Front End is Pissing me OFF.....

[Pappibri]

I have taken my H3 to the Dealer two times and told them to check out the suspension/drivetrain because something is amiss.. For the past 3 months my H3 has rode like crap... They said oh there is nothing wrong... Well, I can tell the difference in the ride of my truck.. Well it is going back on Monday.. The front end feels like it is going to fall of when I am going over bumps if I am going over 45.. If I am going down the freeway and going around a curve and I hit a bump, the steering wheel about jerks out of my hand. It is now to the point that I feel it is not safe, that is how bad it is.. They better not try and tell me again that nothing is wrong, if they do, I will tell them that they can gladly buy it back from me, since that is who I bought it from....Damn I am pissed... I know when something is wrong and they have been telling me, oh dont worry about it, nothing is wrong.. Bull. Will let you all know what they find out... My guess is it is either the steering assembly unit, or a motor mount is broke.. :rant:

 

[Mr_Rich]

I think you're speaking of the same fears I have. Lately my steering feels like I've got the wheels against the curb during slow speed turning maneuvers. I'm thinking it's possibly the front brake calipers not quite releasing after I slow to make the turn. I'm in the midst of rebuilding my old truck and my car doesn't have AC or a working driver's window so that's where my attention is at right now. It's kind of a pain...

 

[06 H3]

I would check the steering rack mount first. When I excessive play it felt like my front end was going to fall off too.

 

[Bigunit]

Have them check the passenger side front motor mount. Common issue with our rigs and easy to confirm whether it's broken. You can feel it in the ride if it's broken.

 

[Xlr8n]

To rule a a steering issue, put one of the front tires up against a curb and having someone turn the wheel side-to-side while you look underneath and check for any play in the steering or suspension components

 

[Zach]

Have them check the passenger side front motor mount. Common issue with our rigs and easy to confirm whether it's broken. You can feel it in the ride if it's broken.

Also check the front diff bushings

 

[alrock]

All of the above suggestions are great and I think there are even more items to look at. If you're getting steering/wheel direction issues, I think you need to look at all of the items that hold the wheels in place and/or affect their movement: steering rack and tie rods; upper control arm bushings and upper ball joint; lower control arm bushings and lower ball joint It took the dealer a week to diagnose worn lower control arm bushings which caused my truck to pull to the right under braking. It did feel like the calipers weren't releasing and that was the first thing they replaced but of course it didn't fix the issue (I did get new calipers out it ).

 

[4speedfunk]

Is your truck leveled? If so, and you still have stock shocks...you might be driving around with them topped-out.

 

[Pappibri]

thanks for all of the replies.. Today I am going to try and see if I can find the issue before I take it in tomorrow. I do have it leveled but I only have it at right at 22'9- 23. I think it is 23 even by my measurement. Time to climb under the truck...

 

[alrock]

If you can jack up the front end you can try moving wheels around to see if there's excess play. It's easier with a second person - one moving the tire, one watching.

 

[GoBlueHummer]

Putting Bilsteins up front reduced that bump steer by about 95% for me. It was to the point where I felt it was dangerous as well. I didn't want to be driving next to anyone on the highway through a curve in case there was a seam. The only thing that made me think it was somewhat "normal" even if dangerous, is both the Ford F350 super duty and Chevy 3500 I had at work handled the same way on the highway from the time they were new.

 

[elripster]

That sounds like a toe out condition. Toe out will make the vehicle feel "twitch" or unstable. Depending on where you leveled it out you might be getting toe out when the suspension compresses to the point it's affecting stability. If that is the case you might get away with a little more toe in or have to bring the front down a tad.

Frank

 

[Pappibri]

Well I dropped it off at Capitol Cadillac this morning.. We shall see what they find.. They better give me some good news, or that will be the last time I take it there..3 strikes and they will be out... I showed them that there has been a leak on the steering rack, so maybe it is the bushing for that or who knows.. I will post up what they find or dont find...:huh:

 

[MaxPF]

SAS it!!!! :giggle:

 

[skippy]

check the linkage in the steering mine was loose and it felt like the front was going to fall out the stealer tightened it and the problem went away

 

[2007HummerH2]

I was just going to post about the same issue.....
I think mine needs different shocks...it rides too soft. when I hit a bump my steering wheel wiggles. Not as bad as it was with the new rear springs, but still there.
What is the part number for the Bilstein's? I want a really heavy duty shock!
Maybe I'll do the front first and then the rear shocks.

 

[Pappibri]

My rig is still at the dealer.. Been there since Monday 8am.... They fixed my glovebox, replaced passenger windshield pillar.. I had chalked where the steering rack had seeped fluid.. They said that since it is not leaking at the moment, they cant replace it... Same thing with the oil pan..... But worse, they say they cant find nothing wrong with the front end.. Said the Tie rods is ok, ball joints, I told the service manager about the steering rack mount and bushing.. He said that he would have his guy check it out.. I know my rig. I would say the ride as far as smoothness was a 8 out of 10.. Right now, I would say it is a 3... How cant they tell something is wrong...:gaah: He said, well these arent the original tires.. Well these are the same tires that has been on it since the very day that I bought it. That shut him up on that one.. Any ideas of what else that it might be, so I can have him check it...????

 

[elripster]

You might have a bad tire? I take it you have swapped front to rear to see if the problem changes?

Frank

 

[Pappibri]

Yeah the tires are still like new... They are Duratracs and I do a 5 tire rotation.. If they dont find nothing I will take it to the tire place have them rotate them and balance them and look them over real good.. Thanks Frank

 

[alrock]

It seems a lot of times dealers can't diagnose these issues. I think it took Bigunit three trips for the dealer to diagnose the rack issues. If you can get this truck up on a rack you may be able to find it. I don't know about where you are but a benefit of the bad economy here in AZ is that we now have you-fix-it places where a rack can be rented for $20 per hour. Going through your front end with a friend and a camera might be what you need to do.

From tape measure alignments to shaking stuff back and forth there's a lot that can be figured out.

I don't like doing the dealers work but when their work isn't getting the results it can be the fastest way to the answer.

 

[alrock]

The other thing I'd say is if you can replicate the issue go on a drive with them and get them to agree that there's an issue. At that point it is really difficult to say that they can't find a problem.

 

[Pappibri]

My rig is still at the dealer.. Been there since Monday 8am.... They fixed my glovebox, replaced passenger windshield pillar.. I had chalked where the steering rack had seeped fluid.. They said that since it is not leaking at the moment, they cant replace it... Same thing with the oil pan..... But worse, they say they cant find nothing wrong with the front end.. Said the Tie rods is ok, ball joints, I told the service manager about the steering rack mount and bushing.. He said that he would have his guy check it out.. I know my rig. I would say the ride as far as smoothness was a 8 out of 10.. Right now, I would say it is a 3... How cant they tell something is wrong...:gaah: He said, well these arent the original tires.. Well these tires I bought brand new the day I drove the H3 home, and they are rotated every 3500 miles. That shut him up on that one.. Any ideas of what else that it might be, so I can have him check it...????

Here is the seepage at both spots.

 

[Pappibri]

Well I talked to the dealer yesterday... He said they have more stuff to do to my rig... I had told them about that noise upon startup also, that many say is the timing chain tensioner... Well the following is what the guy told me they ordered to put on truck.. He did not know specifics but here goes... Timing Chain, Timing Chain Tensioner, 2 Shafts, "which I assume would be the half shafts" , also a bracket, "Which I assume it is for the steering rack mount" , Gaskets, oil,.....................Plus they fixed my glove box which the lock was broke, and also replaced the passenger side pillar trim.... James Robb the Service Manager at Capitol Cadillac stepped up and took care of business for me... :woot: Now, I will be as a rooster in a hen house if the ride is back to the way it should be...

 

[Pappibri]

finally got my rig back and boy does it ride a whole lot better.... They replaced the half shafts and the bushing and bracket for the steering rack... Nice and smooth over bumps now, the steering wheel no longer jerks in my hand..... Plus they replaced the timing chain and tensioner and no more rattle of death on start ups.... So total, they replaced the right side pillar, glove box lock, 2 half shafts, new mount and bushing, timing chain and tensioner.. They took real good care of my rig.. I am in love with my Hummer once again...:woot: Plus, I had a Malibu for a loaner for a week, and then had a Tahoe for a week...

 

[alrock]

Woohoo! Glad they got everything fixed.