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Deciding if I Should Take on Steering Repair for my 2002 Chevy 1500 4x4 (JOB DONE)
September 25, 2022, 07:11 PM
StorminNorminDeciding if I Should Take on Steering Repair for my 2002 Chevy 1500 4x4 (JOB DONE)
quote:
Originally posted by DougE:
From what I gathered, the most common are the 3 master spline ones on the pickups with mostly vans having the 4 spline one. Either will work so long as the steering box shaft and the spline on the pitman arm match.
Turns out mine has 4 splines. Also seems most Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are rack and pinion, except a 4x4 like mine uses the gear box. Yup, made sure to get 4 spline Pitman arm and then got the Idler arm it said to use with that Pitman arm. Not sure how much it matters the Idler arm you use in relation to the Pitman arm, but it said which to use with it so that is what I will do.
NRA Benefactor Life Member September 25, 2022, 07:20 PM
rizzleIf that has a steering shock (damper) on it, I would disconnect one end and see if if turns freely from side to side while parked. On rare occasions the valving inside the shock can prevent it from moving one way.
September 25, 2022, 07:24 PM
.38supersigquote:
Originally posted by StorminNormin:
quote:
Originally posted by .38supersig:
Do you (or your neighbor down the street) have a factory shop manual for your truck?
Better to get your info & specs from there instead of some random wrench on yootoob.
Yes, I have the Haynes repair manual...
Look for a manual from GM for use in their dealership repair shop.
They aren't cheap, but the Haynes/Chilton manual cost me an aluminum oil pan with the torque sequence they had.
The factory shop manual had the correct sequence, and cost less than the replacement pan.
September 25, 2022, 07:26 PM
DougEquote:
Originally posted by StorminNormin:
quote:
Originally posted by DougE:
From what I gathered, the most common are the 3 master spline ones on the pickups with mostly vans having the 4 spline one. Either will work so long as the steering box shaft and the spline on the pitman arm match.
Turns out mine has 4 splines. Also seems most Chevy Silverado 1500 trucks are rack and pinion, except a 4x4 like mine uses the gear box. Yup, made sure to get 4 spline Pitman arm and then got the Idler arm it said to use with that Pitman arm. Not sure how much it matters the Idler arm you use in relation to the Pitman arm, but it said which to use with it so that is what I will do.
You're good so long as all the parts match. A 3 spline master will not match up with the spline on one with the 4.
The water in Washington won't clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek~Senator John Kennedy
September 25, 2022, 07:28 PM
DougEYou could even go with a 3 spline master so long as the box and pitman arm match.
The water in Washington won't clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek~Senator John Kennedy
September 25, 2022, 09:04 PM
DougEMost, if not all the aftermarket boxes are 3 master spline, so you just need a pitman arm that matches the spline configuration on the box you get. If yours is 4 and you go with that. it's fine, but you can also go with the 3 spline in place of it so long as you get the matching pitman.
The water in Washington won't clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek~Senator John Kennedy
September 26, 2022, 04:48 AM
4MUL8RReplace the intermediate steering shaft and support bearing while doing this job.
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Trying to simplify my life...
September 26, 2022, 09:24 AM
PerceptionI don't think it's a bad job, but it may be helpful to have a second set of hands available when you do it. A steering gearbox is pretty damn heavy to be holding over your head when you just can't get everything to line up correctly to slide together.
"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in." September 26, 2022, 12:29 PM
HRKCleanliness is next to Godliness...
Get some gunk cleaning foam, take the truck if you can to a car wash and clean the underside as best possible, nothing sucks worse than having to work in a dirty area.
Pictures, take video and pictures before hand.
Harbor freight Nitrile gloves, cheap, keep your hands reasonably clean, so you can remove them, and run the videos over on your phone without greasing it up... I like the 7mm on heavier greasy jobs where it would be easy to tear the lighter 3 to 5 mm
https://www.harborfreight.com/...h?q=nitrile%20glovesSeptember 26, 2022, 02:16 PM
StorminNorminquote:
Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Replace the intermediate steering shaft and support bearing while doing this job.
I will look into that.
NRA Benefactor Life Member September 26, 2022, 02:17 PM
StorminNorminquote:
Originally posted by HRK:
Cleanliness is next to Godliness...
Get some gunk cleaning foam, take the truck if you can to a car wash and clean the underside as best possible, nothing sucks worse than having to work in a dirty area.
Pictures, take video and pictures before hand.
Harbor freight Nitrile gloves, cheap, keep your hands reasonably clean, so you can remove them, and run the videos over on your phone without greasing it up... I like the 7mm on heavier greasy jobs where it would be easy to tear the lighter 3 to 5 mm
https://www.harborfreight.com/...h?q=nitrile%20gloves
Great points; will do.
NRA Benefactor Life Member October 06, 2022, 06:54 PM
StorminNorminThis Saturday is my day to take this on. Today I decided to buy an impact wrench to hopefully make things easier with bolts and probably should have bought one long ago.
Tomorrow I will go pick up the impact sockets I ordered and will need and my final parts get delivered tomorrow. I will also remove my skid plates and degrease as much as I can so I have a cleaner working area. I also have to see if I can fix my jack so I don’t have to borrow one. I have jack stands for once I get it jacked up.
Then Saturday I will start the work. Hopefully all goes well and it is completed by the end of the weekend.
NRA Benefactor Life Member October 08, 2022, 03:40 PM
StorminNorminAll done and my truck steers and drives great. Wasn’t an easy job, but now it is done and I saved a bunch of money. I appreciate several tips I received in this post as all made things better.
NRA Benefactor Life Member October 08, 2022, 04:43 PM
phxtoadWell done!
Todd
phxtoad
"Careful man, there's a beverage here!"
October 08, 2022, 05:34 PM
DougEquote:
All done and my truck steers and drives great. Wasn’t an easy job, but now it is done and I saved a bunch of money. I appreciate several tips I received in this post as all made things better.
Good deal! It isn't so much a complicated job, but it is a PITA when you have to do it laying under the truck.
The water in Washington won't clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek~Senator John Kennedy
October 08, 2022, 05:38 PM
StorminNorminquote:
Originally posted by DougE:
quote:
All done and my truck steers and drives great. Wasn’t an easy job, but now it is done and I saved a bunch of money. I appreciate several tips I received in this post as all made things better.
Good deal! It isn't so much a complicated job, but it is a PITA when you have to do it laying under the truck.
Yeah it would have been SO MUCH easier if it was up on a lift. The repeated crawling under and out of my truck did a number on my body.
NRA Benefactor Life Member October 08, 2022, 05:47 PM
DougEquote:
Originally posted by StorminNormin:
quote:
Originally posted by DougE:
quote:
All done and my truck steers and drives great. Wasn’t an easy job, but now it is done and I saved a bunch of money. I appreciate several tips I received in this post as all made things better.
Good deal! It isn't so much a complicated job, but it is a PITA when you have to do it laying under the truck.
Yeah it would have been SO MUCH easier if it was up on a lift. The repeated crawling under and out of my truck did a number on my body.
Right there with ya since I don't have a lift either. I mostly work alone, so if I'm under the truck and find that I need something moved from up top, or need a tool I didn't think I was going to need under there, I have to crawl out and move it/get it myself.
The water in Washington won't clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek~Senator John Kennedy