Driving my yota today and noticed the front end drifts from left to right. my first thought was the pitman arm but wanted your guys opinion. The steering has alot of play in it, maybe 2 inches either way. btw its manual steering.
You should be able to put the front end on jackstands and grab the components and try to shake them to identify any bad parts. If it consistently drifts to one side I'd guess alignment but if your bushings or ball joints or tie rod ends or pittman arm are sloppy, you'll never get accurate alignment. The free play in on center steering can be fixed. While the front end is off the ground, point the wheels straight ahead. Then loosen the locknut on top of the steering box and tighten the preload screw in small increments till the slop disappears. If you tighten it too much there will be friction and the steering won't return to center after a turn. Hold the adjusting screw in position and tighten the locknut (it will want to tighten if you don't hold it). If the off center free play is an issue I think the steering box has to be replaced.
you will need a big ass breaker bar or an impact to get the nut off, then a puller tool to get the actual arm off the box.. factor in age and rust..it can be a pain in the ass
note taken, was looking around and hand turned the steering shaft that goes into the gear box and i think it might be the gearbox thats wore out. i had about a inch or more turn play in the gearbox.
any idea's on what other steering gearboxes will work in my truck? called autozone and there around $250.
there is an adjustment on the box. there is a nut with a screw top stuf in the middle of it right on top of the box, loosen the nut, turn the screw in, should take out some play...
located the nut, and made some adjustments. didn't feel a difference until about 3/4 of a full turn. couldn't turn the screw anymore but it seems to made a difference will test drive tomorrow and see.
