Steering problems on lifted 72 Jimmy

[RShaips]

I put a used lift kit from another Jimmy that I bought onto mine. The front is a 6" spring lift with a steering drop and the back I believe is new stock springs with a 4" block, the back is about 1" lower than the front. I am going to replace the back with 6" springs soon. Anyway I also put 35" tires on it at the same time. It steers terrible, it is all over the road. I have adjusted the steering box and checked my steering stabalizer and everything is good. I took it to the shop and had it aligned and they said that they could not get the caster set right without shimming the springs or ball joints. Said it was 4 degrees out,top of front axle needed to be tilted back 4 degrees and that this was my steering problem. I have had a lot of lifted trucks over the past 30 years and have never had a problem like this. What's the deal? Thanks

[bigbadchev72]

they are right, you need shims to get your caster back to where it needs to be. I would recomend steel shims instead of aluminum ones, since they tend to crack. I believe you can get some from diy4x.com

[RShaips]

Thats all, why did I never have these problems before? Nice Blazer! Do you have shimms? Thanks

[bigbadchev72]

Yes I am running shims as well, Cant remember the degree though. I have had about 5 lifted trucks so far all from 4"-12" lifts. I had an 84 blazer with 4" front springs that was horrible to drive, Almost felt like it was too sensitive of steering, any little movement of the steering wheel and it was like jerking the wheel one way or another.

It is hard to say why it didnt need it on the other one. But I can tell you that the exact same springs from one rig to another will ride totally different most of the time.

take there advice and get your caster where it needs to be. call up the spring manufacture if you know who it is and see what they reccomend.

[RShaips]

Thanks, thats exactly how mine is, extremely touchy! Unfortunately I have no idea who the spring mfg is. I will buy some shims and see how it does. Thanks a lot for the info.

[blazin]

Originally Posted by RShaips

Thanks, thats exactly how mine is, extremely touchy! Unfortunately I have no idea who the spring mfg is. I will buy some shims and see how it does. Thanks a lot for the info.

did the shims fix your problems?

[RShaips]

It helped a lot! It still wanders more than I like but I am waiting until I find some 3.73 or 4.10 axle assemblies, swap them in and then see how it is before doing anything else.

[blazin]

Originally Posted by RShaips

It helped a lot! It still wanders more than I like but I am waiting until I find some 3.73 or 4.10 axle assemblies, swap them in and then see how it is before doing anything else.

i asked cause im havent steering problems with my 72 blazer. i took the front shims out and it seemed to have help.. weird. not to jack your tread,, but here is a link to my thread, and my problems, its killing me. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=402388

[blazin]

Originally Posted by RShaips

It helped a lot! It still wanders more than I like but I am waiting until I find some 3.73 or 4.10 axle assemblies, swap them in and then see how it is before doing anything else.

why are you waiting for new gears/ axles? i cant see that helping your wondering/steering problems.

[Mudder]

I found that too high of air pressure in the fronts will cause them to wonder. With my Swampers I ran about 1/3 of what the tire said to run on the side. It drove great then.

[RShaips]

Well I am not saying it will help but when I change the front and rear differentials and axle assemblies everything will change again and I may not even need the shims. The shims helped tremendously as it is though. I need lower gears and I am waiting to find a truck or parts with what i want then I will do a swap and also add another steering stabilizer and a shackle flip in the back.