73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Highs (Raising/Lifts) => Topic started by: bdnj on January 07, 2010, 11:56:33 am

Title: turning radius is killing me
Post by: bdnj on January 07, 2010, 11:56:33 am
85 k10 lwb with 7'' lift on 35's,D44.I searched but did'nt find any answers.My turning radius is like a 40 foot bus,everything is ok parts wise so I am wondering what i could/should do to remedy this.Can I put a different power steering gear box or adjust anything,maybe run more narrow tires?
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on January 07, 2010, 12:05:44 pm
Somewhere out near the wheels there's a stop.  turn the wheel all the way to one side, and then go look for whats hitting, that'll be the stop.   It's the same thing in my C20.  at school I could NEVER pull into a parking spot forward- no way no how-  I always have to back into anyparking spots if I wanna get between two other cars.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: zieg85 on January 07, 2010, 12:08:53 pm
Somewhere out near the wheels there's a stop.  turn the wheel all the way to one side, and then go look for whats hitting, that'll be the stop.   It's the same thing in my C20.  at school I could NEVER pull into a parking spot forward- no way no how-  I always have to back into anyparking spots if I wanna get between two other cars.

I second that, even the 2wd turning radius isn't very good, mostly due to the wheelbase length.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: Captkaos on January 07, 2010, 01:19:03 pm
There is no way to increase your turning radius.  You will be limited by the knuckle design and if you have large tires eventually they will hit the frame or body panels.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: bdnj on January 07, 2010, 02:01:50 pm
i think i'll at least try the skinnier tire thing,mine are 12's now. i'm sick of backing in to park like chevyrado.i got too used to jeeps.oh well...maybe a for sale sign in the near future lol.thanks for the input guys
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: Flamingbig10 on January 07, 2010, 10:43:24 pm
I know the feeling it's easy to make a u turn in 2 lane drive way in a wrangler
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on January 07, 2010, 11:25:41 pm
I get enough into the habit of backing in the truck that I do it sometimes in the focus.  oh well then you can see where you're going when you want to leave. :P
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 09, 2010, 02:12:00 am
in one of these truck no matter c or k they turn like a tank. when i drove for autozone they told us always to back in to a parking spot, for one you done have to worry about backing into someone behind  you when you leave and when you leave its easer to see whats in front of you ex. kid, another car or truck, or bike.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: Josh454 on January 09, 2010, 09:09:01 am

Just one of the inherent problems with running a full size Chevy.  Even if were to start modifying your knuckle stops, steering geometry, increasing your wheel offset to keep from hitting your springs, fenders etc etc. You would find you didn't gain much.  It's a great analogy with the bus.  Imagine making a turn in a bus.  Then think about the same turn on your lawn tractor.  Like Zieg said it's really the wheelbase that's killing you!
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: bobcooter on January 09, 2010, 09:56:00 am
This is my 5th old chevy and they all turned wide. Hey Irish, if my ex walked out in front of me, I might "accidentally" gas it!
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: VileZambonie on January 09, 2010, 12:50:44 pm
Sure they may turn wide but you obviously have an issue. What steering arm is on there? What drag link did you use? Is it the stock pitman arm? If there's a problem it can easily be identified with a few simple measurements. Is your total toe at zero? Give some more information on your steering and suspension set up.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: beastie_3 on January 09, 2010, 03:47:48 pm
in one of these truck no matter c or k they turn like a tank. when i drove for autozone they told us always to back in to a parking spot, for one you done have to worry about backing into someone behind  you when you leave and when you leave its easer to see whats in front of you ex. kid, another car or truck, or bike.

tanks turn on a dime...
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: eventhorizon66 on January 09, 2010, 08:42:20 pm
With enough power any of these trucks can have zero turning radius. ;)
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 10, 2010, 12:06:26 am
in one of these truck no matter c or k they turn like a tank. when i drove for autozone they told us always to back in to a parking spot, for one you done have to worry about backing into someone behind  you when you leave and when you leave its easer to see whats in front of you ex. kid, another car or truck, or bike.

tanks turn on a dime...
lmao didn't really think about that. how about.... turns like well idk
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: beastie_3 on January 10, 2010, 12:52:21 am
in one of these truck no matter c or k they turn like a tank. when i drove for autozone they told us always to back in to a parking spot, for one you done have to worry about backing into someone behind  you when you leave and when you leave its easer to see whats in front of you ex. kid, another car or truck, or bike.

tanks turn on a dime...
lmao didn't really think about that. how about.... turns like well idk

It turns like a square body!!!
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: bdnj on January 10, 2010, 07:44:27 am
Sure they may turn wide but you obviously have an issue. What steering arm is on there? What drag link did you use? Is it the stock pitman arm? If there's a problem it can easily be identified with a few simple measurements. Is your total toe at zero? Give some more information on your steering and suspension set up.

The truck came with the lift,so I questioned the same things.
I brought it to my mechanic/friend.He said all the stuff up front is what it's supposed to be,and basically said what you guys have been saying."It's an old lwb chevy, what did you expect?"...I also drive a Chevy 4500 dump at work and that sucker turns like it's articulated,I think it's even got a shorter wheel base than me.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: VileZambonie on January 10, 2010, 10:50:42 am
Let's see some pix of your front end. I would like to see the steering arm with a tape measure from the axle to the bottom of the drag link end. The drag link, the pitman arm and a front shot if you can.
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: bdnj on January 10, 2010, 11:50:32 am
Let's see some pix of your front end. I would like to see the steering arm with a tape measure from the axle to the bottom of the drag link end. The drag link, the pitman arm and a front shot if you can.

Unfortunately my camera just took a dive the other day.I'll do a phone pic but it'll be way small,I'll try anyway.What should the measurment be round about?
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on January 10, 2010, 02:22:13 pm

tanks turn on a dime...

Well then mine turns on a silver dollar  ;D
Title: Re: turning radius is killing me
Post by: velojym on January 11, 2010, 10:13:07 pm
The '87 K5 I had turned pretty tight (wheelbase again), but my longbed C10 doesn't bother me at all.
Probably because I've been driving the things since the mid '80s, and am a truck driver anyway.

Now, my '05 Trailblazer kinda ticks off my wife and a friend of hers, as their crossovers (a Saturn Vue and... er, I don't remember what the other one was) can't turn around out of the drive through line at Sonic. I can.
Muahahahahaha! In the truck, on the other hand, I don't even try. I just go around like I was supposed to anyway.