Chevy's amazing steering.

[frotosride]

So my big question is do the steering boxes have a  'null' or center for the shaft that has to be aligned? I'm still having steering issues. The truck has always pulled to the right. When I brake now I let the steering wheel go and it pulls left. If I put it in reverse and brake it steers right. I'm sure the braking thing isn't related to the drifting while driving. All ball joints, tie rods drag link, steering arm and whatever the horizontal bar that runs from each spindle is called are all less than 3 years old. I'm driving a lot of country roads now a days and that doesn't bother me but getting in the city with all the other crazies is a little nerve racking. I'm going to try another alignment well toe adjustment. Any other suggestions?

[Engineer]

Check your brake calipers.

It sounds like the R.H. caliper piston is seizing up.

It is doing all of its braking with the left caliper, and the right hand caliper is not releasing thus causing the right hand pull while driving.

[frotosride]

I thought about that last night. Gonna put the front end up Saturday since its my only day off. Does the proportioning valve adjust bias between front tires? The one that's there is OE from '87. I have been working with hydraulics for over 12 years and rubber orings turn into hard plastic square rings in no time with a little pressure and heat. Is it worth rebuilding or just as cheap to buy another one.

[Engineer]

No, the pressure will be equal to both front tires. The only exception being if you have a collapsed front brake hose. Which is also a possibility.

[78BIG-TEN]

In answer to your question,yes the gear does have a center.Steering gear will get tighter when crossing.If memory serves it should take about 18 lbs\in turn over center.Others may want to chime in here.Alot of other factors can cause a slight pull including the tires.My 78 has had a pull to the right since day one.Had it aligned and had the guy to compensate for it which it did but then steering got real touchy so had him put it back

[frotosride]

I thoughtit may have been the tires too but even with factory size it pulled. It got a lot better after replacing and I'm beginning to think I need a new steering box. My wheel only attempts to center after turning but which ever direction I turn ialwayshavetocheckitto the opposite dire tion to true it up.

[roundhouse]

Replace the calipers pads and flex hoses  and test it out before you replace the steering box

[frotosride]

the pads and lines are a year old at the most but even so I have only driven the truck for 2 months so far this year. I'm gonna check the calipers today and try to over power them.

[SkinnyG]

Unequal caster left-to-right can also cause a "braking pull."

Ideally, you want the caster equal left-to-right, and you use a bit more negative camber on the right to counter road crown.  Unless something else could be going on with your alignment....  If you haven't hit anything with the truck lately, check for worn bushings and/or joints.

Toe will always center itself, so you can't really have more toe on one side or the other.  Excessive toe may cause the steering to follow things, wander, be twitchy, or be numb.

[VileZambonie]

the pads and lines are a year old at the most but even so I have only driven the truck for 2 months so far this year. I'm gonna check the calipers today and try to over power them.

You replaced the lines or the hoses?

[frotosride]

Hoses...sorry of all people I should know to be specific with what I mean.I checked the toe today and I'm easily with in 1/8th" 1/4 max if I grossly mix judged 15 times in a row from 3 different angles. What I did find while I had the wheels off was that the steering gear box has a lot of free play. When I atemp to turn the wheels with hands on rotors I can see the pitman arm shaft more fwd and aft at least 1/16th". There's certainly a lot of play. I'm moving the family up to Maine next month so I will have a lot of alone time with blue to fix this issue. I rebuild a lot of intricate electronic controlled hydraulic valves and hydraulic pumps so I feel like rebuilding the box is well within my reach. Anyone think its not worth the $100+ savings of just doing the job myself. Oh and any special tools needed for this other than snap ring pliers. If mno one answers I will likely make the rebuild a thread so maybe it will inspire someone like Eng's monster truck!

[78BIG-TEN]

If there is play in the box try adjusting with the screw on top

[frotosride]

If there is play in the box try adjusting with the screw on top

There's a screw...? Gonna have to look at this.

[78BIG-TEN]

In the center of the top cover,loosen nylock hex nut use allen wrench to adjust screw then lock it back down

[Norseman]

In order to properly adjust the play in the steering gear, you need to take it off and bless the fluid out. Then adjust to specs, reinstall, add fluid, bleed system and road test. Usually the steering is too tight at this point and you find that the Napa steering gear with the lifetime warranty would have been the way to go. My shop quit adjusting steering gears years ago because the customers didn't like the results.  Better to do it once and be done.