Tahoe Steering

[mweiblen]

Have an '05 Tahoe and have never felt really good about the steering, feels kinda like it wants to wander, never feels like it wants to hold a straight track. Yet when I release the steering wheel it doesn't pull to either side. I guess it just has no resistance at all, very touchy.

I have had it back to the dealer several times for alignment and even took it to an independent shop with little change. It may be that I can't get used to how a short wheelbase vehicle handles, but I can't see where it is that much shorter than a standard car?

Has anyone noticed a similar situation. I have seen a few posts on various sites about EVO or VES, speed sensitive steering. I have been told that the '05 models do not have it.

I do have stabilitrack, could this have some affect?

Or is there an aftermarket steering box that gives you a more solid feel because I really like the ride otherwise.

[glenncof]

I would wonder about the tires. As minimum rotate back tires to front on same side and see what happens.

My 1997 had a Goodyear Wrangler as a spare.

I put it on the front and it started pulling to that side. I thought is was because it was a 245 and not a 265 like the other side. It also had a bad ware pattern but I had just replaced a tire that got 55K miles with no odd tread ware.

Then I replaced it with a 245 of same brand as other 265 side and it drove straight as arrow. Conclusion Wrangler tire was not good, I assume it was factory stock.

I had some odd highway vibrations on a Range Rover which related to a tire also.

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by mweiblen

Have an '05 Tahoe and have never felt really good about the steering, feels kinda like it wants to wander, never feels like it wants to hold a straight track. Yet when I release the steering wheel it doesn't pull to either side. I guess it just has no resistance at all, very touchy.

I have had it back to the dealer several times for alignment and even took it to an independent shop with little change. It may be that I can't get used to how a short wheelbase vehicle handles, but I can't see where it is that much shorter than a standard car?

Has anyone noticed a similar situation. I have seen a few posts on various sites about EVO or VES, speed sensitive steering. I have been told that the '05 models do not have it.

I do have stabilitrack, could this have some affect?

Or is there an aftermarket steering box that gives you a more solid feel because I really like the ride otherwise.

Welcome to AF. This is a chronic complaint with GM truck steering systems, basically a lack of road feel or feed back, try and drive a similar truck for comparison before you torture yourself trying to resolve this. Some tire brands are more " twitchy" than others also.

[transgta]

When i bought my yukon i was all over the road i just knew a flip was coming. After a while i kinda got used to it. Now recently i put michelin ltx ms tires on it its so,so,so much better. Just drove to florida very comfortable easy to control...

[glenncof]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Welcome to AF. This is a chronic complaint with GM truck steering systems, basically a lack of road feel or feed back, try and drive a similar truck for comparison before you torture yourself trying to resolve this. Some tire brands are more " twitchy" than others also.

Max..

Your right. On both accounts. I assumed some other problem.

My Tahoe has almost no feel. Contrast is my 1985 Porsche 911 has rack/pinion and no power steering (it's how I get exercise espacially adding in the cluth and the 915 tranny that drives like a truck).

I have one of those twitchy tires on the Tahoe, Bridgestone Dualer AT (396). Driving on a straight, flat road the tires will occassionaly twitch right or left and pull the streering in that direction. Wierd. Seemed to be worse with newer, bigger tires but still does it thru the life of the tire (which was 66K miles).

[Bamaboy1831]

Is there no way to tighten the steering up? I also have an 05 Z71 with factory 20's and it is so loose. It seems like a truck with 200,000 miles on it with all the play in the world.

[glenncof]

Originally Posted by Bamaboy1831

snip...It seems like a truck with 200,000 miles on it with all the play in the world.

"Play" in my mind is different than loose (lack of feel) in this context. Play is more like 'not responding' immediately such as worn steering box. If it has too much play I would get under streering elements (engine off) while my kid tosses the wheel back&forth. Look for anything not moving properly, jumping. Worn steering box can cause pitman arm to shift. I once had a mechanic leave the pitman arm loose to the cross bar. I did have a high mileage vehicle with worn steering box and it had excessive play in the center then would bind as I turned. I doubt this is your case unless you have ~200K miles on the '05.