6" lift on a 69 Suburban

[Elwayno]

Hi guys,
I am new to this board but did try to look through all the posts to find my answer. I want to put a 6" lift on my '69 Sub. I have closed knuckle dana 44 on the front with drum brakes. I am looking for steering corrections for after it is lifted. I am seeing drop links and raised steering arms for open knuckle 44's with power steering. I have not found anything for closed knuckles and non power steering. Is there anything out there? I have read that cross over steering is the best solution and I will probably go that route now or some time in the future.

So far I see my options as:
Switch to a open knuckle 44. What other years fit,direct drop in, other than 67-72? This would give me the option of disc brakes, but that is not the biggy right now.

Have a custom arm made for the passenger side closed knuckle, and use a 2wd box for cross over steering. Does anyone make this arm already?

Use current axle with a drop pitman arm, a drop drag link, or a raised steering arm. Does the PS drag link fit the non PS pitman arm? Does anyone make the correct one? Does anyone make a raised steering arm? Is there a good source for drop pitmans for a 4wd box?

[pumpkin]

You can use any diff up to 87 in the p.u. and 91 in the blazer and suburban. If your keeping tire size below 35, the the 44 or a 10 bolt would do fine. If your going bigger than 35 and or wheeling hard then you should look for a d60, or chrome molly axles for the smaller diff. As far as the steering arms, I'm not sure on the drum brake diffs, but they make all that steering stuff for the disc brake axles, and if your going big, disc brakes is almost a nesecity.

[special-K]

The drop links will work on your vehicle.Yours was non-asdjustable,is the only difference and the late stock ones swap.I`m not familiar enough with the`69 D44 left knuckle to comment on the arm.
Cross-over`s not a bad thought.

[Elwayno]

I am glad the drop links will work. I may use them till I can do a cross over. I am gonna be runnin 35's but not wheelin to hard. The girl is kinda big for that, with the long over hang and such. Will mostly be runnin lighter trails and mud. The only drop drag links I have seen were 2" and said power steering only so I figured there was a ball joint difference. Thinkin of going cross over because I could have an arm made, the top of the closed kuckles have a rectangular four bolt pattern on both sides. An arm with new linkage and 2wd sounds easier than gettin a new axle and all the associated stuff that goes with it. If I got a open 44 with discs I would still have to get new knuckles, or have em drilled if they were flat tops, just to get the cross over steering.

[67Cowboy]

Hey Elwayno let me know what you find out, I'm doing the exact same research. I want to upgrade my '69 standard steering, closed axle, hub brake to some sort of later model 1 ton or 3/4 ton axle set-upwith power steering and disc brakes on the front at least. I/m running 33x12.50x15 at stock height and I want to stay there because this is the old lady's daily driver. but we will be loading it down for road trips and camping so it has to be tough.
Pumpkin just answered one of my questions !!!all the way up to '91 sounds great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[earl87gta]

my 68 has a 6 lift here is a post on the info you are asking about I posted some pics and mesuments for some one else.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=217772

hope it helps if you have an y questions ask and Ill do the best I can to help you out.

[Elwayno]

Well I did a lot of looking. I didn't find anything right away. If you want disk brakes tehn your best bet is to start looking for a 70 or later open knuckle axle. Then you can use the little raised U arm that comes in all the kits. From what I have read that solution has some bump steer involved and crossover steering is the best solution. I don't wheel to hard "YET". but I also hate to waste money on something today just to spend more later. So if cross over is the final solution that is what I am doing. I found you can get a center drag link out of 85-86 Blazer. This drag link has a tie rod with an extra hole in it for the steering damper. Well you flip it so the hole is on the left and then use a 2WD box with a nice long steering link to that hole. I found everything I need, I think, at Complete Offroad. He will make if for ya or sell ya the parts to do it yourself. He also seems to sell on Ebay. Alternatively I found the 63ish F100 uses a similar axle and has a much higher steering arm. You just gotta go find one.

[Yukon Jack]

When I did my initial 4" lift on my 69 closed knuckle Dana 44 I bought an adjustable drag link and it works great. Still using it now with 7" of spring lift and have no bump steer issues. I was initially manual steering but later added a power steering box. I can't remember for sure but I believe I used the adjustable drag link before I switched to power steering.

[Elwayno]

Well a couple lift places said they had nothin for me and that their drop links would only work with power steering and the open knuckle. Whether that is true or not I don't know. I saw some drop links on Ebay and thought about takin a chance on one but the price was like $177.00. For about $200.00 I can buy all the parts to do cross over steering. So that is the way I am going right now. Cowboy wants disks so he may as well start with the open knuckle axle and then he can get parts more easily.

[earl87gta]

That would be the inverted T cross over you are going to try and use and it most likly will not work on your truck. With leaf springs the hole on the tirod is in the wrong area its to close to the knuckle and the steering link will hit the spring on the oassenger side you may be able to bend it enough to clear.
Here is a pic of that set up on a heep you can see here how you may have some clearnce issues. I have also posted a leaf spring front so you can compair them. there is also a pic of what some one did to get around the clearence trouble

[Elwayno]

Hmm that does look like trouble. I had planned on putting an S curve in the steering drag link to help keep the angles lower. Now it looks like it may need to be more extreme to get around the spring. I hadn't thought of that being a problem. There is a 86 fullsize Jimmy down the street and it looked so ez when I saw it. I may swipe a center drag link out of a car and modify it. it will have a hole on both sides to play with.

[earl87gta]

I went out and looked at mine today and I dont se why you couldnt have a steering arm made for the pasenger side to bolt on like the driver side . you may even beable to flip the driver side arm upside down and use it on the passenger side with a little Machine work.

[67Cowboy]

So many ways to go and so little money !!! Well when I bought my Suburban it came with a new set of large springs with neoprene bushings (for the back?) and a set of 4" blocks for the front ( I think) and a two wheel drive power steering box. At the moment I NEED power steering cause this is the Ol'lady's daily driver and she is not at all enthused with the workout she is getting from the manual steering and 33x12.50 Wild Country RVT's .
So if there is a way to create a drag link and pitman arm to work with my old closed axles that would help alot !!!!!!! In the mean time I can save up and search for the 73-87 14 bolts to turn this thing into a 3/4 or 1 ton so it can handle the load of being loaded with a week's worth of camping supplies and going straight up the side of MT.Hood, Raineer or Reyes Peak at 7500 ft. and brakes to get down safely !!! Will that 85-86 link ONLY work with 73-87 axels or is there a trick to creating a pitman arm for the two wheel drive box I already have.
One last thing when I bought my '67 C20 (2x4) it had an old hub brake front end with an assist type power steering unit on it. Cold I make that old thing work on my '69 K-10 to get me by till I find new axels and the right links, arms and box ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[earl87gta]

If you’re going to keep the 33 in tires I would just trade that power 2wd box for a power 4wd box. No reel need for cross over steering and 33in tires unless it sees a lot of time off road. You should be able to get a power steering box for 50. The 2wd hydro assist will not work on your 4wd.
As for blocks in the front that’s dangerous do not do it. Are you sure the springs are for the back they may be for a newer truck 73 and up is one spring bigger then the other and how far from eye to eye and we can tell you what you have.

[wpvtx]

67cowboy, earl87gta

This is my first post to this forum. I have been reading and learning alot from you guys. As for the raised steering arm for a closed knuckle on a 44 there seems to be no one interested in making one. I had contacted several makers of the cross - steering components and they all stated as earl87gta replied earlier that it is not need untill more radical mods are made. I have since purchased a 86 Suburban axle and a tuff country 4' lift (on back order for 3 weeks as of today) I have the correct proportioning valve for the disk brakes and changed the M/C. It all started woth needing a new tierod tube and now a complete new front end. When coverting to the late model axle the u bolts are different as are the spring plates on top of the axle. So when you purchase the axle you will need the junkyard to give you the top plate that go with the axle. Furthermore the warn locking hubs are different between the years so you might want to find an axle with them in it - several of the axles I found in the suburbans did not come with them but ran a live axle all the time. The brake lines are mounted differently on the frame and so Im currently working that issue. I hope this helps - I can answer some question but alas im learning this too.



wpvtx
1970 Chevy Stepside 4x4
350 cid

[67Cowboy]

Originally Posted by earl87gta

If you’re going to keep the 33 in tires I would just trade that power 2wd box for a power 4wd box. No reel need for cross over steering and 33in tires unless it sees a lot of time off road. You should be able to get a power steering box for 50. The 2wd hydro assist will not work on your 4wd.
As for blocks in the front that’s dangerous do not do it. Are you sure the springs are for the back they may be for a newer truck 73 and up is one spring bigger then the other and how far from eye to eye and we can tell you what you have.

Yes I'm gonna keep the 33s for now, and NO I do not want to use the blocks ever. I might use the large springs someday if I'm able to get some big axles with disc brakes.
I would like to know what 4wd box to trade for (what years and models) ?!? Also will it fit in place of the one I have now or am I goings to have to make other mods ??? And a big welcome to wvptx , HOWDY !

[wpvtx]

Thanks Cowboy,

It good to be here.

Wpvtx

[earl87gta]

any straight axle 4x4 steering box will work but you will have to do some work the frames of the trucks with manual boxes are not dippled in for the poer box. here you can read up on it at this post Ive stillbeen working on making a kit to bolt it in but I need to do some more research on steering boxes to make sure it will work with sevral boxes and not just the one i have. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=227960

[67Cowboy]

Originally Posted by earl87gta

any straight axle 4x4 steering box will work but you will have to do some work the frames of the trucks with manual boxes are not dippled in for the poer box. here you can read up on it at this post Ive stillbeen working on making a kit to bolt it in but I need to do some more research on steering boxes to make sure it will work with sevral boxes and not just the one i have. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=227960

I picked this up today for $20 bucks, I should be able to just weld it inplace Shouldn't I ?!? Warrior Products #900 fits all full Size 4X4s 1969 to present with leaf spring front end. Now all I need is a box and arm, any suggestions ?

[earl87gta]

I like that never seen it before and for $20 not bad how thick is it? the one thing i would maybe ad would be a scacer beteen the frame and that adaptor to make it like a solid monting area. You can get them off this board every now and then I just had a few of them for sale. look for any 4x4 up to around 88 I think they went to independent front ends in 89 except for 1tons and burbs.

[67Cowboy]

UPDATE ON MINE: I bought 2 powersteering boxes w/biscuit joints and shaft, hoses, pulleys, pump, brackets for $75 and he delivered them to me. Now I just need to know which pitman arm I need to attach to my old closed axle system and I can put her togeter !!!

[earl87gta]

I would try to get an adjustable one so you can play with it. does any one know if the pitmen arms from a newer axle will work with the closed knuckle I would think there the same.