Post R&P replacement. Steering Wheel will NOT hold center

I just replaced my Rack & Pinion, added new poly bushings to the remanned rack, new intermediate steering shaft, as well as new outer tie rod ends.

Went in for an alignment this morning and although they were able to align the front end and the steering wheel...the steering wheel will not hold center. After full turn right the steering wheel will be off a tad to the right, same issue with full hard turn left. Vehicle however remains in alignment.

Everything is tight, including the yoke on the upper steering column shaft and split yoke that attaches to the rack. It does not feel like its skipping a tooth in the rack...but feels spongy at the end of full locking turn left and right.

Thoughts or ideas to explore??? Again this is only a steering wheel issue, or so it appears

I thought maybe an issue in the tilt

 

Maybe something came loose where the Steering Intermediate Shaft meets the Steering Column Assembly when I was removing the rusted sections of the split yokes??

 

That sound normal .

 

The steering wheel slipping out of center is normal?

 

When steering wheel is straight, does truck pull left or right on flat road ?

 

Tires?

 

OP, do this:
1. Lift front wheels off ground, with steering wheel dead center level, count the exact turns to where it stops at the right. Then move steering wheel back to dead center and then turn it to the left and count exact turns. Try to narrow down to whether one side is say 1/4, 1/8 different or as small as you can get.
2. Now, climb under truck with safety jack stands in place and measure each tire rod end from the end of the jam nut on each side inward along the rod (toward center of vehicle). Take a piece of 3x5 card and mark where the threads stop on each side.

I'm looking to determine just how much the steering wheel is off. If the steering wheel is off about 11 or 12 degrees of a full circle (the steering wheel being 360 degrees of course) this translates to one spline on the shaft at the rack.

 

Whats strange is that it will "slip" from center to the right and the left after a hard full turn in either direction.
Something isn't tight...

 

Goes straight as an arrow. This alignment issue appears to only be in the steering wheel.

 

Less than 2,000 miles on the tires, alignment was perfect before the R&P replacement.

 

BTW, there should be a softish feel at full right or left lock.

However, that slipage you are describing sounds like one of this is not tight and moving withing the pinch clamp: lower intermediate shaft at the rack inlet; shaft(s) at the yoke where both the lower and upper shafts connect; the pinch clamp at the top of the upper intermediate shaft inside cab above firewall.

 

The last thing I can figure to check is the pinch clamp at the top of the upper intermediate shaft inside cab. Good call there..

 

Sounds like the rack is moving left and right in its mounts due to those new fancy poly bushings you installed.

 

I wondered the same thing. Damn fancy bushings anyway.
However, the truck rolls down the road straight as an arrow regardless of which direction the steering wheel is mis-aligned. I can't see any movement in the rack while under the vehicle with the wheel being turned either.

 

That sounds like my experience with the Energy Suspension full body mount kit. In the middle of the job I discovered they put the wrong core support bushings in and I had to stop and wait, and wait, and wait...grrrrr

 

Rack probably has play I’ve seen remans go out right away.

 

What in the R&P would fail that would make the steering wheel not hold center but the camber and toe remain straight?
Not syaing its not possible..I sure hope thats not the case though. I'd rather NOT have to take it out and put it back in again.

 

Bad rebuilt or gears worn inside

 

Well...........that would totally suck