Short turn radius - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

eedgell · 09-28-2007, 08:31 PM

What can be done to fix short turn radius with 35-12.50's? Danna 44, 60, or corp. 10 bolt. Went to the drive through at the bank today, and had to back up once to turn out of there. Its not that tight of a turn either. What can I do???

charlieo · 09-28-2007, 08:45 PM

Is there a couple of bump stop bolts on your axles ? I would think u could screw them a few turns.

brianthelion02 · 09-28-2007, 09:15 PM

Do you have the correct steering arm for the lift?

Southedisto · 09-28-2007, 09:23 PM

Narrower wheels, wider front stance, correct steering geometry......

68K20 x Drill · 09-29-2007, 12:35 AM

Inspect the front axle, and make sure it steers to lock in both directions.
If it won't, you have a bent steer arm, or improper lift, or bad tie rods, or broken frame at the steering box, or bad spring mount....

GM didn't do Us any favors with that steering design!
If they have been lifted OR wheeled, all is not usually well.

earl87gta · 09-29-2007, 01:04 AM

you could try cross over steering to.

eedgell · 09-29-2007, 02:00 PM

I do have a raised steering arm. I dont know much about the lift. It was on the truck when I bought it. There is some wear up front, but nothing looks to be bent or broken any where. When I turn to the stop, left or right, the bolt stops are not touched. It just goes so far and stops, with a little sharp squeal from the steering pump.

68K20 x Drill · 10-02-2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eedgell

. When I turn to the stop, left or right, the bolt stops are not touched. It just goes so far and stops, with a little sharp squeal from the steering pump.

It doesn't take much of a bend in the horseshoe shaped steering arm to restrict mobility quite a bit.
Mostly they seem to bend down or out from the knuckle.
Wish I had a known good one to measure.

earl87gta · 09-29-2007, 02:31 PM

sonds like you may need a longer pitman arm. I think thats what its called. or just do cross over steering.

eedgell · 09-29-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earl87gta

sonds like you may need a longer pitman arm. I think thats what its called. or just do cross over steering.

That sounds about right. Does anyone know how long the pitman should be with a lift? Are they normally changed?

earl87gta · 09-29-2007, 07:27 PM

I had an adjustable one on my 72 wish I had it still I woud mesure it out for you. some one should be able to tell you how long theirs is.

LONGHAIR · 09-30-2007, 04:32 PM

Which way is it short? (most likely right) and is the steering wheel straight? Also, is the amount of steering travel equal left to right?

Most of the time with lifted trucks the steering is "patched" not properly moved and adjusted. A raised steering arm does take some of the bad angle away from the joints on the drag link, but it is not a stand-alone fix. The drag link still needs to be adjusted (lengthened) to get your travel back when turning to the right. Unfortunately most of the time you turn more sharply to the right than to the left, so this really needs to be addressed.
All it takes is turning the sleeve to lenghten the drag link. This will turn the steering wheel to the left. It takes away a bit of left radius and gives it to the right....and centers the steering wheel too. If you cannot adjust it far enough, they make a drag link that has some offset bent into it. You should not need this with only 4" of lift....unless yours is not adjustable.

09-28-2007, 08:31 PM	#1
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Short turn radius What can be done to fix short turn radius with 35-12.50's? Danna 44, 60, or corp. 10 bolt. Went to the drive through at the bank today, and had to back up once to turn out of there. Its not that tight of a turn either. What can I do??? __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

09-28-2007, 08:45 PM	#2
charlieo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: sw Posts: 341	Re: Short turn radius Is there a couple of bump stop bolts on your axles ? I would think u could screw them a few turns.

09-28-2007, 09:15 PM	#3
brianthelion02 Overdrive club Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: apache junction, arizona Posts: 819	Re: Short turn radius Do you have the correct steering arm for the lift? __________________ 1971 c-10 1951 3100 chevy 1970 chevy c-30 Sold!

09-28-2007, 09:23 PM	#4
Southedisto River life...... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Soldotna AK Posts: 1,078	Re: Short turn radius Narrower wheels, wider front stance, correct steering geometry...... __________________ I like wheelin in Dixie!

09-29-2007, 12:35 AM	#5
68K20 x Drill Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Freedom CA Posts: 488	Re: Short turn radius Inspect the front axle, and make sure it steers to lock in both directions. If it won't, you have a bent steer arm, or improper lift, or bad tie rods, or broken frame at the steering box, or bad spring mount.... GM didn't do Us any favors with that steering design! If they have been lifted OR wheeled, all is not usually well. __________________ 68 Chevrolet k20 Longbed 350 SM465/205, Dana 44, 14bolt, Power steering, Power Disk Brakes, 35" BFGs. 84 Chevrolet Suburban K20 6.2 Banks turbo TH400/NP208 Now with G80 68 GMC C20 Parts? Truck And a few cars

09-29-2007, 01:04 AM	#6
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	Re: Short turn radius you could try cross over steering to. __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

09-29-2007, 02:00 PM	#7
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Short turn radius I do have a raised steering arm. I dont know much about the lift. It was on the truck when I bought it. There is some wear up front, but nothing looks to be bent or broken any where. When I turn to the stop, left or right, the bolt stops are not touched. It just goes so far and stops, with a little sharp squeal from the steering pump. __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

09-29-2007, 02:31 PM	#9
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	Re: Short turn radius sonds like you may need a longer pitman arm. I think thats what its called. or just do cross over steering. __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

09-29-2007, 07:27 PM	#11
earl87gta Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Kingsport TN Posts: 4,641	Re: Short turn radius I had an adjustable one on my 72 wish I had it still I woud mesure it out for you. some one should be able to tell you how long theirs is. __________________ Earl 68 2500 4x4 GMC Burb

09-30-2007, 04:32 PM	#12
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: Short turn radius Which way is it short? (most likely right) and is the steering wheel straight? Also, is the amount of steering travel equal left to right? Most of the time with lifted trucks the steering is "patched" not properly moved and adjusted. A raised steering arm does take some of the bad angle away from the joints on the drag link, but it is not a stand-alone fix. The drag link still needs to be adjusted (lengthened) to get your travel back when turning to the right. Unfortunately most of the time you turn more sharply to the right than to the left, so this really needs to be addressed. All it takes is turning the sleeve to lenghten the drag link. This will turn the steering wheel to the left. It takes away a bit of left radius and gives it to the right....and centers the steering wheel too. If you cannot adjust it far enough, they make a drag link that has some offset bent into it. You should not need this with only 4" of lift....unless yours is not adjustable.

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