tie rod/steering rack problems

[Trail X]

Just for the future, its probably easiest to just post your updates in the latest post, no need to update the first really.

Anyways, on to the issue at hand. It seems obvious to me that something is loose in your left suspension.

How much does the wheel deviate from the right wheel? Is it visible? Or only noticeable by feel when driving?

If you haven't, shake the truck as hard as you can from the front fender and watch the suspension components. You should see movement at one of the joints. It could be lower control arm mounting bolts, upper control arm mounting bolts, upper ball joint, or lower ball joint. Since you changed out the entire steering rods and it made no difference, I'm guessing we can rule out tie rods as your issue, unless you just somehow suck at installing the tapered stud on the knuckle.

[boostedDC]

Sorry I know sometimes people dont really wanna read through all the posts figured id update the first post lol

But its only noticeable after I take the first turn and like I said once I reverse maybe 5-10 feet the wheels straighten out and im able to drive on a straight road once I make a turn once again it does it again.. I will try shaking the truck or having my daughters jump around and ill look at the suspension components. Oh ive also replaced upper and lower ball joints on the same side im having problems with

[Trail X]

So basically, once you take any turn, you gain toe angle on the left tire, then once you reverse, the toe angle goes away, until you turn again?

Can you get pictures of what you are seeing? Its not that I don't believe you, but I don't fully comprehend what you are saying. How far off of a toe angle are we talking? Is it noticeable only in the steering? Or is it visible? Is it just pulling left? Or are you getting the left tire kicking out?

Can you replicate the issue when on jack stands?

Was the inner ball joint stiff when you replaced it? Or loose in its socket?

Do you have a suspension lift, how much?

[Trail X]

Can you get pictures of what you are seeing? Its not that I don't believe you, but I don't fully comprehend what you are saying. How far off of an angle are we talking? Is it noticeable only in the steering? Or is it visible?

So basically, once you take any turn, you gain toe angle on the left tire, then once you reverse, the toe angle goes away, until you turn again?

Can you replicate the issue when on jack stands?

[boostedDC]

Ya once I make a turn the left tire stays right causing my 2 front tires to fight each other since the right tire is pointing forward and left tire is pointing right while i have my steering wheel in normal position to drive straight on jack stands I dont have the problem its only when all 4 tires are on the ground my upper and lower drivers side ball joints are brand new. I will take some pictures tomorrow and post what is happening. As far as a lift all it has SuspensionMaxx coil spacers

[boostedDC]

Yes I have bad toe angle once I make a turn and once I reverse a couple feet the toe angle goes away and Im able to drive straight until the next turn then the problem happens again but its only the drivers side wheel that does this I have no problems with the passenger side wheel

[DustinC1989]

Stupid question, set nut on the tie rods tight?

[boostedDC]

Yes haha I double checked that too

[DustinC1989]

Had to ask, had 2 people so far this year bring me their cars for steering problems. 1 didn't tighten the set nuts and the other didn't even have them.

I agree with James, pics would help us diagnose it

[boostedDC]

Let me ask this.. when i have my trailblazer on the ground are the tie rod ends supposed to not wiggle or have play? Or are they supposed to stay stiff and have no play? With me grabbing the middle of the tie rod end and twisting it up and down

[boostedDC]

Ill be home in an hour ill take it for a test ride take a sharp turn and post pics of the wheels before I put it in reverse and after

[Trail X]

Let me ask this.. when i have my trailblazer on the ground are the tie rod ends supposed to not wiggle or have play? Or are they supposed to stay stiff and have no play? With me grabbing the middle of the tie rod end and twisting it up and down

I don't really follow. They should have no play, but they can often rotate around their major axis.

Ill be home in an hour ill take it for a test ride take a sharp turn and post pics of the wheels before I put it in reverse and after

The only thing that's coming to mind right now is if your inner tie rod end has axial play in it, and you're just not catching it. But you should be able to see it very visibly if you take the boot off and kick the left and right tire sidewalls.

[boostedDC]

That's what I thought so I had my 16mm rack rebuilt with new inner tie rods but I still had the same problem so I may just have to give up and have it towed to a shop. I snapped some pics ill upload right now

[boostedDC]

After drive. Steering wheel straight position
Passenger wheel

Driver wheel

Some snaps of under excuse the mess underneath
Pass side:


Drivers side:





after reverse wheels back to normal:

[DustinC1989]

I'll have to look at the on the computer, hard to make them out on my phone...

Your CV axle on what looks to be the driver side definitely needs a new boot or probably replaced though

[Hatchet669]

I have only ever seen that happen when a tie rod is broken. When you have the front end on jacks, how easy is it to push the driver side tire in and out (pushing on the tire itself, not the steering wheel)? I think you might have gotten a bad used part...

[boostedDC]

Yes I need to replace both axles

With the tire on and up on jack stands its not very easy to push in or out. The current rack & pinion is my original part which never gave me problems before I started any of this work. (Leaky ps line which led to me breaking bolt that holds ps line to rack which led me to buy another rack and now my original rack is back on after I had the broken bolt extracted)

[boostedDC]

Would the axle cause this problem? Being that both outer and inner boots are torn?

[Moots1288]

I've been having alignment problems, and im coming to the conclusion it is the LCA bushings

[boostedDC]

Another question ... is there a wrong way to install the steering column wrong to the steering rack? It doesn't look like theres a wrong way but hey maybe im doing something wrong? Its just 2- 15mm bolts holding it on