glake511 Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 Hello all. Bought a 2004 mack granite from Rhode Island last year and the steering had some play side to side. fast forward to this year and the steering box developed a lead and the play got worse which made the truck drift side to side. My drivers finally told me about after they refused to drive the truck. I brought it to the mechanic and he sent the steering box out to be rebuilt. got the truck back and still all over the road. I took truck back and he discovered the king pins were shot and the toe was out a half inch. I got the truck back and it is much tighter, but has about three inches of side to side play in steering wheel but overall a huge difference in the right direction. The truck is still hard to keep in a straighten line on highways and constantly have to make corrections. the mechanic said the floaters are worn a little because of the toe and that may be causing the issue. Do you guys think this could cause this or do is the alignment out of whack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 when you check for play, I assume you are only moving the steering wheel and not the tires. I would expect the steering shaft u-joints were inspected during the steering box repair, as well as the drag link and tie rod ends? there is also a u-joint under the dash above the brake pedal. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 Yes, there shouldn’t be any play at all rebuild box. There are usually real tight good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glake511 Posted September 11, 2023 Author Share Posted September 11, 2023 Yes just moving the steering wheel . Im gunna go up under the dash in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 Three inch free travel in the steering wheel isn’t enough to cause the the truck to wander back n forth,could be the tires if everything else checks out.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleclutchinweasel Posted September 11, 2023 Share Posted September 11, 2023 Power steering boxes can have a little movement that feels like "play" that is actually movement in the valve (either rotary or axial). 3" at the OD of the wheel, Like MACKS said, isn't all that much. Tires? Alignment? Drag link? Rod ends? Spring eye bushings? 1 Quote "Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post R.E.D Posted September 15, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 15, 2023 If everything mentioned above checks out , have someone move steering wheel left to right.. paying close attention to u bolts and springs. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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