fair amount of resistance when compressed, and rebounds quick and smooth when released it should be in pretty good shape. Leave it off and see if you can notice a difference should be pretty obvious. Or you can just replace it for $20-30 and be done with it.
But your description of the wandering sounds like either front end issues or could be solved by a stabilizer. Before my stabilizer while towing the front end was very light and free feeling. Hardly any resistance could be felt and seemed to follow the grooves of the pavement. Now with the stabilizer it has a more positive feel to it. Though still lighter than I prefer, but much better. The sudden changes in the pavement aren't transmitted through to the steering wheel, there is a much smoother feel to it. These are all just suggestions and possible solutions to the problem. If you do solve post back with the results so other readers have more info.
IA-Suburban, The stabilizer is just a normal shock on a special bracket. Shocks on average last around 40k mi. There are many factors in the life of them brand, application, type of internal gas or oil, quality of seals etc etc. If your stabilizer shock isn't leaking oil gives a fair amount of resistance when compressed, and rebounds quick and smooth when released it should be in pretty good shape. Leave it off and see if you can notice a difference should be pretty obvious. Or you can just replace it for $20-30 and be done with it.
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