GM Full size 4x4's 99-06 Too Frequent Alignments?

[Jim 5]

I recently purchased an 04 Avalanche and when I bought it the steering wheel pointed at 1:00 when driving straight. I drove a fair number used avalanches and silverado's and noticed that around half of them had alignment issues.

When I bought the truck I went out and bought new tires and then went straight in for an alignment. Things were perfect for a maybe a month at the most, and next we're back to 1:00 to go straight. I will drive over curbs slowly when necessary to get into a parking spot or for other reasons, but I do not abuse my vehicles. This was never a problem on my '98 Chev full size 4x4, which was driven the same way.

I also was reading one of the 4wd magazines and they had a long-term test vehicle that was a Hummer2. This is built on the same platform as the 3/4 ton 4x4 silverado's. Their long-term complaint with the vehicle was that the steering was way too easily knocked out of alignment, and they were having to go in for alignments on a way too regular basis.

It seems like this problem might be designed into the vehicle from what I can see. It's only $69 for an alignment, and I can see myself needing it done every 3 months or so.... I just hate thinking about those expensive tires grinding themselves bald. Plus I hate the steering wheel being out of whack. I'm wondering if there's a remedy..... or maybe the alignment guy isn't tightening things up enough after he's done.

Can anybody with 99+ GM full sized 4x4's (or people who know about alignment work) comment on this? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[NYEngineer]

I have a 98 Yukon. It has about 187,000 on it now. Last winter, I noticed the steering was feeling a little loose. The idler arm, pitman arm and tie rod ends were all pretty loose. I swapped out everything and got it aligned. I also asked the shop to check all the ball joints and bushings. They gave it back having only aligned my new parts. The truck has never worn the tires funny or anything else, but the steering wheel is "off" a couple of degrees. I've given up worrying about it.

 

[dwendt44]

If you haven't done it by now, Jim, take it to a specialty alignment shop next time. And be sure to mention that you've been having said problems.
The vehicle might have been in an accident(Carefax?) and something could be bent/loose under there.
My 2¢

 

[Jim 5]

Quote:

---

I have a 98 Yukon. It has about 187,000 on it now. Last winter, I noticed the steering was feeling a little loose. The idler arm, pitman arm and tie rod ends were all pretty loose. I swapped out everything and got it aligned. I also asked the shop to check all the ball joints and bushings. They gave it back having only aligned my new parts. The truck has never worn the tires funny or anything else, but the steering wheel is "off" a couple of degrees. I've given up worrying about it.

---

I did all of this work on my '98 Chev K1500 at around 150k miles as well. I had some slack/play in my steering and this work made the steering new again. This truck's steering was solid after this work and never got out of whack..ever.

 

[Jim 5]

Quote:

---

If you haven't done it by now, Jim, take it to a specialty alignment shop next time. And be sure to mention that you've been having said problems.
The vehicle might have been in an accident(Carefax?) and something could be bent/loose under there.
My 2¢

---

Thanks. I'll try that. I did carfax it before I bought it, and I bought it as a certified GM vehicle at a reputable dealership.

My purchase contract contains a representation by the dealership that the vehicle has not been in any accidents.

Before I bought it I brought it home and got under it with a creeper for 1/2 hour and inspected it looking for any problems or indication of accidents. I even UOA'd it before buying it (not that that would show accident damage..but shows I was pretty careful before buying)....so I did all I could in this area.

I will try a specialty alignment shop.

 

[unDummy]

Trucks just aren't cars. Sorry, but I can't remember too many strucks with perfect steering.

Go for an alignment. If the shop is competent, they'll try to sell you parts. At least you'll know if something isn't right.

And, as long as vehicle tracks mostly straight, I wouldn't worry about where the steering wheel sits.

When replace parts, stick with HD, Extreme, ProblemSolver, ProfessionalGrade, and upgraded aftermarket parts. Avoid being cheap with the suspension. Most balljoints, bushings, tierods....have better aftermarket parts available.

Magazine test vehicles have the snot beat out of them. Sure the alignement is getting knocked around. Being airborne and rockcrawling does that every time.

You guys need to spend some time in white knuckle tired TTB Fords, or Tundras with 'floating' racks because of pathetic mounting bushings. You just really don't know how good that GM steering really is!

 

[alreadygone]

Own/operate tire-wheel alignment shop. Been my experience these are some of the toughest, most trouble free suspensions ever built. Even tougher that pre-99's. Set Em and Forget Em!

Ask shop that did last align if they can re-check at reduced price, if not try another shop.

Bob

 

[Jim 5]

Quote:

---

Own/operate tire-wheel alignment shop. Been my experience these are some of the toughest, most trouble free suspensions ever built. Even tougher that pre-99's. Set Em and Forget Em!

Ask shop that did last align if they can re-check at reduced price, if not try another shop.

Bob

---

Thanks. I will go back to the Chev dealer and ask for a reduced price on a re-alignment.

 

[wapacz]

I had a problem kind of like this on my 95 gmc serria 4x4 extended cab. As it turned one of the tires was actually bad and was what was causing it to pull one way when the steering wheel was centered.

 

[obbop]

One input.

2004 Silverado 4x4. 30,000 easy miles. No off-road.

Steering wheel seems to be where it's supposed to be. Tire wear seems okay, no unusual wear patterns.

Did have the weird feeling in the steering that was fixed with the commonly done intermediate steering shaft (ISS)replacement.

A new new shaft is supposed to be out soon to permanently fix the problem. Currently, advice from dealers is either a new ISS or to use a grease kit that supposedly fixes the problem (apparently no permanent fix until the new new ISS is available in the near future).

I drive gentle and watch for pot holes, curbs, etc. I may also just have been lucky in that my particular truck is not prone to going out of alignment.

If I let go of the steering wheel on a flat road the truck tracks straight ahead. Sure, my alignment may not be 100=percent dead-on at specs but, all indicators are that it's pretty darn close.

Good luck with thine efforts.

With age and wear, as my truck wears down as my bloated sore aged body has, I will seek out heavy duty reputable aftermarket components to use as replacements..... for the truck, not my biological components.

Truck will likely outlive me!!!! Whoever buys it from my estate will receive a very well-maintained truck of at least average or better reliabilty and that will have parts available for many years to come.

 

[eljefino]

Quote:

---

Truck will likely outlive me!!!! Whoever buys it from my estate will receive a very well-maintained truck of at least average or better reliabilty and that will have parts available for many years to come.

---

Drooling down the road from the shanty.

And to the OP, all they have to do assuming the alignment numbers are correct is to lenghten one tie rod and shorten the other a teeny bit to recenter the wheel. Should be a free "adjustment" under warranty. IDK where alignments are on the food chain of tech experience at a dealership but you might get a better/more attentive tech for your comeback.

 

[05RSTD]

I've owned four IFS Gm's beginning in '88. Some off-roading, lot's of plowing, 300,000 miles, etc. NEVER needed an alignment (tires wear correctly, steers/tracks properly). Don't mistake tire wear caused by spirited driving with needing an alignment. And ALL service centers recommend alignment with everything from wiper blade replacement on up. It's a cash cow and most times the inexperienced tech's can put it out of spec as easily as not.

 

[outrun]

I have a lot of experiance here (on front end and Alignment work) as a former Service Advisor.

Many earlier 95-2001?? GM trucks require what they call "knock-out" service at both the front wheel locations. The service is about 55$-75$ per front wheel plus 60$+ for the realignment.

This will take care of your all to frequent alignment once and for all. Ford trucks were better as all they had was a plastic pin of sort that could be replaced negating the drilling to correct the knock outs on GM trucks.

The biggest warning sign will be severe toe out wear showing as a wear strip on the outer shoulder of both front tires. It looks kinda like someone sanded down the shoulders of your tires smooth.

 

[obbop]

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

When purchasing the four new round rubbery things I, the Mighty Obbop, Coot extraordinaire, had the firm check alignment. They possessed what appeared to be modern equipment and the lad poking at the truck an a SAE patch upon his manly shoulder. That may not mean much but better than no SAE patch, I suppose.

Ohhhh..... what was it? One of the setting was 3-percent off. Three itty bitty parts out of a hundred. 30 out of a thousand. Three cents out of a dollar. You get the idea.

Didn't sound like much to me but the folksters there said it does make a difference.

I just hope they adjusted things correctly. Wouldn't be surprised if they increased it to 6-percent off just so I would have to buy tires sooner.

Guess yah' gotta' trust folks at times but it's hard to do.