When I drive over bumpy terrain or just several bumps in a row on the street I feel slack in the wheel. I have looked under the truck and every thing looks fine, I have looked under the truck wile someone turned the wheel and didnt see any slack in anything. It feels like the front wheels hit a bump and turn then the steering wheel catches, and when setting still I can turn the wheel back and forth a small amount and feel the slack before the wheels start to turn. Its been doing this for a wile now.

 

Wheel bearings?

 

those are good.

Its not that type of slack. I can turn the steering wheel but the tires dont move until I get the a certain point with the steering wheel. I dont have to turn it a large amount to get the wheels to turn but its noticeably more then it should be and it kinda makes a quiet pop sound when the steering wheel catches and starts to turn the wheels.

 

Sounds just like what my 2000's rack is doing. It's tight until it gets warm. I can go 2-3 miles, then it gets loose. Mine makes no pops. Bad Rack. I'm saving up for that, LBJs, UCAs, OTRs, shocks and a water pump.

I mean, seriously, if you can see the shaft turning going into the rack (like mine does), yet no movement comes out from that input, BAD RACK. The good news is they come with inner tie rods already installed...... but they're ~$180 + an alignment.

 

mine does it when cold, when the truck is off and has been setting for a day, it doesnt matter when or where. It may be a bad rack and im sure as hell hoping its not. You just made me think of something it could also be, maby its the steering shaft, could be one of those joints loose or worn. I will have to check over it better.

I am really really considering fixing the trans on this truck then selling it. I have bought the truck again in repairs and I have only owned it a little over a year.....cant go a day with out something breaking and im getting really fed up with it. Sorry im just venting....

 

I think I found it, its in the joint by the motor mount. The boot on that joint has a rip in it and I can see one side of the joint moving but not the other until it catches.

How do I get that boot off??? I need to get it off is i can see the joint better to make sure that is the problem. I can get a picture if I need to...

 

sorry for the triple post but I need some help with this boot. I cant get to where I can see the bottom of it because of my skidplate. The skid plate is hard as bloody hell to get on and off. From what I can see from the top there MAY be some kind of clamp holding the bottom of the boot but even if I took that off it doesnt look like the boot would slide up any.