Loose steering

[fourtonnemantis]

Hi everyone! I've got a 79 K10. Truck drives very nice, but recently it's started to have an issue: when I make a turn, and start to turn the wheel to straighten it out, once it's nearly straight, it continues to turn, just slightly. Then without my input, it'll suddely straighten out with a little jerk, a moment later.  The truck drives well in a straight line, doesn't wander. I've crawled all over, and can't find any play in the tie rid ends, or ball joints. The only thing I noticed is a very small amount of play in the shaft coming out of the steering box. IE, the shaft the pitman arm is splined to. It has 1/16-1/8" of play up and down in the box. Not side to side.

My question: is this the cause of my problem? If so, can the steering box be repaired? Or do I need to replace it? OR is there something else I should look for? I looked for cracked springs and cracks around the steering box. Couldn't find anything.

Thanks!

[Irish_Alley]

my brother was driving my 79 one time had a similar problem but mine was the three bolts holding the steering arm on, well two were broke. i would get a helper and with with truck off have them turn the wheel in both directions and see what moves without effecting other parts

[Don5]

my brother was driving my 79 one time had a similar problem but mine was the three bolts holding the steering arm on, well two were broke. i would get a helper and with with truck off have them turn the wheel in both directions and see what moves without effecting other parts

I was going to post the same answer but you beat me to it.  I did the same thing with mine also. It did the same thing as four describes. Good luck.

[fourtonnemantis]

Thanks. I've had a friend in the truck turning the wheels back and forth while I check everything out. But all I could find was just a slight movement in the shaft coming out of the steering box. Everything else is tight.

[illinoisk30]

You may want to check your axle shaft u-joints. If they are seized up it would affect your steering. Most of the time if these are bad there is a popping sound from them trying to move in the direction they need to go. If there is no grease zerk on them they could be factory. Just a thought.