Chevy/GMC Truck Steering Box Adjustment - SIlverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, and others

Chevy/GMC Truck Steering Box Adjustment - SIlverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, and others - GMT800

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7 жыл бұрын

I show how I adjusted the steering gearbox on my 2004 Chevy Tahoe. This helped tighten up a loose steering condition I was experiencing. This procedure should be similar on the Chevy/GMC suburban, GMC Yukon and other Chevy Silverado and GMC sierra trucks.
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@swampweasel927 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the vid. I have a 2012 Duramax that was floating down the highway and shaking at high speed. Took it in for an alignment yesterday and they said I had a bad steering box, control arms and spindles and couldn’t align it. Took it home, found your vid and tightened my box right up, albeit with a lot of time spent trying to find enough torque to loosen the set/lock nut. Everything else checked out fine and now I have no play going down the road. Couple pointers for others: 1) jack your entire front end up, grab a front tire and manually turn/shake it North/south and east/west (or up/down and side to side). This is an easy way to tell which steering/suspension component is bad. In my case I got up under the truck to where I could see my steering box assembly then I turned the front tires by hand. By doing this I could see and hear that my tires were turning prob 1/8 of an inch in either direction BEFORE my steering shaft would move. 2) with my amount of play turning the Allen 1.5 turns was perfect, 2 turns was too much. 3) my nut was 3/4” and the Allen was 1/4” Interesting that both the alignment shop (Tire Kingdom) and the parts house (AutoZone) said the steering box was not adjustable and was a replace only part. Thanks for the vid. You literally saved me over $300 on an eBay Factory reman unit and easily an entire day of a cursing bloody knuckled mess! Much appreciated!

@sergiogutierrez6091 2 жыл бұрын

How did it continue for u? Still running good?

@pierrebourassa3584 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks, it worked for me and now my steering is like new!

@thomasgargano8287 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks i changed my intermediate shaft on my 1997 GMC Suburban and it helped with half the slop in steering but now i know i need to tighten up the vear box also !

@fukawininetynine5999 3 жыл бұрын

Outstanding! 2003 Sierra 1500HD. The intermediate steering shaft was replaced under a recall or service bulletin 13 years and 55,000 miles ago. I thought it was the same issue but checked here first. 20 minutes later a test drive confirmed problem solved! Thank you from a new subscriber.

@Papapickles69 3 жыл бұрын

2005 Silverado w 210000. It worked for me! Thanks!

@marty01957 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Bro! This is what I needed to know!

@jonathanmiller7374 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for describing the nut/Allen combo

@jimcopeland137 6 жыл бұрын

Presentation is right on. On my 1984 Chey C20 the steering gear box looked about the same, with the lock nut and allen stud on top. I screwed up and used a power tool to loosen the 5/8 " nut. The allen spun with it, so I lost its original location. With fingers crossed, I ran the 5/16" allen down snug, then backed it off 1/2 turn. On test drive, it seemed a little too tight so I backed it off another 1/2 turn. The steering feels like brand new. Thanks for the direction.

@SevenFortyOne 6 жыл бұрын

I'm glad my video helped you. Thanks for letting me know!

@Fkidd702 2 жыл бұрын

Gonna have to try this this weekend

@BobbyFigliola 2 жыл бұрын

Currently have a yukon denali 06... wander issue. feels like its loose. I remember doing the tightning of the gearbox on a 77 olds... steering box..saginaw I believe....worked great then.. obviously check all the usual susects first. rod ends, links etc.. upper control arms..etc. but yeah. fixed my issue. thanks

@drucl8n 3 жыл бұрын

I think this fixed my issue thanks for the info

@paulmazurek3608 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent instructions thanks 👍👍👍

@OSCARANDRES039 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I did this to my 05 Tahoe today. Running 35" Mickeys and I was getting a lot id death wabble. Its All good and thight now. No more wabbles!!

@toneytone7497 3 жыл бұрын

Is it still good

@OSCARANDRES039 3 жыл бұрын

@@toneytone7497 yes sir. All good ever since. 👍👍

@toneytone7497 3 жыл бұрын

@@OSCARANDRES039 that's what I'm talking about, thanks for the fast reply

@johntaylor5270 Жыл бұрын

Was you truck wandering/drifting/swaying when driving down the highway in a straight line?

@tom_olofsson 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent. thanks

@_AndromedaGalaxy_ 8 ай бұрын

01 suburban 2500 6.0l. think ill give this a try tomorrow before i swap out that entire gearbox. just had an alignment then put on new directional mudders. the looseness is so much more obvious now. i hope this fixes it.

@lezlethal 4 жыл бұрын

2004 Avalanche. I just changed out my drive side hub, drive shaft, both side tie rods, (inner and outer) and sway bar links. Saved probably 1000s of dollars doing it myself. This trick helped out a lot, instant results, got rid of the play and no more floating. I went 1/2 at first, then almost 1 full turn gave me the best results.

@ESLinsider Жыл бұрын

I turned it about a full turn too. First a 1/4 then a half then a full and it seems better but how do you know if you turned it too far?

@tpangle85 Жыл бұрын

@@ESLinsider It will bind when you turn it full lock and the steering wheel will not return to center.

@ESLinsider Жыл бұрын

@@tpangle85 What does bind mean exactly? I've seen people use this term and I am not clear what that means.

@tpangle85 Жыл бұрын

@@ESLinsider It means it will feel difficult to turn because the gears are to tightly pushed together. The steering should feel free.

@dafenddaweak7753 4 ай бұрын

Miraming Salamat, pare!🫡

@danb.3397 4 жыл бұрын

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK ANY IDLERS AND BALL JOINTS. MAKE SURE AFTER ADJUSTING THE BOX AND YOU TURN IT LOCK TO LOCK TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING BINDS ON THE FAR ENDS OF THE TURN. The center of the gears in the box will wear but less on the lock ends so be careful.

@trevorferguson8271 2 жыл бұрын

Can you explain what you mean lock to lock. I’m in this same situation right now?

@yzmoto80 2 жыл бұрын

He’s 100% correct. There is a specific and VERY IMPORTANT PROCEDURE for doing this correctly. If you don’t know what lock to lock means, and your fussing with your steering gear, oh boy !!!

@yzmoto80 2 жыл бұрын

Get a service manual for your vehicle my friend

@TheFoyer13 2 жыл бұрын

@@trevorferguson8271 Turn the wheel all the way to the left, then turn it all the way to the right. Lock to lock.

@haroldsanchez8235 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks 👍🏼

@WoodchuckNorris.8o 2 жыл бұрын

You gotta drop the steering box and adjust the nut on the input shaft to do it right

@John-xh9cl Жыл бұрын

Tilt joint on steering column has two torx head screws you can tighten as well. Inside steering column just left of the gear shifter. Start truck and turn wheel to access each one.

@tonygonzalez7029 10 ай бұрын

Cant wait to get home' 04 yukon xl' super shaky steering wheel' bought the steering shaft and bearing piece...

@humanmale4610 4 жыл бұрын

Good video ....thx

@rodneytorres6072 4 ай бұрын

Nice thank you

@boshenjia7217 5 жыл бұрын

Nice Video ! My 2002 tahoe just got me feel tighter steering wheel today and when i make a turn it does not feel smooth like before, any solutions ?

@chevyboy2066 5 жыл бұрын

I have a h2, loose also. Going to try this

@Malcolm745 4 жыл бұрын

@@fpsevanj How did it go for you? Have the same thing on my H2.

@danbrewer2003 Жыл бұрын

The shop tightened the adjustment too tight and my wheel doesn't return when I turn a corner, which way should I turn the adjustment screw? Counter clockwise?

@gary19222 Жыл бұрын

So tighter is the Allen turning clockwise? Correct?

@brandonsmith8548 3 жыл бұрын

I replaced a pitman arm and inner tierod and my steering is sooooo tight it's crazy

@findrawan5012 4 жыл бұрын

for tighten sloopy, clockwise or counter clockwise?

@nellaob4229 Жыл бұрын

The correct way is to turn the allen head screw "In" until it stops and then back the allen head screw back out 1/4" turn and re-tighten the jam nut... JSYK.

@jeffgioia5720 Жыл бұрын

is this the same thing as adjusting the sensitivity? I have a 2012 Silverado and it real touchy when i touch the steering wheel

@hey.you.in.the.bushes 3 жыл бұрын

Not all heroes wear caps. 🙌

@ohjay7962 4 жыл бұрын

What exactly does it adjust? I did it, it worked... Just curious what did i adjust...

@coryeckes7191 4 жыл бұрын

You're adjusting how tight the gears mesh together. the more that you adjust it'll either tighten or loosen how much play is between the gears. search for "Sector Shaft Adjustment" this will explain what you are doing better.

@Radiowild 7 жыл бұрын

On a GM manual box, with both front wheels straight, I'd loosen the lock nut, then bring the set screw all the way down until you feel resistance. Next bring back a little more than 3/4 of a turn, then lock the lock nut. Don't know if that rule applies with the power steering box. Guess you just have to keep adjusting it until it's right (ass long as everything else is in good working order).

@SevenFortyOne 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip RW!

@cCH3artlessCc 4 жыл бұрын

I bought a remanned box from 1a auto and still have loose steering. Tried adjusting it a while back with no luck. Gonna try your method and reply back if it works!

@realmistahwong Жыл бұрын

@@cCH3artlessCc did it work?

@cCH3artlessCc Жыл бұрын

@@realmistahwong yes

@ohjay7962 4 жыл бұрын

I did almost a half turn

@opinionchiapaneca9528 2 жыл бұрын

You gotta new suscriber

@SevenFortyOne 2 жыл бұрын

Cool! Thanks!

@j.cooper2246 3 жыл бұрын

I have the exact opposite problem. I have replaced power steering pump all of my front suspension parts I turn the wheel on the inside of the truck in a hear from steering wheel sounds like maybe a dry spear?. My steering is difficult to turn its very stiff and I can't figure out what the deal is. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

@SevenFortyOne 3 жыл бұрын

Could be that the steering box is shot. Hard to tell without experiencing it for myself

@nathanpearce7169 Жыл бұрын

What size Allen key. None of mine fit

@chachifeere 2 жыл бұрын

Do you need to jack up the front

@brandoncaldwell95 5 жыл бұрын

Well, believe im fighting a worn out box. I did notice popping before, just not near as bad as today. Mainly when turning or going through a bumps. I do know my steering is loose. My highways have major side slope to them. Im always a turning into the pull at an 1/8 of a turn. When on flat roads, it likes to "walk" on me. Didnt realise it was as bad as it was till i drove a couple different vehicles. Found out by testing it. Jacked the front end and pulled the wheel simulating bump steer while someone held the wheel that also heard the clunking. Worn out box, whoopy. Will simply deal with it till the lift

@SevenFortyOne 5 жыл бұрын

Might be worth checking your Pitman Arm/tie rods/Idler....also chack your steering shaft and bearing...the steering bearing may be causing the popping. I changed mine and it helped.

@brandoncaldwell95 5 жыл бұрын

@@SevenFortyOne Surprisingly, the shaft to the steering wheel is tight along with everything else. Least from how the south Texas rust looks and tugging i did. Probably should get a wrench on there and torque to check for certain. The issues ive had are completely opposite of what others normal problems are. My bushings are all looking great too. The only typical issue ive had was a oil preassure sensor and the 4x4 position sensor. Thanks for the help and the video!

@joshuawade1074 5 жыл бұрын

Updated steering shaft from GM to eliminate popping or clunking in steering especially over bumps.

@kennylove188 3 жыл бұрын

Brandon Caldwell DON’T FORGET to check the Intermediate Shaft,

@ArCh-or7ey 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the video I need to do this to my Chevy turd

@bsdiyh 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your video, My 05 Yukon xl turns ok right, but very very hard left turn almost impossible, What do you think is the issue?

@elementsk8erq 2 жыл бұрын

I’m sure you already figured it out by now but it’s your steering gear box. The very one he’s adjusting in this video. You will likely need a new one.

@mymorristribe Жыл бұрын

Mine leaks from that bolt. Seems to rotate back and forth when I steer, and the jam nut seems to loosen then it blows out fluid. Ideas?

@SevenFortyOne Жыл бұрын

You probably need a new steering box

@AntonioLopez-jn7ry 3 жыл бұрын

Good afternoon Mr 741 I have a 03 tahoe I changed all the front suspension and my steering wheel is real hard to drive if I move it a little to a side it gets like stuck and twist it to the other side and I loose control its gets like super hard then soft so its very hard to drive it

@SevenFortyOne 3 жыл бұрын

Do not drive your vehicle. You could loose all steering and crash. Have a professional mechanic take a look at it. It sounds like something was put together wrong or something else has failed.

@AntonioLopez-jn7ry 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for your advice I will do that god bless you

@brandonsmith8548 3 жыл бұрын

Same! Replaced my pitman arm and inner tierods cause my wheel would shake left to right when jacked up. Now both wheels won't budge left to right at all so it's tight but something else is causing my steering to be really really tight..hit a bump and throws me! . I'm wondering what I did wrong

@ddoperations2768 6 жыл бұрын

It’ll tighten the box for a short time then the play will come back. Symptom of just and old worn out steering box.

@donnysmith4844 6 жыл бұрын

Power steering pulley adjustment

@BoyishDriver 3 жыл бұрын

@@donnysmith4844 adjustment?

@6.6chevay13 3 жыл бұрын

So I’ve done this but it’s either loose or when I steer it wants to grab in one direction and go lol

@McDubz Жыл бұрын

Same here, I'm taking mine on a road trip in "too tight" mode hoping it'll clearance and settle itself over time haha

@sh115067 3 жыл бұрын

what happens if you turn the screw too much? I didn't mark anything out and I turned the screw too much and now my steering feels really tight. Not a good tight tho

@yiannivartelas3391 3 жыл бұрын

Loosing it up a little. If it’s too tight then steering won’t go back to its normal position. Sounds like that’s your problem

@sh115067 3 жыл бұрын

@@yiannivartelas3391 thank you. I did that and its all good.

@julieroggenkamp9045 9 ай бұрын

What do you do if it's stripped, and the Alan wrench won't work?

@SevenFortyOne 9 ай бұрын

You probably need a new steering box

@justathought1888 2 жыл бұрын

Did you ever fully get rid of the wheel play ? I have a 2003 tahoe with some wheel play. Not sure if it's the gear box or intermediate shaft.

@SevenFortyOne 2 жыл бұрын

No...I did the whole front end except for replacing the steering box and it got better but not fully tight.

@justathought1888 2 жыл бұрын

@@SevenFortyOne Do you believe that replacing the steer box will resolve matter ?

@SevenFortyOne 2 жыл бұрын

I really don't know.

@barlos9162 4 жыл бұрын

Will that work for 99 also mines like all over the place replaced about everything down their

@barlos9162 3 жыл бұрын

@@PaulCKay no I took it to different shops they tell me nothing just drive it local

@lavonwilliams6847 3 жыл бұрын

My Tahoe will turn left easily but won’t turn right without a lot of strain

@ESLinsider Жыл бұрын

If you have a crooked steering wheel too do you adjust that first or this?

@SevenFortyOne Жыл бұрын

Fix the steering alignment first.. you may have bigger problems

@ESLinsider Жыл бұрын

@@SevenFortyOne They said they did the alignment but couldn't straighten the steering wheel without a new gearbox which is like $500. I was going to try to tighten the gearbox if I could so maybe it doesn't matter if I try to straighten the steering first or fix the gearbox.

@KevinSoupy 4 жыл бұрын

Did you have to lift the front end so there’s no stress on the steering or religious we are just in your position as you drive it Forwad)

@dargont100 3 жыл бұрын

is it okay to add penetrating oil , i cant get mine to budge?

@SevenFortyOne 3 жыл бұрын

I'm not a mechanic but I'd be careful doing that. You don't want penetrating oil getting into the box

@dargont100 3 жыл бұрын

@@SevenFortyOne thanks, thats what i was thinking. thing is stuck good

@gary19222 Жыл бұрын

Those intermediate shaft bushings were all garbage from day 1. I've had several 2000,s chevys and most got sloppy within 15000 Mike's. I think they have a better updated part now

@kenstearman 6 жыл бұрын

My steering is sloppy on my 2005 Silverado (135K). Started a few weeks ago. Truck tends to drift right and left at near highway speeds of 50-60 mph. Otherwise, I don't feel it at lower speeds. Could the problem also be related to worn tie rod ends? Thanks.

@SevenFortyOne 6 жыл бұрын

You should check them to see if they are loose..but the problem sounds more like a worn out steering box. I'm having the same problem as you are even after replacing my ball joints...

@kenstearman 6 жыл бұрын

SevenFortyOne Thank you for your reply! If it is a worn steering box, I'm thinking that this is a part I can replace with a good boneyard box. I remember having a bad steering box on an old postal Jeep DJ-6 that I replaced with a Saginaw steering box that didn't cost much more than 35 bucks or so. Course, that was years ago, but still... Any thoughts on that? Brand new parts are so expensive now. Even GM. Again, thanks for your help. Everything I know about cars I learned from others (or by trial-and-error--not always the best idea, unfortunately)

@SevenFortyOne 6 жыл бұрын

If you can find a good price on a low mileage boneyard unit that may be the way to go. The few boneyard around here seem to want almost as much money as a re-manufactured part so I usually just end up going that route. I learned everything I know from my dad...and trial and error. The knowledge he passed on to me has saved countless amounts of money over the years. I may not always do things quite the way a professional would but I keep my old junkers going as long as I can. That old jeep sounds like it was cool little project!

@FoolClanz 6 жыл бұрын

Its your steering control arm. Mine did that. The bolt needs to be tightened on it. Mine was lose and almost falling off

@SevenFortyOne 6 жыл бұрын

Are you talking about the Pittman arm - the one that connects the steering box to the center link or something else? In my case I changed the Pittman arm and it didn't solve the problem.

@WinTer-fi2rg 3 жыл бұрын

Does anybody know the Alan key size. The one I tried were either too big or too small

@leogreyeyes1576 3 жыл бұрын

There's metrics and standards 2 different sizes

@holly4th814 2 жыл бұрын

3/16

@ryanp8166 5 жыл бұрын

aubuchon hardware....They never have what i need. I always need to leave town.

@SevenFortyOne 5 жыл бұрын

I agree! I usually go to Star hardware in Tolland or Ellington.

@ronnmiller9085 Жыл бұрын

My question is NOT how to adjust the steering gear box! My question clearly is, HOW to REALINE the steering wheel, AFTER re3placing the Gearbox? I didn't get the steering wheel locked in alignment when fininshing installation. It only needs to be turned about 1/4 turn left to line up INSIDE TRUCK. These sites all seem to want to adjust the Gearbox, NOT the steering wheel itself.

@SevenFortyOne Жыл бұрын

I didn't have that problem so I didn't make a video about it.

@danielwilliams5482 Ай бұрын

Good job bro to the point .... Not some wind bag shit about babble

@JamesAutoDude Жыл бұрын

Omg I hope this will fix my sloppy steering!! I'll report back lmao

@JamesAutoDude Жыл бұрын

It seemed to help stationary slop, but once I get driving it's still sloppy. So must be something else

@kevinajjenkins 7 ай бұрын

@mrwashur1991 4 жыл бұрын

This would be better if you showed the adjustment instead of cutting to when it’s done

@SevenFortyOne 4 жыл бұрын

I had no way to hold the camera in a position that made it visible or I would have.

@frankburkett7453 5 ай бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jLh_ZNGWkrnPiqM.htmlsi=iN0ehxvR6oPC4Ape. This is the correct way to adjust the play.

@chuckchaney5004 4 жыл бұрын

Hey be nice if somebody would make a video on a 1994 GMC four-wheel-drive 1500 taking out a steering box there’s not a whole Lotta room to get the Pitman arm off and there’s no videos of anybody doing it they’re doing the 2 Will Dr. removals not a four-wheel-drive on Especially on a 1994 GMC Sierra 15104 Wheel Dr.

@martinez1701a 4 жыл бұрын

I have a 95 yukon slt 4x4 and you can actually stick a wrench in there loosen the nut and pitman then unblolt the box, hardest part is getting the pitman arm loosened from the box. Btw you can access it from the front just take off the front shield.