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02-14-2011, 11:18 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 49
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Floating 71 steering
My son and I have a 71 k10 for his first truck. It has a 4" lift and 35's but seems to be pretty sloppy in the steering. What are the most suspect things to check?
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02-15-2011, 12:59 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 375
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Re: Floating 71 steering
I just messed around with my '71 last weekend. First thing I would check is the tie rod ends and drag link. I put in new ball joints and built a new drag link and that solved about 70% of my steering slop. Next thing I will do are the tie rod ends, they still make noise so I know that's where the remainder of my slop is, but they're $75 each, so I'll probably just go with 1 ton ends and a beefy DOM bar for that kind of cash. I'm also considering cutting the rag joint out and putting in a borgeson joint. With a steering stabilizer to dampen the steering, I don't think a solid steering box connection would hurt any. Have you considered going with crossover steering? With those bigger tires and lift, it might help by having a flatter drag link that goes all the way across. Sounds like you might be borderline for that though, might not be necessary. If you have the stock steering arm on the driver side knuckle, it may help to have a raised one if you don't already. That's my .02 The best thing I could recommend is get under there and you or your son turn the wheel back and forth, while the other checks underneath for anything obviously loose. Don't be afraid to put your hand on a tie rod end or drag link, sometimes you can feel something that you can't visually see.
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1964 C10 Shortened Shortbed Cammed LQ9 P&P 1967 C10 Trophy Truck BB 438 (soon to be worked on again) |
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02-15-2011, 10:53 AM
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#3 |
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Special Order
  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,851
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Re: Floating 71 steering
Does it have a raised steering arm to compensate for the lift? They bump steer real bad without it.
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 02-15-2011 at 12:13 PM. |
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02-15-2011, 11:03 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: livingston co.mi
Posts: 2,471
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Re: Floating 71 steering
check the toe
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California 65 GTO---Texas 64 burb 283 ---Oklahoma 67 CST SWB BBW wood bed 327 2004r---New Mexico 72 k10 350 350 auto---Georga 72 short step project |
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02-15-2011, 02:45 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 49
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Re: Floating 71 steering
It has a raised arm for the lift. The toe is an interesting suggestion. Is it a matter of degrees or a measurement, and what should it be ?
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02-15-2011, 08:16 PM
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#6 |
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Local Redneck Authority
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 584
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Re: Floating 71 steering
Straight up or if anything 1/16" out from front of wheel to back of wheel works best. Then it'll have even tire wear and the front will always help to pull into a corner instead of fighting the outside.
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-Kevin four on the floor feel the beat in your soul movin to the rhythym pumpin til ya cant take no more dance if you want to do what you came to you cant ignore the feeling of that four on the floor |
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02-15-2011, 09:52 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: livingston co.mi
Posts: 2,471
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Re: Floating 71 steering
i was told 1/16 in thats how i roll mine
__________________
California 65 GTO---Texas 64 burb 283 ---Oklahoma 67 CST SWB BBW wood bed 327 2004r---New Mexico 72 k10 350 350 auto---Georga 72 short step project |
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02-15-2011, 10:44 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 375
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Re: Floating 71 steering
I run 1/16 in as well. Just cuz I think about forward movement would want to "pull" the wheels away from eachother, I visualize it as a sort of preload for bearing tolerances, tire movement etc.
__________________
1964 C10 Shortened Shortbed Cammed LQ9 P&P 1967 C10 Trophy Truck BB 438 (soon to be worked on again) |
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02-15-2011, 11:43 PM
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#9 |
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toys'r'us
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Penticton, BC, Canada
Posts: 347
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Re: Floating 71 steering
my steering box was loose when i bought my jimmy. thats why i got it so cheap. the po thought the everything was shot. 1 bolt was gone and one was hanging from the hole in the frame. after i bought it i chased the threads and replaced the bolts in his driveway before i drove it home. check the simple stuff first. theres only so much stuff between the steering wheel and the pavement.
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