crossover steering

[psychomidgit]

Does anyone on here have any experience with ORD's crossover steering setup? Or does anyone here have any experience with any other crossover setups?

[Captkaos]

I know of several wheelers that have converted.

[Chevalade]

Sky makes a good crossover as well.

[psychomidgit]

Have any of the people that have done this had any major issues you're aware of? Do they actually take a lot of play out of the steering system?

[Jay2D2]

Hate to sound cluess but what on earth is crossover steering?

[Captkaos]

"play" generally is due to worn parts, depending on what you are describing.
The benefit of crossover steering can only be found on lifted suspensions with alot of droop.  Rock crawling is the best example.  When the drivers side drops or compresses it wants to turn the steering wheel, when the passenger side drops Input does not equate the same amount of turning as if you were on level ground, so your turning is limited.

If you don't plan on doing some serious rock crawling, I would think it wouldn't be worth the cost involved.

To implement a system on a GM truck you would need a 2WD steering box,  flat top passenger side knuckle...
Never mind it is listed here on ORD's site on what you need:

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Dana44crossover.htm


This is stock for a Chevy: (courtesy of CK5)


This is crossover:

[psychomidgit]

Ok, thank you very much for all your responses. That definitely helps, I know that most of my problem is worn parts. The reason I was looking into it is because a few of my buddies out have told me that these trucks generally have a loose steering setup. 

[Chevalade]

X-over usually creates more bumpsteer, not less. The best way to have ultra tight steering is to have all new joints, x-over steering, and hydraulic assist. But for anything with less than 4" of lift I would run regular setup.

[psychomidgit]

I intend on going with a 6 inch lift w/ 35's

[joesgarage71]

I going to crossover steering. I'm getting my parts from EMS out of PA. There set up uses straight link arm (pitman arm to right side) Where some others use a bent link. most all the crossover kits use the one ton tierod ends. I already have flat top knuckles on my D44,  2WD gear box and the bent pitman arm.
http://www.emsoffroad.com/store/

[Chevalade]

You need to watch with the straight drag links. The put a bad angle on the rod ends unless you have the angle milled steering arm. Also depending on app, the straight will not clear the cross member.

[Engineer]

This is my '77 Chevy K-30:

In this picture it had 44" Gumbo Mudders, with an 8" suspension, 3" body lift.

For steering I used a 2" dropped pitman arm, and a 2 1/2" D60 steering block on the otherwise stock steering. This setup worked excellent for me. I had no driving issues, but I should mention that I had replaced every moving part on the steering before the lift took place. You may even be able to see in the picture that I was running a single factory sized steering stabilizer.

With everything tight in the front end, you could drive this truck with one hand.



Stock steering components with the corresponding lift corrections are fine up to 8" of lift. Anything above 8" of lift, and I would recommend the crossover steering.

[psychomidgit]

Definitely good info, thank you everyone!

[joesgarage71]

You need to watch with the straight drag links. The put a bad angle on the rod ends unless you have the angle milled steering arm. Also depending on app, the straight will not clear the cross member.

 I believe there is a 10 deg angle milled to the TR end of the arm. And I would rather have a straight link than some of those bent links that are out there. Whats going to be stronger straight or a bent link? Clearance is not an issuse with the crossmember that I fabed up.
http://www.coloradok5.com/crossoversteering.shtml