Steering issues on lowered straigh axle

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by LordDevlin

GENERAL UPDATE

I drove it back from the transmission shop and experience the scariest drive of my old truck driving career. I have read a lot about bumpsteer, but for the first time I experienced it baaaad. So, the wheel doesn't turn back on its own, and the truck has bad bumpsteer.

on-going:
- king pins didn't turn well... greasing them, the tops took it but tough getting it in the bottom
- I expect that the steering box/wheels are not centered properly, meaning that its not in the tight gears when its straight ahead, based on our initial investigation.

Yep, the drag link is going up at an angle from the pitman arm to the spindle. It being at an angle "Changes length" as the suspension goes up and down!

First look at centering the box as a starting point. The drag link angle, that's a toughie, shortening the pitman arm, bending the steering arm down on the spindle (not a good idea) raising the steering box is another fix. Or of course getting a dropped axle (sold one a while ago, sorry) and putting the springs where they belong.


Brian