Loose Steering and ABS Light
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 2
From: Stallings, NC
Loose Steering and ABS Light
Howdy,
Got me a "new" '96. Upgraded from my '91. I've got two things that have caught my attention, otherwise it's a great truck (as expected).
First is the ABS light. It's on all the time. Is this just a sensor or some kind of central computer? Is this something that would be recorded as a code in the computer?
Second thing is the steering is pretty loose. On a level road, I can let go of the wheel and it stays nice and straight, so the alignment is good. But, on most roads, because of the slight "right-ward" incline, I have to keep pressure to the left just to keep the truck tracking straight. It's about 1/8th of a turn, enough that I can't keep the right blinker on when approaching a turn! It almost feels like the gears in the steering box are worn out. Any ideas on this? Anyone else having this too?
Thanks!!
Bryan
Got me a "new" '96. Upgraded from my '91. I've got two things that have caught my attention, otherwise it's a great truck (as expected).
First is the ABS light. It's on all the time. Is this just a sensor or some kind of central computer? Is this something that would be recorded as a code in the computer?
Second thing is the steering is pretty loose. On a level road, I can let go of the wheel and it stays nice and straight, so the alignment is good. But, on most roads, because of the slight "right-ward" incline, I have to keep pressure to the left just to keep the truck tracking straight. It's about 1/8th of a turn, enough that I can't keep the right blinker on when approaching a turn! It almost feels like the gears in the steering box are worn out. Any ideas on this? Anyone else having this too?
Thanks!!
Bryan
Last edited by theshummer; Sep 20, 2010 at 10:19 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
I too have a 96, ABS light and sloppy steering. I've got the 4.9.
I solved the steering issue by having my daughter move the wheel side-to-side looking for the slop, and it was all in the gear box. Watch the whole works for flex, including the telescoping shaft from the wheel. I am now on my second NAPA rebuilt; the first had even more slop so I traded it in for warranty.
The first thing I tried with the steering gear was adjusting it. There is a threaded allen stud with a lock nut around it. Hold the stud in place, loosen the nut a little, hold the nut in place, run the stud in a little, hold the stud in place, and tighten the nut and see if there is improvement. There is a good write-up on this site and discussion on some others. A little adjustment goes a long way and you should test drive it to make sure your wheel returns to center properly.
Both came gears full of transmission fluid, so I flushed the system:
-Remove the coil wire. Connect a push button switch to the firewall mounted solenoid.
-Remove the return line from the pump. Place it in a jug.
-Crank the engine, adding fluid to the pump reservoir to keep it full, until the expelled fluid runs clear.
-Reconnect the return line and coil wire. Start the engine and turn the wheel side to side several times.
-Repeat until the reservoir comes up clear.
I would recommend getting a box from RedHead - I think they quoted me about $265 exchange and I wish I had gone for it.
As for the ABS light, mine usually goes off after a few minutes and I have never been able to figure it out. It does not set a code. Any ideas?
I solved the steering issue by having my daughter move the wheel side-to-side looking for the slop, and it was all in the gear box. Watch the whole works for flex, including the telescoping shaft from the wheel. I am now on my second NAPA rebuilt; the first had even more slop so I traded it in for warranty.
The first thing I tried with the steering gear was adjusting it. There is a threaded allen stud with a lock nut around it. Hold the stud in place, loosen the nut a little, hold the nut in place, run the stud in a little, hold the stud in place, and tighten the nut and see if there is improvement. There is a good write-up on this site and discussion on some others. A little adjustment goes a long way and you should test drive it to make sure your wheel returns to center properly.
Both came gears full of transmission fluid, so I flushed the system:
-Remove the coil wire. Connect a push button switch to the firewall mounted solenoid.
-Remove the return line from the pump. Place it in a jug.
-Crank the engine, adding fluid to the pump reservoir to keep it full, until the expelled fluid runs clear.
-Reconnect the return line and coil wire. Start the engine and turn the wheel side to side several times.
-Repeat until the reservoir comes up clear.
I would recommend getting a box from RedHead - I think they quoted me about $265 exchange and I wish I had gone for it.
As for the ABS light, mine usually goes off after a few minutes and I have never been able to figure it out. It does not set a code. Any ideas?