"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
09/01/2019 at 18:24 • Filed to: None
0
18|
"Rainbow" (rainbeaux)
09/01/2019 at 18:24 • Filed to: None | 0
| 18 |
Every car I’ve ever driven has been able to go in a straight line with ease.... except the Colorado. It doesn’t pull to either side, but it just won’t stay *straight.* The wheel doesn’t jerk around, but it also doesn’t hold still, if that makes sense. It just feels super loose for about half an inch in either direction, and it’s hard to keep it steady without inadvertently shifting my hands slightly . Is that a thing that can be remedied, or is it just how these trucks are?
WildlyMild
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:37 |
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Often r ererred to as sawing the wheel. Its a gm truck thing. Pretty well phased out with the newer stuff now. Probability have your front end checked over just in case.
Longtime Lurker
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:37 |
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Ho
w many miles? It might have worn tie rods. It might just be engineered to lesser tolerances, because truck. When is the last time your grand parents had it in for a front end inspection?
merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:40 |
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If it’s got a lot of miles, it might be something in the steering shaft, my Dakotas intermediate shaft and integrated universal joint went bad over time and I would get those same symptoms. Also if the outer tie rod ends are past it, that may happen as well. Again, same symptoms, same truck. When any one part in the steering is worn out, you can get that vague feeling.
shop-teacher
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:40 |
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Something in your front end is worn out.
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:40 |
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It’s not how trucks are. I don’t know how the steering is set up on a Colorado, but a lot of the older steering boxes would develop play over time. The mazda/ranger has an adjustment screw which can take up some of the play until the gears are just worn out.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:43 |
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Check tire pressures first, then get an ailignment. If that doesn’t do the trick it’s time to start replacing steering components.
SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 18:44 |
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That slightly vaguely wandering steering thing when the wheel is centred is definitely a thing on many pickups. Big tyres and slightly looser build tolerances due to the suspension travel don’t help and then wear and tear makes it worse. As already mentioned...check the rod ends in your steering for any play and, if it has one, see if the steering damper is actually working.
The Nissan Patrol we have has this issue to some extent but a very decent r eturn-to-centre steering damper goes a long way to helping things out.
ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 19:01 |
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I would get alignment, if it doesn't fix it look at tie rods and wheel bearings.
AdverseMartyr
> shop-teacher
09/01/2019 at 19:32 |
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This is the properly vague response. It made me laugh.
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shop-teacher
> AdverseMartyr
09/01/2019 at 21:11 |
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Good :)
I mean, any actual answer is just a guess, but he should definitely get it checked out by a trusted mechanic.
Brickman
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 21:19 |
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Had a silverado work truck that did that. I think the steering wheel or something between the steering wheel and gear rack was loose. That was 10 years ago.
jimz
> TheRealBicycleBuck
09/01/2019 at 22:03 |
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Colorado should be rack and pinion, they don’t (or shouldn’t) get sloppy like recirculating ball steering boxes do.
Urambo Tauro
> Rainbow
09/01/2019 at 23:33 |
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Does the Colorado have a rag joint in the steering shaft? A fresh one eliminated the slop in my ’ 95 C2500.
MiniGTI - now with XJ6
> Rainbow
09/02/2019 at 01:01 |
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A friend of mine has a Colorado, about 2010 I think. The steering is awful, I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong as it feels like there’s a lot of slop in the linkage. I can’t believe he’s never gotten it looked at as he maintains it pretty meticulously otherwise.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Rainbow
09/02/2019 at 04:46 |
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ball joints is my bet. or steering tie rods
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merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
> Rainbow
09/02/2019 at 08:58 |
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Easy enough to check the tie rod ends, just raise up one wheel at a time and give the wheel a good shake side to side, there should be no play, any time my tie rod ends are worn, the play is very evident. If there is any play, and you can have a second person shake the wheel and tire for you, you can feel right at the tie rod end and you’ll feel the slop. That’s where my money is. They can go bad in a hurry, and sometimes it just takes a good pothole to do it.
oldmxer
> Rainbow
09/03/2019 at 00:51 |
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you have toe out instead of toe in, more than likely as stated in other comments from wear, simple fix with adjustment but worn pieces should be identified and replaced and full alignment done. right now if i’m right your front wheels are slightly pointed out instead of having a slight amount of both pointed towards center
BahamaTodd
> Rainbow
09/03/2019 at 09:49 |
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Probably the tie rods. I replaced mine a few years ago with about 170k miles on it. The steering is like new and drives straight.