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1990 Blue Bird on a Chevy chassis. She requires constant correction/counter correction. Does not feel loose in the wheel (have already taken out all slack out of the gear box). Don't think its the ball joints either. Instead, I believe there is wear and play in [the "steering pivot assembly"?) where the wheel/bearing spindle assemblies mount to the axle. There appears to be some sort of chamber, and a little round plate secured by 3 bolts on both top and bottom. (in fact, on one side, one of the rubber seals is torn up and grease oozes right out). What's inside? Is there something that can be adjusted? Or, maybe inexpensive parts that can be easily replaced?
You don't say which Chev chassis you have but I seriously doubt you have ball joints unless you have a van/cut-away mini-bus. If you don't have a mini-bus with ball joints, you have king pins that connect the spindle to the axle.
It sounds as if your king pins need to be replaced. Unless you have some experience with them, it would be much better for you to take your bus to a reputable truck alighnment shop and have them give you a determination.
If you tires are wearing improperly as well, your king pins may have ovaled the hole in the axle ends. You might have to have the axle re-machined or replace.
Replacing king pins is not a job for the novice or the unimformed.
Whatever the case may be, steering is not something you should go cheap on or put off until later. Later may be too late.
Are there any u-joints in the steering column? Any slop in said joints will cause the front end to wander......at least that was the way it was on my Bluebird. I found a "good" steering wheel and column at the local salvage yard for $75 or so. Now it stays in the lane it is supposed to be in as long as my mind isn't doing too much wandering.
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