Turns further left than right

[AirSpeed]

My 72 GMC 4X4 has a 4" lift from the previous owner, they set it up to turn way more to the left than the right. It's a pain in a tight parking lot. I'm pretty sure I need to simply adjust the drag link but was curious if I should set it up to turn equaly in each direction or are they supposed to turn more in one direction?
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[LONGHAIR]

It should be basically equal. When the steering wheel is "centered"there will be the same amount of turns in each direction. As far as practical application, you will find that in most street driving, you turn sharper to the right. A left hand turn crosses another lane, making a wider turn.

[kwmech]

Sounds like you need to adjust (lengthen) the drag link. Is the steering wheel straight going down the road?

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Sounds like you need to adjust (lengthen) the drag link. Is the steering wheel straight going down the road?

It's straight because I mounted it straight. It definately turns left far tighter than right. I'm sure once I get it turning equaly I will have to pull the steering wheel and set it straight again
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[kwmech]

Turn steering wheel all the way in one direction. Turn it the completely the other way counting the turns as you go. Now center the box going back again 1/2 the amount of turns. This will be where the steering wheel needs to be put back on straight. Drive down the road to see where the steering wheel sits while driving straight, make some sort of reference. Turn drag link...lengthening...until steering wheel is where it is supposed to be. Test drive again

[Duster]

I bet it has a bunch of bump steer too. kwmech is right. drag link. I'm not sure how a 72 is set up but on a 73-87 if you don't have a drop pitman arm, or a stepped drag link, the truck will do just the opposite of yours. If your drag link is at an angle, it will cause the truck not to turn one way or the other. You can articulate a 73-87 to a point where it won't turn at all. That is why people put cross over steering on them.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Duster

I bet it has a bunch of bump steer too. kwmech is right. drag link. I'm not sure how a 72 is set up but on a 73-87 if you don't have a drop pitman arm, or a stepped drag link, the truck will do just the opposite of yours. If your drag link is at an angle, it will cause the truck not to turn one way or the other. You can articulate a 73-87 to a point where it won't turn at all. That is why people put cross over steering on them.

No bump steer, it also has a drop pitman arm. I replace all the tie rod ends so I'm going to just buy a new drag link so everything is new, I'll make it a little longer before I install it.
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[Duster]

Hmmm, have you taken it to a good alingment shop? It could be miss alinged. Or there is something wrong with the steering gear box. I not to sure now.

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Duster

Hmmm, have you taken it to a good alingment shop? It could be miss alinged. Or there is something wrong with the steering gear box. I not to sure now.

The steering is fine, I just wanted to make sure if the steering should be equal or turn further one way before I adjusted the drag link. From what I read here it appears it should turn equally each direction.
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[67swb72klb]

good to know mine needs some adjustment also not too bad but noticible when parking

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by 67swb72klb

good to know mine needs some adjustment also not too bad but noticible when parking

Yea, mine turns to the right about 1/4 of what it does left! I've had to make lots of embarrassing 32 point turns getting out of parking lots. Once I had to wait about 30 minutes for another car to move before I could get out of a space! It sucks!
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[Mr. 250r]

this is extremely common in old lifted chevys lol i think every single one i have ever been in has this problem surprisingly my suburban didn't have that problem but when i put in a d60 i lost a bunch of turning which is upsetting because before it was pretty good

[AirSpeed]

Originally Posted by Mr. 250r

this is extremely common in old lifted chevys lol i think every single one i have ever been in has this problem surprisingly my suburban didn't have that problem but when i put in a d60 i lost a bunch of turning which is upsetting because before it was pretty good

Right now I can make a u turn left in almost one lane, I'll miss that when I get it adjusted! It will certainly be less embarrassing trying to get out of a parking lot once I get it to turn right! Seems like there's always someone watching me make 35 point turns and they're usually sitting in some stupid little hybrid, disgusted by my big, loud, polluting, gas chugging truck! I try to aim the exhaust at them just so they can suck some fumes, then I do a burnout to burn some more gas and really make them disgusted!
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[SteveMiller]

Guys.

Just learned that the probable cause is your pitman arm is installed to the wrong splines on the steering box.

[argonaut]

That shouldn't be possible if unless the output shaft and pitman arm have been modified. Simply lengthen the drag link. Should take about 30 minutes to get it close to centered.

[Bigdav160]

I had the same problem as the OP's truck. I had to center the box, then adjust the stops (on the knuckles) to center the linkage. Than I was able to set the toe and center the steering wheel.

[kwmech]

Glad this came back after a year and a half

[GuyO]

I think BigDav is right. I had to first disconnect the pitman arm, and center the drag link, center the box then reconnect the pitman arm.