Late modelChevy truck question (OT?)

[justice]

I apologize for being a little off topic here, but I have a quick question.
I thought someone on here might have ties to a GM shop.
I just got the steering box replaced on my 2001 Chevy truck.
It pulls to the right now, and I am kind of in a debate with the service guy.
I have been wrenchin' on cars and bikes for years. The last step in any front end part replacement is usually to check the alignment. He is tryin' to tell me it couldn't have caused the pulling, and that their procedure doesn't call for an alignment check.
Do any of you guys have access to the GM procedure for the steering box R&R???

Justice

[RileyRacing]

go over to chevytalk.org and post over there. They got lots of info, I have been known to lurk there...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jay

[MattA]

If they replaced the rack they should have reset the toe adjustment. If the pump was replaced no adjustment would be necessary. Neither of these procedures should have created a pull. If you had the tires rotated at the same time you could have a tire pull. Hope this helps some

matt

[justice]

Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

Justice

[justice]

Matt,

Thanks for the reply.

only R & P systems have a rack. Mine is a typical chevy truck with a steering gear box/pitman arm arrangement.

They only replaced the box. The output shaft on the box is splined with a wide indexing spline, but mass produced tend to vary slightly from one to another.
A little variation in the location of the indexing spline translates into a magnified change in the alignment.

I guess I feel pretty confident in what the problem is. I am just looking for someone to verify that GM's procedure suggests and alignment check following the R&R of the box.


Justice

[MattA]

You must have a 4x4 because the two wheel drive late models have a rack n pinion set up. Anyway just changing the gear will not change the alignment settings and unless the gear has an internal problem will not cause a pull. Any production differences would only cause the steering wheel to be off center. Hope they take care of you whatever the case.

matt

[67Imp.Wagon]

I've gotten lots of help on Chevy talk with my truck and our van. That would be the place to check.

[Glen]

That has to be a misunderstanding. Alignment problems will definitely cause a pull as a bad tire as mentioned above.

What he might be trying to say is at this point he cant do an alignment under warranty. Ford is 12 months 12k miles for warranty alignments, even thought the bumper to bumper warranty is 36k and 36 months. Its either in the tires or in the alignment, you wont know until you put it on the alignment rack and check the numbers, if they are perfect, i would rotate the tires and drive it again.

[RileyRacing]

Chevy will only do alignments up to 5000 miles. My 2000 barely squeaked in at 4956, they almost weren't gonna do it.
What was it doing. My warranty just expired last week (3 years 27000 miles) and it squeals when I turn left. They said they couldn't hear it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jay

[justice]

[ QUOTE ]
My warranty just expired last week (3 years 27000 miles) and it squeals when I turn left. They said they couldn't hear it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jay

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what mine went in for. I kept hearing this faint sqealing when I turned left.
I got someone to move the steering wheel while I watched the gearbox. When it would sqeal, the low pressure return hose would shudder like mad.
Something must be wrong with the orifice placement inside the box.
They replaced my box and the sqeal is gone. They covered the alignment as well.
They know about the steering boxes. There is a TSB on them.

Justice

[Andy]

I pull a test when I think a power steering system is causing a pull. I jack up the front wheels and see if the steering wheel wants to go one way or the other. At least you know if its the power part or something else. good luck

[RileyRacing]

It's funny, cause it has been in 3 times, and everytime I got a cannot verify there is a problem response. That's what I figured, now that my warranty is up I gotta pay full price. I oughta just sell the POS and by MercMans Impala SS...

Jay

[Curly]

No shit! My dad's 2000 had the "Squealing left turn" that nobody could hear either! Mr. Goodwrench has gone deaf! If he was a "tool" he'd be miterbox. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[RileyRacing]

Did he get it fixed under warranty? Or on his own? I am sorry to clog up Ryans bandwidth about this, but if it is gonna be $$$$, I'm just gonna sell the pig.

Anyone want an Ext. Cab Chevy 4X4 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif?

Jay

[Curly]

Warranty fix after he got a GM rep on the phone and told him what the dealer said. Told him that he has bought a new chevy truck every four years since the new body style change in '73. He had rearend noises/oil pressure gage problems/bumper rusting/trim falling off of his last truck while still under warranty and now this on his latest truck.Told him that if GM was going to keep making shitty trucks his next truck was going to be a Dodge. Rep looked into it a saw all the warranty work and previous sales and told the dealer to fix it no questions asked. After the dealer fixed it they said they were getting a few of the 2000's in for similar problems.Something about a self cancelling unit in the turn signal switch and a bushing or spacer was one thing and something about the steering box ports if I remember correctly.