My truck tried to kill me.
11-22-2005, 09:42 AM
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,985
On the way to work, I was cruising down 19th street and the Bravada's front end made an audible 'pop', then careened toward a building. I think something's broken. Call it a hunch. Wonder if I'll be able to get home?
11-22-2005, 10:07 AM
#3
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
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Lol, not 'til at least February. I dunno wtf I'm gonna do in the meantime. Stupid thing is, if I can get this steering problem fixed, replace the knock sensor pigtail and repair the digital cluster (so I have a speedometer), the truck would be actually kinda nice to own.. and free. The new tranny, relatively new motor, new fuel system, new ignition system, ECU and new suspension/steering linkages/shocks/springs make the truck basically rebuilt. The only major fixes in the future might be the rearend and the transfer case. Also I'd like to have my front doors re-hinged and get the new tailgate painted, but that's really just nit-picky.
Biggest problem is, I can't sell the truck in the condition it's in. It is totally unsafe to drive, and even if I fixed the steering I would still have to fix the wiring and the speedo before I could legally sell it. Prolly wouldn't fetch much for a trade in its current shape either.
Does anyone have any idea what would cause these symptoms? I have seriously bad bump-steer (or kickback), and very poor directional stability, along with loose steering. The combination of problems makes the truck almost impossible to control with any degree of safety. All four tie rod ends, the pitman arm and the idler arm are all new. The PS system was bled after the steering gear was pulled to replace the pitman arm, but it didn't take as much fluid as I would have thought, considering how much came squirting out of the PS gear when I was wrenching on it.
Anyone?
Biggest problem is, I can't sell the truck in the condition it's in. It is totally unsafe to drive, and even if I fixed the steering I would still have to fix the wiring and the speedo before I could legally sell it. Prolly wouldn't fetch much for a trade in its current shape either.
Does anyone have any idea what would cause these symptoms? I have seriously bad bump-steer (or kickback), and very poor directional stability, along with loose steering. The combination of problems makes the truck almost impossible to control with any degree of safety. All four tie rod ends, the pitman arm and the idler arm are all new. The PS system was bled after the steering gear was pulled to replace the pitman arm, but it didn't take as much fluid as I would have thought, considering how much came squirting out of the PS gear when I was wrenching on it.
Anyone?
11-22-2005, 03:11 PM
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,985
Originally Posted by j9fd3s' post='780705' date='Nov 22 2005, 01:33 PM
um the good news is that the door hige bushings are like $2, and its easy to do.....
everything else is gonna suck
11-22-2005, 06:31 PM
#10
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Denver, CO
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Figured out what the cause is.. The steering intermediate shaft has about 1/4" side-to-side play in it. It's totally garbage. Went to the $tealership - $315.57. Online - $198.68 shipped. I guess I'm waiting for the UPS man.