Problem with steering wheel on new truck

Recalled for missing ball bearings? Holy hell you'd think with the inflated prices across the board for parts, the workers at the factory would remember to include every moving part required during assembly.

 

Don’t listen to those bozos. They’ll say it’s normal so the shop doesn’t have to do the warranty work since the company doesn’t pay the dealers properly for that kind of work. Not my problem!

 

There’s only two places that I currently trust to work on my truck. Peterbilt in Billings, MT and Kenworth in Dodge City, KS.

After just now watching your videos I’d try a couple things on my own first.

Thorough front end grease ( I do mine every 5k).
Balance front tires (I just lost a 5oz hammer on weight on my left steer..got the dents in the fender from it too. Truck now feels like I’m driving on ice when empty yet no vibration.)

Check your shocks, maybe one failed? I’d just replace them but save the old ones.

Lastly, an alignment.

 

Engineers and manufacturers getting bored and changing things that have had no problems for 70 years just to make things unsafe.
Funny how you can pull an old truck out of a junkyard and be less concerned about a steering failure then one new from factory nowadays.

 

THIS IS THE POINT where you need to contact a lawyer who handles lemon law cases and have them start the procedures to either get it fixed or replaced.

Paccar is not the best to work with, depending on where you are at, their regional service manager can be a real pos and the company will do what he says. I have seen where even their own mechanics claim nothing was wrong and the truck was in a serious accident weeks later from what the driver/owner was complaining about.

So document everything, from who you talked to and when to how this progressed into a problem. Also make better videos of the problem, even if you have to buy a good GoPro camera to do it. Have the lawyer get some of their experts involved, they add a lot of credibility to the case than can any general mechanic does.

 

As a Mechanic of 40 plus years I will say that what is happening with your steering is not normal. It sounds like lost movement somewhere. Get someone to get in the cab and turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch for movement, both with the engine stopped and running. Is there any lash at the steering wheel? Have a look at the left front spring pin and bushing, any movement there? Are the bolts that hold the steering gear to the frame tight? The pinch bolts that connect the steering shaft to the steering gear and the steering column tight and no movement? Pinch bolt that holds the pitman arm on the box is tight with no movement? U-bolts are tight? The pinch bolts on the tie rod ends are tight? Maybe lift the front axle off the ground and check the wheel bearings for play. Any unusual tire wear?