hey yall
im the same idiot that blew his airbags offroadin. ive noticed that my steering doesnt seem to be right anymore. the steering wheel feels loose like i knocked sumthin outta place. i dont remember it feelin like this b4 i went wheelin. think maybe i messed up the front end alignment or mnaybe i bent sumthin? lemme know what yall think!

 

So you're telling us the steering wheel spins too easily? Might check the steering linkage visually.

Test your alignment. Drive down the highway and let go of the steering wheel. Does she go straight?

 

yeh basically it spins too easily and its not quite right when i park my truck and the front wheels are straight, the steering wheel seems to be not straight on. i was thinkin maybe i messed up the alignment or maybe the whole airbag thing is affectin sumthin. i did ride down the road and let go of the wheel to test it and it doesnt go as straight as it used to, and the wheel moves more freely then it did before. so yeh it wants to spin too easily. yall think this is an easy fix or am i gonna be dishin out more money? i'm tryin to get it looked at soon, probably when my new airbags come in.
thanks

 

I wouldn't be too worried. Since it is going to be in the shop; have em take a look.

 

hopefully the dealer fixes everything, my cousin who is fixing my truck works at the dealership where i got my truck from. (he is fixing the truck at his perosnal garage) i bought a 2yr/24k mile extended warranty premium package when i got the truck back in november. the airbags arent covered in it, but what are the chances that if i screwed anything else up, it will be covered in the warranty? yall have any ideas or had the same problems with warranties?

 

If you hit something hard enough to deploy the bags, then there is a good chance that you bent something in the suspension. Warranty coverage is doubtful, as they don't cover damage caused by misuse or abuse.

 

If you damaged something in the steering offroad chances are this is what you've done. Look here and run out to your truck to find out. Let us know, this is a point of contact/weld where two metals meet, and inherently a weakspot.

 

ok i'll go look under my truck 2maro when i get home from work. if that is whats wrong with my truck...how much would it cost to fix? it seems that the truck and steering wheel line up straight but the steering wheel spins to easily but the truck will stay straight kinda. like the steering wheel can move a little to the left or right and the truck stays straight. im not a mechanic and don't know alot about trucks. my cuzin will be putting it up on a lift later this week to check out everything and to put the new airbags in...he is a master mechanic haha i just dont have time to get my truck to him right now till he's ready to work on it

 

Ouch, that sounds exactly like the problem. Is there a little "give" in the steering wheel, as you said slightly to the left and right do nothing? Definitely go take a look, it's easy to see if this is it. Make sure you look close as it's an easy crack to miss (clean cut).

This would cost about $150-250 used, and installation I have no idea. I'm not sure how the steering pinion shims into the rack, possibly a boot or some other type of waterproof design, so who knows how difficult it is to remove. I'll ask a mechanic @ work tomorrow as I'm going to do this myself. That video above is of mine, and another guy on here who checked had the same problem. The alignment shops couldn't figure it out.

 

well that sux, i'll go outside and check it now, if that is the issue will it be ok to keep driving it? goin to the beach this week and its 2hr ride. maybe i'll just leave the truck at my cousins garage. ok im gonna go check and see if thats the same problem thanks

 

You should be okay, as long as the rack doesn't snap in two. Just take it easy on the truck, no real wheeling. Let us know, it's in the middle of the steering rack, look closely.

 

ok i looked and didnt see that exact problem, i didnt even see that piece you have a video of. im probably just not seeing it, its like over 100degrees outside and i dont plan on bein out there for long. the steering gives to the left and to the right, i think its the alignment but like i said im not mechanic. i also have no time to get it to my cousin to check it cuz its our hunting classic at bass pro and i'll be there ALL DAY so i dunno. as long as i can makie it to the beach and back i'll be ok. kinda wanna know what the real problem is so i know how much more money ill be dishin out
o yeh btw josiah sweet truck man haha where did u get the money to do all that? bass pro aint payin me enough to do that to my truck

 

I just realized you had an 01. I am not even sure if they had rack & pinion steering. It would be behind your front diff/axle. The steering rack is attached to your tie rod ends, so follow those tie rod ends inward (tie rod ends are located in your front fenderwells, attached to the ends of your steering knuckles), and you'll see the steering rack in the middle of the truck. It's very easy to find, but that leads me to believe you might have a different type of steering system.