I give up, who wants a K5?

[cochino12]

I am so frustrated with this damn thing I cant stand to even look at it right now. I bought this thing knowing it needed a lot of work to get it in the condition I wanted but it just seems like one thing after another that I need to repalce.

I put the lift on this thing I guess a month ago or so and I just barely got around to putting the raised steering arm on last weekend. After the steering arm install it has a real bad type of bump steer above 30mph. I dont get it? what would be causing it? So I took it to get the allignment done and they said they have no idea what it is either.

I am ready to run this thing into a wall and buy a 73-75 2wd blazer that I wanted in the first place. sorry this was so long winded, arrrghhh

[Destructo]

did you check the ball joints and try replacing the steering stabilizer, maybe put a dual stabilizer on it.

I didn't have any major issues with bump steer on my K10 with 4" on it even with a stock stabilizer.

Maybe the ball joints are worn out?

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by Destructo

did you check the ball joints and try replacing the steering stabilizer, maybe put a dual stabilizer on it.

I didn't have any major issues with bump steer on my K10 with 4" on it even with a stock stabilizer.

Maybe the ball joints are worn out?

I just dont understand why it only does it after the steering arm? I am going to look at it some more this weekend. I am going to have to order a steering stabilizer soon anyway.

[Prerunner1982]

perhaps convert to crossover steering, this is a popular mod to get rid of bump steer.

[Grim Reaper]

Is the drag link level at static hight? Does it have soft front springs?

It's the sway bar. When you lift them the sway bar gets at an angle and as the suspension cycles it binds. Un bolt the sway from the axles and see how it does. Just be careful if you have soft spings you will get a lot of sway that your not use too.


http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/swaybarkit.htm
That will fix a LOT of it.

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm

Will make things feel a lot tighter.

Those two parts and removing the pinion shims made a HUGE difference in my K5 on the street. I run down the road at 70 mph no problem very predictable. Now the pinion shims may be a problem on your truck. The pinion shim makes the front drive line work better But it adds Cater angle and caster angle can cause bump steer and death wobble. I run a 203 so my front drive line is conciderably longer then yours. Unbolt the drive shaft from the front axle and see how far down you have before it binds and measure it from the frame at the motor mount above. Strap the drive shaft up to the frame to get it out of the way for a second. As long as your in 2 high it wont turn.

Then put the driverside tire on something like a honda hood that is still attached to the car to get the passeneger side axle to drop down. Idealy start lifting a tire off the ground and do this with the sway disconnected. What your doing is making sure that you don't have more suspension travel then the CV can handle. A 3 degree pinion shim is going to cause the pinion to raise almost 2 inches. So you need to account for that as well. As long as your drive shaft can drop that far then you can get rid of the pinion shims and get you Caster angle back near stock.

ORD is a CO company. You will probably Get Stephen when you call. He is a hella good guy and will take the time to talk to you. He knows K5.s He almost won TTC with one. Tell him I sent you.

[Staceydude]

Hey Convert the damn thing to 2WD instead!!!

haha

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=116580

I am thinking about doing that to my K5, Just tired of 4X4. prolly cheaper for you than finding a 2WD model. Yours looks great in the photos.

Regards,

Stacey

[Destructo]

I forgot about the sway bar, if you still have the sway bar take it off and see how it works, I took mine off and drove it daily for months with no problems. Just don't go driving it like a race car.