I am curious from those of you who have had a Blazer for a while. When you turn your wheels just slightly off center, does the wheel pointing outward appear to be turned more than the wheel pointed inward? I've never had a car do this before, and there is a small clunk noise when I first start up the truck and turn for the first time (almost like a clicking noice). I wonder if they have anything to do with each other. Thanks in advance!

 

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To answer your first question, yes that is normal. It is was is refered to as the akerman angle, and without going into along drawn out explanation it is part of the steering geometry. It's along the same principle as a rear end differential, (in a turn one tire has a farther distance to travel than the other) so to help with tire wear,turning radius,etc. the tire on the inside of the turn will actually point farther into the turn than the outside tire. That's the simplest way that I can discribe it.
As for the noise can you be a little more specific?

Gator

 

It sounds like a little combination of metal on metal scraping and a clunk. Its weird though because it rarely happens after the first turn or two until you shut the vehicle back off. Maybe once in a freak while in a parking lot when pulling into a stall. Thanks much for your help so far!

 

I had a situation that was similar to what you describe,( I even posted thecorrective action, but it was written a long time agoI have not been able to locate it)
After some investigating I came up with the following solution.
Check the steering limit stops that are riveted to the lower control arms. If the ends of the stops ( the end that contacts the spindle)are mushroomed or have any burrs on them, remove the burrs with a grinder or a file. (I used an air powered angle grinder with a 36 grit disc)

I my case the burrs caused the stops to bind up on the spindles at full lock, then once the pressure was released (either through suspention travel or turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction) you could feel and or hear a pop from the front end. Sometimes it would feel like the whole truck would skip sideways (tire chirp) Once I ground the stops, I never had the issue again (It's been about a year or so) When ever I grease the ball joints I look at the stops to see if the problem is returning. So far it isn't (no mushrooming what so ever) I think in my case the stops were too long when they were installed at the factory.(tolerance stack up) So the steering box was fighting the stops and something has to give somewhere.
Something else to look at is the brake caliper slider pins. If they aren't lubed or if they have any corrosion on them, then the caliper can bind up as well, ( the caliper can't fully release ) and after some heat is built up and the parts start to expand you gain some clearance and the hyd pressure can overcome the bind enough to allow the caliper to fully release. (sometimes you can even hear or feel it, sometimes you can't)
Just a couple of things to ponder. Good luck! keep us posted.

Gator