Dealer shop replacing steering components

deerhunter · December 22, 2020

I have just under 100K on my 2007 Sierra 2500HD 4X4 extended cab. Over the Fall we took many trips to the coast over the winding coast range roads with the camper loaded. I never had any issue with the steering; I would turn into the curves on a good line and just hold the wheel steady through the curve. So, after I unloaded the camper I felt a little pull to the right and when I let go of the wheel the truck would head for the curb. The dealer said that the steering components were worn and replaced the tie rod ends, center link , and pitman arm and pronounced it all good. But, I found that the steering wheel was not straight when driving on a straight road so I took it back thinking that they had not adjusted the tie rods correctly. Surprise, now they say that the steering box must be replaced or the steering wheel won't be straight and I won't have good steering. The cost is beginning to add up quite a bit. My question for you guys is: Do the dealer mechanics seem like they know what they are doing? I'm beginning to have my doubts.

Edited December 22, 2020 by deerhunter

davester · December 22, 2020

If that is the reason they are saying for replacing the steering box (so the steering wheel points straight) either the "mechanic" is utterly incompetent, or they are just going for fleecing you. And hopefully you meant idler arm instead of center link, as the center link doesn't wear, it only gets damaged if you ram it into something. It is unlikely your steering box has a problem with just 100k of driving over 13 years.

Suspension bits that wear out:

-upper and lower ball joints

-inner and outer tie rod ends
-pitman arm

-idler arm (depending on who you buy the parts from, the shaft assembly the idler arm mounts to is sold separately)

-bushings for the upper and lower a-arms

-wheel bearings

-the jounces (the rubber parts that people mistake for bump stops, but by default the suspension rides on them and they are part of the suspension)

-the connecting thingamabobs to the stabilizer bar (short link on each side to it, I forget the right name for it at this moment)

MORSNO · December 22, 2020

Centering the steering wheel can be corrected by aligning the front end, ez peezy.

David03gmc · December 22, 2020

Sorry to hear you're taking your vehicle to the dealer for repairs.

No, the steering box is not the reason the wheel isn't straight, the components they replaced aren't adjusted correctly, probably the tie rod ends. This is because the dealer's mechanic didn't do a thorough job or they're trying to rip you off.

Dealers make their money through repairs, not the sale of cars. Only take your truck to the dealer for warranty repairs or recalls. Find a respectable shop for any other repairs.

My naive friend took his car into the dealer for a minor repair. He got a call from them about the cooling system fluid being green, that it needed to be flushed and replaced. Of course he said go ahead and do it, so he ended up getting a new water pump, hoses, belt and new fluid, which is or course... green. I think it cost him $800 for "repairs" not related to the original problem.

Edited December 22, 2020 by David03gmc

deerhunter · December 23, 2020

Thanks for the replies. Adjusting the tie rod ends was my thought but it's too late as the (remanufactured!) gear box is already installed. I took it for a quick test drive and the steering wheel was the same as before -- not straight. So, back to the dealership. That time the service manager came to see me and took ownership of the issue. They kept it overnight and I got a call today saying that it's ready to pick up. We shall see when I test drive it again. I hope this is the end of it.

deerhunter · December 24, 2020

The truck is all OK now, after the service manager took ownership of the problem. I picked it up, test drove it, and then went back to the dealership to tell the service manager that it is now right. It cost me a fair amount of money but it drives like a new truck now so I'm happy.

Thanks again to everyone who provided their insight and expertise.

davester · December 24, 2020

IMHO, he should at least give you a discount on the steering gear/installation charges (and the center link if they did replace that as well), as that was totally unnecessary...

deerhunter · December 29, 2020

On 12/24/2020 at 1:34 AM, davester said:

IMHO, he should at least give you a discount on the steering gear/installation charges (and the center link if they did replace that as well), as that was totally unnecessary...

I did get a discount on the labor to replace the steering "box" (as they called it). So, all is good.