73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: tpull123 on November 05, 2011, 11:05:34 am
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Ok, finally got this truck together and the power is awesome, but the steering is anything but safe. I have drove lifted trucks before, and none have wondered around the road as bad as this is. I am afraid to drive it as I feel it will end in a head on crash or wrapped around a pole. So to give all the details here is currently what the setup is.
- It has a 6" lift ,78 K20 frame, All Brand new Poly bushings throughout, 33" tires
- Dana 60 with 2 deg wedges under springs for improved pinion angle (again came with the truck and could get rid of them if needed)
- Drop pittman arm, and 3" spacer block under dana 60 steering arm ----> Drag link is perfectly flat
- Just added a panard bar as I thought there was some side-side compliance in suspension (did not improve steering), bar is flat so no geometry binding
- U-joint in place of factory rag joint - No slop
- All rod ends tight., All king pins just rebuilt, no wobble of anykind
- Sway bar in tact and tight (front of bar dropped 1")
Obviously I am considering Cross-over steering, but my main question before I do, does the cross over steering improve the response and on-center feel? Currently I have about 40-50 deg of steering input before the front of the truck responds. No precision at all and wonders everywhere. Open to any input, I know alot of people with the cross over for the dana 60, but want to make sure that will help before I just throw more money at this darn thing.
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Remove the shims and check it. The ends are set at an angle for correct steering.
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Well it took a video camera to figure out what as the major issue causing it. Here the Steering box bolts were not tight enough, causing the whole box to shimmy a little bit when transitioning from left to right. Also remvoed the shims and cranked down harder on all the susupsension bolts.
Now I would call it at least driveable, but still not as good of a driving truck as I would like. I have now sold my 2004 dodge ram, so the pressure is on to get this think 100% functional and reliable.
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It wont drive like the 04 Ram if that is what you are after.
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Just as Capt said remove the shims. It sounds like your caster angle is off.
http://www.twf8.ws/new/tech/tip/setup/caster.jpg
Check out your drag link too.
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He did that already per the post.
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Drag link is perfectly flat
Why do you want the drag link perfectly flat?
Start by making sure the wheel bearings and front end is tight. Do a pry park check of the steering and suspension with the tires on the ground. Check around the steering box, frame, springs, steering linkage etc. A small amount here and there adds up quick.
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BTW Where did you get your steering coupler from?
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Did the OP get his issue resolved?
On Dana60 fronts we never used the arm with a 6" lift. On my truck when it had the 8" lift we used the block, and arm. On the 6" lift we only used the block, but not both.
Never used caster shims on my 8" lift truck either. My son had "death wobble" on his 6" lift with the shims. Just some fuel for thought.......
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An update on this. Had the truck on the highway for the first time last Friday. The truck actually drove quite nice down the road, so somewhere between removing the shims, tightening the box bolts to the frame, and adding a panard bar solved the issue.
It was no Corvette, but def a large improvement and probably about as good as a guy could expect, only upgrade that I see improving it further being the cross over setup.
Now only issue is a driveline vibration somewhere, think its in the rear driveshaft angle, but need to do more investigating. The noise overall was ridiculous.....like riding in a factory!! Some of that was from the vibration, some just from the noise that motor makes. And the turbo noise got old real quick.....need to find a silencer ring to put back in that turbo. I still have a few small holes to plug in the firewall and put the hood sound deadening back on. Would like to find a heatsheild/sound barrier to put on the firewall behind the engine.
A friend had his go-pro so I put it in the back window for the ride home 8), I will have to see if I can get it post processed and put up on the youtube.