What is crossover steering??

[Suburbanator]

I've heard some of you guys talking about crossover steering. Well I need a total front end rebuild, and was wondering if a conversion is the way to go.

[1tonswb]

This is a picture of my crossover steering. The steering arm is on the pass side and the long bar is the drag link. The main reason people convert over is to get rid of bumpsteer. As a added benefit you get sharper steering and less stress on the frame. It also helps articulation off road. I could go on and on about the benefits but I wont. I havent found one person thats converted and regreted it.

[jku72]

Do you use a different steering box? I read/heard somewhere that its better to utilize a 2wd steering box when converting to crossover.(?)
What other special/different parts are used?

[GreenMystChevy]

Yes, you have to use a 2wd steering box, I think because the pitman arm is pointed in a different direction.

As far as other parts, there are a few and I personally do not know exactly what you need. Go to www.offroaddesign.com , www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com or other 4x4 truck sites and they should have kits you can buy to do this.

Pont, from this board, has also done it for cheaper because he did some scrounging and welding. There has been quite a bit of info surrounding this lately posted on here so try using the search function, there's lots of great stuff.

I'm sure there are others who will chime in here that know a whole lot more about this than me. Good luck.

[drink2mny]

Originally posted by GreenMystChevy
As far as other parts, there are a few and I personally do not know exactly what you need. Go to www.offroaddesign.com , www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com or other 4x4 truck sites and they should have kits you can buy to do this.

Thank you GreenMystChevy for posting us (check Signature below)Right now with our free shipping and new online ordering we have been doing pretty good..

I have explained in a couple threads before what crossover steering is and how it works and benifits..1tonswb has sumed it up pretty good plus that is a Dana 60 in his photo..
This thread has a link in one of my post also..
What type of frontend do you have??? D44 or D60

http://67-72chevytrucks.net/vboard/s...threadid=89313

[jku72]

I'm in the "gathering parts" phase of a 1970 C30 to K30 conversion. I have a 79 chevy 1 ton Dana 60 available, so I will likely use it. I'd like to use a borg warner t-case simply because the one in my newer truck is smooth and easy to shift in and out of 4 wheel drive.
Anyway, since it currently is a power assisted 2 wheel drive, being able to use a 2wd box means one less part to buy.

[BowTieMan]

If I buy a 73 - 78 chevy truck and lift it either 4 in. with 33's or a 6 in. lift with 35's would cross over steering be worth it? Or would I be better off with staying stock with the 4 in.?

[drink2mny]

Originally posted by BowTieMan
If I buy a 73 - 78 chevy truck and lift it either 4 in. with 33's or a 6 in. lift with 35's would cross over steering be worth it? Or would I be better off with staying stock with the 4 in.?

If you want the benifits of not having bump steer with the bigger tires.. or the ease of turning then you would love crossover steering.
as stated above I haven't heard of one person who has disliked the setup....

[1tonswb]

jku72.....if your good at fabbing things and have a complete understanding of how a steering system works then you can build your own system. I really dislike telling people that because of the downright scary and unsafe steering systems ive seen over the years. You also have to make sure the drag link doesnt hit other parts ( engine crossmember, springs, ect). Thats where buying a complete kit from a quality manufacturer comes in. They already know what works and what doesnt. I built my system but ive been doing it for years. And yes....you use a 2wd steering box.

[Destructo]

Will a crossover setup work with a 4" lift? I'v heard you can really only do it for 6" or up. True or not true? I believe it is because of clearance issues.

[drink2mny]

We have never come across a problem other than on the '73 up with the sway bar ..

Other than that no clearance issues on 4in lifts and higher..

[Devil'S Ride]

If you run into problems with the sway bar, what do you do....do you remove the sway bar entirely, or is there a way to get around that problem. I currently am running a 4" system, but have been considering getting 2"lift springs for the rear, and a 4" shackle flip, along with 6" springs for the front.....

-Devil

[60apache4]

I've been wondering the same thing about crossover steering. Though it's for a completely different application, my 71 1-ton has a "hybrid" crossover setup under it. They may not have been able to fabricate a proper steering arm, and this arrangement may put less stress on the steering arm, knuckle and frame as mentioned before... Any comments?

http://www.ccountry.net/~tmobrien/tr.../71napco/axle/

[1tonswb]

Yes.....you have to remove the sway bar. As far a crossover on 73-87 4-6 inch lifted trucks....you run into clearance problems on the engine crossmember. If you look at my pic above it is pretty close to the crossmember. On the 4-6 inch lifts you dont run the steering block so that gets your draglink away from the crossmember but you have to make sure to clear the pass side spring. Ive done them on 4-6 inch lifted trucks but Ive had to put a couple of bends in the drag link.

[1tonswb]

WOW 60apache4.....that looks like 70,s chevy 2wd steering. Ifs chevy steering also.

[drink2mny]

Originally posted by Devil'S Ride
If you run into problems with the sway bar, what do you do....do you remove the sway bar entirely, or is there a way to get around that problem. I currently am running a 4" system, but have been considering getting 2"lift springs for the rear, and a 4" shackle flip, along with 6" springs for the front.....

-Devil

Seeing how its late right now almost 10pm I can't give Randy a call(owner of Blackbirds)

I do know I have helped install about 4 kits and all rigs had taken the sway bar off.

I don't have one on my own '86 either.

As for 1tonswb with clearance problems I'll have to disagree..
My blazer has the 60 crossover with 6 1/2" of suspension lift..

I can assure you I have never hit the engine crossmember and I have jumped it pretty good and twisted pretty badly in some mud trails and jumping up out of mud race pits..

Not to sell you ours by saying this, but Randy has sold many crossover steering kits mainly '73 up trucks with D44 and D60's

with 4 and up lifts and not one customer has had a problem. and we use straight bars

[1tonswb]

6 1/2 inches......Im assuming your not running a steering block. As I stated on the 4-6 inch lifts you dont run a steering block so that gets your drag link away from the crossmember.

[drink2mny]

Nope I have a block on there.

I'll try to get a pic of it tomorrow ..

[drink2mny]

You know guys I may need to cut back on the drinking and just stick to working on Blackbird's webpage and leave the answers to Randy the owner,
'cause I stand or sit corrected..

I have no raised block on my 60

We have recentley done some bigger lift crossover steering and might have had that in my mind when I opened my mouth..

[1tonswb]

I was getting kinda excited to see your pic. Its been going through my head on how your draglink didnt hit your crossmember with 6 1/2 inches of lift and a block. Its all good!!! BTW......I like your blazer.