4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Chevy Z-71 4X4

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Expert: - 12/11/2005


Question
Hi Carl
I have a Chevy Z-71 4x4 offroad and the tires are still almost new. Late last week taking a small curve left or right the stearing wheel gives about 1 to 3 inches all of a sudden. What is causing this?
Thank you Carl
Jim in Missouri

Answer
Jim,

 It sounds like you may have a front wheel bearing, front axle bearing, or steering component going bad.

Check all of your steering components right away.  Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while sitting still.  While they are doing this get in front of the vehicle and watch all of the steering components.  Look for anything that may be worn, or moving more than normal, such as any bushings on the tie rod, or drag link.  You may, even have some bolts working loose on the steering box.  I have seen frames cracked where the steering box is mounted which can cause this.

If you can't find something obvious, I would get the Z-71 into a reputable front end alignment shop as soon as possible.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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