[ecrawford]

OK….so on Halloween night I’m only three houses away from my home. I go to make a left hand turn and out of no where this lady comes around the curve doing what look like at least 15 mph over the neighborhood speed limit. I freeze and don’t know if I should slam on the gas or pound on the breaks! All it took was that split moment of hesitation and bammm!...she crashed into my left front bumper.
I’m writing this post now because of something weird that has happen since I got the truck back from the body shop this past Friday. When I purchased the truck new back in March it had some of the stiffest steering that I had ever felt in a vehicle. I’m no small guy but even turning it with one hand took a little muscle. I checked the fluid levels and they were all fine so I just chalked it up as the nature of the vehicle. But after this wreck it is a total different story. The steering really loosened up. So much that I called the dealer back to ask them what they did. Of coarse they didn’t know what the hell I was talking about but I know that something is now different. Any of you have any idea of what they could have done. I’m not really worried that there is something wrong with the truck, I’m just curious as to why the steering is so much better now.

 

[Blavis]

She may have jarred your steering rack enough to cause the gear to loosen up "tension wise". That is very common in front end/corner collisions.

Edit: If the truck had to be aligned, it is also possible that the caster angle was set too negative.
Good luck getting everything back to normal

 

[ecrawford]

She may have jarred your steering rack enough to cause the gear to loosen up "tension wise". That is very common in front end/corner collisions.

Edit: If the truck had to be aligned, it is also possible that the caster angle was set too negative.
Good luck getting everything back to normal

Yeah...they did have to do a re-alignment. Would the caster angle being set too negative cause any problems. I like the steering the way it is now. It was the one good thing that has come from the wreck.

 

[Blavis]

Yeah...they did have to do a re-alignment. Would the caster angle being set too negative cause any problems. I like the steering the way it is now. It was the one good thing that has come from the wreck.

As long as it doesn't pull one way or another, it is fine. The easiest way to see if that is the case is to look at your front wheels. If they seem to be further back in the wheel well, then your caster angle was changed significantly. I would recommend getting the alignment checked to make sure. If it is the rack and pinion, future problems may occur.

 

[oxmach]

Sorry for the high-jack but that is one thing that i really like about these trucks. I like the heavy and stiff stearing, makes it feel that you are firmly planted to the ground.