Oil change, new fuel filter, and new idler arm and tie rods - but the Pitman was OK!

[Adventurer_96]

The truck has been parked for the last few months. It's going to be my daily driver soon, so I'm planning on taking it to an alignment specialist this week to get it checked out.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by Adventurer_96

Hey guys, thanks for the replies, I've been traveling with work over the last few weeks.

It pulls about at a 7, or thereabouts. They did swap the tires. They gave me the printout of the reading for camber/caster/toe - all in specs.

The car's off the road now since I haven't registered it, but I'm going to take it to an alignment specialist in Salt Lake City (if such a place exists) to see what the problem is.

My last guess would be a bad steering box.

Any other thoughts?

Hard to say without looking at it.
But A good modern alignment shop should be able to find and fix the problem.
Remember on some they need a 4W alignment.
A pull can be from the front or rear end.
Just tell them what it is doing and let them have at it.
Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
MT

[Adventurer_96]

Will do. This will get looked at in a week or two because it's got to be done before we drive the truck across the country.

Thanks for the help, all.

[Adventurer_96]

So much for a week or two...

The upper ball joint was bad on the left side, a local shop replaced it. I had them check out the AC (totally empty of R-134) and while they were at it they checked out the pull.

In sum, here's what was/is wrong:

Toe was adjusted wrong (out on the right front)
Upper ball joint was bad (they can do that, I don't have the time and I've saved alot on the other front end stuff)
Steering box isn't really tight (too old of a truck to worry about replacing it right now)

It drives MUCH better now, just a little Chevy wandering on the steering but it likes to drive straight now. Proof positive some shops are better than others.

Remaining jobs before taking the truck across country:

-There is a slight exhaust leak on the exhaust manifold so I'm going to replace the gaskets tomorrow. I couldn't figure out why I was getting that funny noise when stepping on the gas, but that answers it.
-Wire the trailer adapter (wires are there, but the plug was cut off)
-Fix water leak in dash (could be new windshield?)
-Fix airflow problem in A/C ductwork (seems to be blocked, maybe off?)

[MT-2500]

Thanks for posting back how it went.
Glad you getting it fixed.
And 10-4 on good shops.
And they found the real problems.

On the air flow with ac/heater always make sure you are getting good engine vacuum.
The plastic lines and vacuum tank are sore spots on vacuum leakage.
Give it some tender loving care and it will carry you many miles last a long time.
Good Luck
MT

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Adventurer_96

So much for a week or two...

The upper ball joint was bad on the left side, a local shop replaced it. I had them check out the AC (totally empty of R-134) and while they were at it they checked out the pull.

In sum, here's what was/is wrong:

Toe was adjusted wrong (out on the right front)
Upper ball joint was bad (they can do that, I don't have the time and I've saved alot on the other front end stuff)
Steering box isn't really tight (too old of a truck to worry about replacing it right now)

It drives MUCH better now, just a little Chevy wandering on the steering but it likes to drive straight now. Proof positive some shops are better than others.

Remaining jobs before taking the truck across country:

-There is a slight exhaust leak on the exhaust manifold so I'm going to replace the gaskets tomorrow. I couldn't figure out why I was getting that funny noise when stepping on the gas, but that answers it.
-Wire the trailer adapter (wires are there, but the plug was cut off)
-Fix water leak in dash (could be new windshield?)
-Fix airflow problem in A/C ductwork (seems to be blocked, maybe off?)

I posted this reply in jan. 2008 [all this for a wheel alignment! bring it to another alignment shop this is nonsense. all the suggestions mentioned should have been done when aligned . this is a bad auto repair shop . now i know why i have done my own alignments for many years now......this brings back bad memories.....]


your exhaust leak should be repaired very soon so that it will not cause other issues with engine performance...as well as the possible injestion of the CO gases .....

[Adventurer_96]

I'll be fixing the exhaust today, I already replaced the exhaust manifold gaskets to be certain. I would have done the flanges (where the leak appears to be) but there wasn't a lift available.

[Adventurer_96]

Also, thanks to everyone who posted here. I appreciate it.