No "Return to Center" Steering Woes

[kberger]

Ok, I’m really getting frustrated trying to get my truck to return to center after a turn. I’ve done the “caster mod” documented many times on this site, moving my LCAs about 3/4” forward. Still no good. Today I finished installing new CPP UCAs that are supposed to provide 5 degrees of extra caster but still no good. The only thing that I can think of to do is put skinnier tires on the front. Right now, I’m running 275/60/15 tires all of the way around. Has anyone solved this problem while running wider tires? Here is what I’m working with:

1964 C-10, 350/TH350
1977 C-10 Spindles
Stock LCA with caster mod
New CPP 73-87 power steering box
Suspension is stock height

[leegreen]

I was immediately thinking about offset and width of tires while reading your post.
If a set of stock rims n tires are handy put them on and go for a drive for comparison.

easy things first, play with front tire pressure up and down.
What is the toe set to? Try adding more?

If you can, try a drive with power steering belt off, any better ? Maybe you can change pulleys or add a regulator to reduce pressure at the box, get back more steering feedback

[kberger]

Thanks for the reply. Wheels are 15x8 with 4” offset. Stock wheels were 6 lug and now I’m running 5 lug. Toe in at 1/8”. Camber is 0 degrees. I did try upping tire pressure from 44 to 48 psi, no change. Has serpentine setup so can’t remove belt.

[Richard]

Saw your other post as well on this. Understand you do not want to spend extra money on checking alignment. But regardless of the mods that you have done, if you do not know the actual caster you have with what you have done. IMHO you are chasing a ghost.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by kberger

Thanks for the reply. Wheels are 15x8 with 4” offset. Stock wheels were 6 lug and now I’m running 5 lug. Toe in at 1/8”. Camber is 0 degrees. I did try upping tire pressure from 44 to 48 psi, no change. Has serpentine setup so can’t remove belt.

Originally Posted by Richard

Saw your other post as well on this. Understand you do not want to spend extra money on checking alignment. But regardless of the mods that you have done, if you do not know the actual caster you have with what you have done. IMHO you are chasing a ghost.

I would agree w/Richard here. You need to know what your Caster setting/s are for effective advice.