Front end play ?

[fiddy211]

I have an 02 with 50,000 miles on it. Leveling kit with 18 inch rims. I do have an aftermarket steering stabilizer on it. The front end seems like it is starting to have a little more play in the front end than it use to. If you hit a place in the road it wants to follow that place. I don't remember it doing this when I first put the wheels on it. It seems to have a little more play all together in the steering wheel. Wondering if you guys have any ideas as to what to check or what could be going wrong?

[mschn99]

ball joints and or the short drag link at the pitman arm are probably getting a little loose. How many miles??

[fiddy211]

50,000 miles. Truck doesn't get drove that much.

[mschn99]

My guess would be that short drag link at the pitman arm is getting loose then just from what ive seen on other trucks...

[7.3Ruben]

Are there directions posted anywhere on replacing this short drag link that attaches to the pitman arm. I would like to do it myself.

Thanks

[Marty]

Get under there and check for play before buying anything, I'd figure out how to do it myself if I were you and if it's like other suspension components like it it's just a mater of taking it off, and putting a new one in.

Also, I see you plan to use propane in your 2002... I'd advise against it.

[7.3Ruben]

Ok, so I got at the tie rod end this weekend that attaches to the Pitman arm. Not a problem doing the swap (1hr) and the play that was in the steering is gone...

The wandering problem on the highway is not gone, which makes me wonder... If the steering wheel is on center, or just to the lh, it is fine, if it is just slightly off to the right, the truck and wheel wanders off to the RH... And it is repeatable....

The tightness of the system looks great, the ball joints are fresh on both sides....

Any idea if this is something in the steering box.....??

[driximus]

if your just wandering right i would have the alignment checked especially after changing stuff on the front end.