Turning Radius. 1983 K30

[Byrds]

Some back ground info.
1983 K30 crew cab long bed. Running on a 454 and a set of Parnelli jones 38x15.50R16.5
4" flip shackel rear, 1" zero rate add a leaf front, 1" body lift.

When driving it turns very well to the right and not so much to the left. Steering wheel goes about 1 7/8 turns right and just over 1 left. When turning left the pitman arm comes into contact with the leaf spring preventing any further turning.

It appears to have a 3 inch drop pitman arm from off road designs and the drag link is about as short as it can be adjusted to. Any opinions on what to do?

My thoughts is to change the drop pitman arm to either the 1 1/2 drop or a standard pitman arm and adjust the drag link out. My thought is this would help me clear the leaf spring.

[pholliday1]

Actually the thing to do is convert to crossover steering. A standard chevy 4x4 pitman arm goes front to back in a cross over setup you use a 2wd steering box (goes left to right) it makes your steering problems go away.

[Byrds]

I was hoping to do something without a major expense like that, but will keep it in mind.

[pholliday1]

You can also go to a standard pitman arm and use a 3''-4'' spacer block that bolts to the top of you dana 60. Our trucks are plagued with "less than perfect steering" add a big lift plus a crew cab with 14ft wheelbase and you need forty acres to turn it around.

[Byrds]

I'm pretty sure the previous owner used the 1" zero rate add a leaf in the front to move the axle foreward when he installed the kit. Also it looks to have a raised steering arm on it already and the 3" drop pitman arm.

ORD has been great to deal with as far as trying to help me with this issue. I don't expect it to turn great but right now you can't make a left onto a two lane road without going through the ditch lol.

ORD suggested with the axle moved foreward I may need to cut the drag link to center the steering.
Any thoughts?

Still thinking that going to less drop on the pitman would eliminate the arm contacting the leaf spring.

What's your thought pholliday? Thanks for the help guys.

[81_Chevy]

Pictures of your setup would be beneficial as well.

[Byrds]

Site won't let me post pics cause they are to large and I don't have any photo accounts to link to.

Did go out and adjust the drag link fully in which it actually had a little more travel then I thought.
Now I hitting the steering stops and the pitman isn't hitting the leaf spring an obviously the left turns have gotten a lot better.

Steering wheel is off center now, but at least I can turn.....

[thirsty]

Also it looks to have a raised steering arm on it already and the 3" drop pitman arm.

I think this is too much. You should only need the steering arm if I am reading correctly that your suspension is only lifted 4".

ORD suggested with the axle moved foreward I may need to cut the drag link to center the steering.
Any thoughts?

I would try a stock one first.

Then again I'm not all that knowledgable about dana 60's. Luckily we have an app for that here on this forum (other members with dana 60's ).

[Captkaos]

There is a sticky post on the tech pages on how to resize pics.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
captkaoscustoms.com
squarebody.biz

[pholliday1]

With 81 on this one, post a couple of picts to see what you have going on. I know its a pain because you really should remove drivers tire to get a good picture of whats going on.

[Byrds]

With 81 on this one, post a couple of picts to see what you have going on. I know its a pain because you really should remove drivers tire to get a good picture of whats going on.

I'll get some pics up soon to see what you guys think. Shortening the drag link helped a lot , but going to cut it so I can get just a little more adjustment out of it which seems to be needed with the axle moved foreward a inch with the add a leaf installed. From the looks of it with the adjustment I made I am hitting or very close to the steering stops. Then I'm gonna have a friend put it on his alignment rack so I can get the steering wheel straight.

[Byrds]

Here are a few pictures sorry for some of the quality of them.
Also I didnt mention but this was a Original big block truck but it was 2x4 previous owner converted and put the dana 44 looks like and 4 wheel disc brakes. unfortunate that he didnt take to getting the steering 100% correct, but hey I got a great deal on the truck.

[Byrds]

2 other images......