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Avy wandering

Kamronlsx

New Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2022
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1
Hello, new here đź‘‹
I've scoured the internet and all forums for this answer. I have an 04 avy z71. Bought it bone stock. I put on a new 6in lift kit. Replaced all suspension front and rear (literally everything). New tires ect. New gear box and both intermediate shafts also. The truck wanders all over the road. Follows every crack or dip. I've had it aligned at three different shops and nobody can figure it out. It drives straight when you let go of the wheel until you hit a dip ect. The shop is at a loss for words as so am I. I've already put a ton of money into the truck and don't want to get rid of it but driving in the mountains with my small trailer is kind of scary. Please help!!
 
once you lift it and put on over size tires you are at the mercy of whoever designed the lift kit.

Remove it all and go back to stock to see if it drives true.

Otherwise check every RUBBER bushing, ball joint etc for play.

Also have expert in lifts check geometry to see if it is messed up. Toe, camber ackerman etc etc. once lifted value change from stock.

Might have bad drag link angle so it gets bump steer...
 
What brand and model lift was installed? Normally caster affects 'bump steer' but not that easy to get caster out of whack on these trucks. Could be a problem if you just installed keys and the lower suspension travel is almost maxed out.

What kind, size, and condition are your tires? I once ran a set of irregularly worn 33x12.50 Super Swamper Thornbirds on 15x12 wheels on my Jeep and they did exactly as you described. Changed tires and all good.

For what it's worth, my Avalanche is lifted 7" with a BDS lift and 35x13.50 mud tires and drives straight and true at all speeds, even pulling a trailer.
 
My vote is the tires... as Auto Parts Guy mentioned. Had that type of issue on my MC, put new tire, tread design made the front grab and try to track every darn crack in the road, very strange indeed. Changed tires, all was good again.
 
Like others have asked, more specifics are needed to try and diagnose your issue.

What brand of lift?
When you say you replaced literally everything in the suspension, does that include; control arms, ball joints, shocks (or in your case front struts), tie rod ends, pitman arm, etc?
Tire brand/size, Roadforce balanced, or standard?
Do you have a steering stabilizer?
Was the alignment a 4 wheel or just front?
Are all your greaseable fittings lubed?
How much play is in your steering/box?

I once had a shop install some new parts and didn't lube a single fitting, drove like absolute garbage for a few thousand miles and I towed like that... Once I discovered the problem, I replaced those parts again and lube it myself every oil change.

Alternative question, do you know if the truck was in any kind of accident prior to your ownership? If something is bent, adding a lift accentuates any variance.
 
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