steering fixed but tight

[winsett]

Hi all...

I have a full-size Blazer (1994) and have just replaced the pitman arm and Idler arm in it.
Before I did this, my steering of course was extremely sloppy and shuddered when braking from higher speeds. Now however, although the shuddering and sloppy handling is gone, the wheels stick in position through the first 1/4 turn of the steering wheel rather than self-straightening themselves as they should. Every joint was adequetly greased in re-assembly.

It should be noted that I had to disconnect and remove the steering gear in order to remove the Pitman arm and consequently had to bleed the system upon reconnection. I also did not use a tourque wrench on the nuts during re-assembly - only my "tourqe'o'meter" in my arms.

I am wondering if anyone knows where I am getting this 'sticky steering' from and what I should check.
My brother said its probably my ball joints in my Tie-rod ends, but they seemed tight when tested.

Any suggestions are welcome

[maxwedge]

Did anyone adjust the gear box, pitman shaft adjustment on the top of the box, if so it may be 1/2 turn too tight.

[winsett]

ya we did....originally we thought that that was how one bled the system because of the allen-key-adjustable center screw. How would one tell where to have it set?

[Southern Comfort]

If you want to re-adjust your steering box, you need to loosen the lock nut and turn the allen set screw to the left. While standing outside of your truck and it running, with your window down, rock the steering wheel to the left and then back to the right to see how much free-play is in your steering wheel. Adjust the set screw until you have about a 1/4 inch of free-play in it. You should be able to rock it back and forth about a 1/4 inch before the front wheels turn.After adjusting, take it for a slow test drive to make sure it is responsive enough. Turning the set screw to the left gives you more free travel in the steering wheel, and turning it to the right will less free travel. If you have turned it to the right to much, it will make the pitman arm shaft to tight, as a result, the steering wheel is not likely going to go back to center while driving it.
Thanks
SC