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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Highs (Raising/Lifts) => Topic started by: tpull123 on April 24, 2012, 01:40:34 pm
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Ok, been looking for an answer on this before I pull the trigger on the parts. I know crossover steering has been discussed before, but looking for clarification when used with the stock sway bar.
Background: My truck is a 78 Frame with 4" Lift ( I think, lift springs came with the truck), and put the Cummins in it which adds a lot of weight to the front end. Right now it has the Dana 60 with drop pitman arm and the 3" spacer block on the axle and 35" tires. I also still have the sway bar hooked up and I fabricated a Panard bar too to limit side to side movement of the axle. While driving it on the highway, there is a big delay in steering caused be the leaf spring flexing forward and back due to the motion of the stock steering linkage. Its drivable and probably normal for that type of vehicle, but any tight situations make you pinch a hole in the seat and for a daily driver, I want it to be better and safer.
Proposed Solution: I want to go to a cross over steering to eliminate the spring flex in the steering motion and just get better steering geometry overall. My question is, has anyone ran this with the sway bar still hooked up and is there any clearance issues??? For the Cummins conversion, I created my own cross member so I don't think there will be an issue there with clearance. All the people I have seen with cross over steering take the sway bar off for the Off Road Flex performance. I will not be doing any hardcore rock crawling with this quite yet as it was a Frame off build, hence why I am keeping the sway bar for safe driving while towing. Also, doe the Crossover improve the turning radius lock to lock....mine seems pretty terrible at the moment.
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I hope you mean the "3" block" is on the rear axle and not the front axle. I have not done cross over steering on these trucks, but I have done a ton of them on jeeps, older bronco's and such.
I always had the cross over steering with front sway bars, though the front sway bars had quick disconnects on them, for off road use. No clearance issues is done right, and yes it is possible to improve your turning radius with cross over steering.
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The 3" spacer block is not under the leaf springs, its on top of the king pin to move the stock arm up to eliminate the drag link angle.
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I have crossover steering in my lifted one ton my truck has a 8 inch lift ,crossover setup ,radius is defiantly better . I do not have swaybar setup and I spend a fair amount of time on pavement and honestly do not miss it yes you know it's gone but being aware and not diving into a corner you get used to it pull the trigger on the parts you will be happy you did
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Thanks for the advice. I emailed Chris at Off Road Design and he verified that it does not work with the factory sway bar. But he did say there is aftermarket sway bars out there that will work with the cross over steering. Hoping to order the parts this weekend, and also might condsider doing a HYD assist in the future to take some of the lateral loading off the drag link / frame. I think for now my panard bar should be just fine with the cross over.
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real interested in seeing pictures of this panhard bar sounds interesting. were you getting alot of lateral movement of the axle without it?
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I ordered the the Crossover steering today from Sky Manufacturing, almost identical to ORD's but $65 cheaper and made in the US too. Here is a link to the youtube channel where I have posted alot of videos along the way during the build. I just uploaded one with the panhard bar setup. I thought I was getting alot of movement
Heres the video showing my steering issue that causes my delayed steering reaction and the need for crossover steering. I think the stock steering setup just wore out the drivers side spring because in now sags about 3/4" on that side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIL0MWwa_Cc
Another video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf-m-qWJrB4&list=FLAv0L_XAj-14OquJVZDLApQ&feature=mh_lolz
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Run either the dropped pitman arm or the raised steering arm not both. Check the rivets on the frame connectors and check for flexing. Put shocks on it and hook up the sway bar.
As far as crossover steering, no doubt it will help.
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I tried just the pitman arm orginally and that didn't help. Currently the truck has shocks, sway bar and that all helps.....but there is still a 2-step steering feel from the leaf spring flexing before the wheels start to turn. I think the steering has worn that sping out. Crossover steering will take the spring flex out of the equation and the geometery is much better, it just adds some stress on the steering box/frame which I have already beefed up that area while I had the frame on the ground. I will close the loop in a couple of weeks once I get the new steering on.