slight play in front left tire?

devo · 06-27-2009, 10:48 AM

well since i bought the truck a couple weeks ago,ive been hearing a really slight noise like something is loose in the tire when i hit a bump or turn left on like a dirt road,like there is play in either the wheel or the steering wheel,could it be a wheel bearing or something coming on slowly?

jc1843 · 06-27-2009, 11:46 AM

Most likely it is the ISS (shaft that runs from the lower column to the steering gear) Common problem. This in not a safety problem, just annoying. requires a new shaft- about $100 and a half hour labor. (Be sure to tie the steering wheel down if you do it yourself.)

It is also a good idea to jack up the truck and check for play at the 12 to 6 O:clock position, and at the 9 to 3 O:clock positions. This will tell you if you have wheel bearing or loose steering.

Weasel Diesel · 07-02-2009, 09:06 AM

JC hit it on the head. ISS. When mine went bad, I went looking for bad ball joints or tie rod. Thats what it sounds like.

**daddysLBZ** · 07-02-2009, 09:09 AM

I just changed my driver side hub assembly 2 weeks ago...The GM part is 459,and if you get the dealer to do it it is about 600-700 bucks..Jack up the truck,rock the wheel using your hands at the 12 and 6 o clock positions..If it has play you know that is it!!

**ob_1jr** · 07-02-2009, 10:06 AM

Yeah if it is only doing it when you are turning one way, i would say wheel hub. Dmaxstore.com (vendor here) sells the hub with the timken bearing in it for around 200. It does pay to shop around. I called napa and they wanted 450...callled schucks (o'reilly) and it was less than half the price for the EXACT same part number which is the same one that Dmaxstore.com sells.

the hub is easy to check and change yourself. Just jack up the front and see if your tire moves when you try to rock it at 12 & 6 o'clock. If there is movement...get a new hub.

RedBowTies88 · 07-02-2009, 10:16 AM

also if your tires move around when jacked up it could be your idler/pitman arms...i have this problem on my truck

K9Duramax · 07-02-2009, 10:18 AM

You can also grab the steering shaft outside the firewall and try to move it up and down to see if you get any play out of it. There should be no movement in it, if there is then your shaft is bad.... as stated above, no safety issue but annoying as heck!!