[series2a]

Hi all,
I'm thinking that I need an alignment, or at least some front end attention. My main goal is to get it aligned with any needed work done before hand. I'd like to make sure that I'm not missing anything so sound up if I can do a more through check. The steering is a little vague on the highway, but not horrible. I drive an 06 Chevy 1 ton van for work, and it's similar to that, just a bit more unsure, I guess. Or, the van has about 124k on it and is still surprisingly solid. During last oil change I checked all the joints. Rubber looked good, and didn't notice any real play. Not sure how to check the ball joints, but no cupping on tires, however edges are slightly more worn than the inside, but tire pressure is right. I'm not sure about the wear, as I haven't noticed any real change in some time, so my thinking is that it may have been before the last alignment or steering work was done. I'm not sure, though... So, any ideas? I don't think I checked the idlers (check up and down for play, right?)

Thanks!

 

[offroad safari]

Check the idler arms, our vans eat them. if the are bad use moog problem solver replacements only idlers only.

 

[astro355]

Yes, if the idler arms are worn, they will move up and down. Does your power steering gearbox leak any fluids?

 

[fungus2k]

to check the ball joints jack the van up and try to move the tire up and down to see if there is any play, if there is, you might as well replace all the joints which is no walk in the park i tell you this. then try moving the tire horizontally but keeping the tire parallel to the van, if that moves its most likely you're tie rods. but if you're ball joints are really shot, like mine where the tire will move horizontally and vertically, and the tie rods could still be good, just the ball joints are totally shot

 

[GaryZ]

Test ball joints: Lift front tire off of the ground. Grasp the top and bottom of the tire and try to move the assembly. If it moves have someone else watch the backside as you move it to see if the ball-joints are loose or the wheel bearings.

Test Idler Arms: Slide under the vehicle with it on the ground. Grasp the tie rod (between the pitman arm on the steering box and the idler arm) and try to push/pull it up and down. It should barely move.

I have had two recent experiences that left bad feelings about front-end shops. My C1500 was not centering properly (make a steering change, release the wheel, does not return to center). Three tire shops worked on it and could not fix. Fourth "specialy" shop worked on it and got it better, but not right. None of these shops could tell me what was wrong. They only suggested shotgun parts replacement of the control-arm bushings.

I replaced the upper bushings with solids and left the lowers alone (they already had solids). BTW, the uppers were not wore out at 235,000 miles. As I was adjusting tow-in I accidentally discovered that all four tie-rod ends were shot!

This led me back to my Astro where I have been living with a similar loose front end as yours. Yes, it has been looked at by two different shops and it also had bad tie-rod ends.

Question: Do front-end guys not check tie-rod ends?

I ordered an alignment tool from Summit Racing, replaced all of the tie-rod ends ($16 each), and now I am doing my own front-end alignments. The Astro runs fat tires and I ended up with a 3/16" tow-in. My Astro drives like new again . . .