Crossover Steering???

[jamesjones]

Who here has gone with crossover steering? Did you go with ORD, Blackbirds, ORU or ???? How is it working out? Any tips? Any info is greatly appreciated as I'm thinking of going this route with the steering in my 72 K5.

Thanks
James

[drink2mny]

Can you guess which one I have??? psst (in Signature)


Look carefully and read what other companies give you for the price..

Here is a thread about steering correction. I was asked about the Blackbird's kit and explained pretty good what one site has compared to ours..


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

Hope you find what your looking for
feel free to ask away with the questions

[Pont]

Heads up,

For anyone replying to this post, and might be inclined to say "check with Pont, he's running crossover steering", James has already messaged me and is looking to buy a kit and not go with the a fabbed version like I did.

Many thanks..........

Rob

[drink2mny]

here is one of ours on a '71 blazer with a D60

[jamesjones]

Yeah, sorry about that Pont I should have put it in the original post. Also drink2mny, I have the stock D44 front end so if you have any pics of a D44 set up I'd appreciate it.

Thanks
James

[drink2mny]

I will try to get down to Randy's shop this weekend and see if he has a truck there with the 44 setup..
The kit would be a lot cheaper for you with already having the down style tie rod knuckles. you would only need the passenger side flat top knuckle with the rest of the kit.

Do yo have a flat top knuckle on there now???

[jamesjones]

Yes, I do have the flat top knuckle already.

James

[leadfoot067]

i used the ORD stuff....fit well and functioned well....tilll this happened...do not run a spacer block under the steering arm with bolts....always use studs

[Pont]

Holy cow, were those grade "5" bolts? I would say that running a spacer with bolts would be fine but make it a steel spacer and weld the whole assembly along with bolting it in place (find someone good at welding cast iron). I can't see any reason for needing to remove that piece once installed. JMO

[leadfoot067]

those were grade 8 bolts i got at the hardware store or so the bin said...lol...the spacer block i milled a key into it and the steering arm.....both are steel....i have since upgraded to 5/8 studs(bolts were 9/16)..and its been fine...now im goin to a 60 front....

[drink2mny]

Originally posted by leadfoot067
i used the ORD stuff....fit well and functioned well....tilll this happened...do not run a spacer block under the steering arm with bolts....always use studs

I would like to think they didn't send you those bolts with that setup..


We don't even think about using bolts, only studs with cones to secure the arms on..
Blackbird's doesn't have any rigs other than another D60 setup at his place right now to et a pic for you..

The only assurance I can give you is it will look 90% the same as the picture except for a different steering arm of course..

For better info if you are interested you can go to www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com
and email or give Randy (the owner) a call. He will be more knowledged on what he could do for you and what would be needed from you...

I know there are a couple other companies with bigger names out there, and we are glad you have us as an option..
Only means our name is getting bigger..

Thanks

[leadfoot067]

nope ORD had nothing to do with the bolts....it was a zero rate/dragling/spring clearance issue that caused me to go with the 1" spacer block and the bolts....live and learn i guess....i learned the hard way....

[Blue Beard]

Have to ask.....What is cross over steering and what advantages does it give.......?

[leadfoot067]

the stock GM steering uses a short (16") drag link...when lifted even with proper correction,this causes bump steer....especially off road when flexing the suspention, in some cases the truck wont steer ......crossover fixes this...for the most part...

[drink2mny]

Crossover steering is when they take a solid axle gm truck 4x4 steering setup and "cross" it over from the driver side steering knuckle to the passenger side..
You can see how it goes in the photo I posted up above..

Alot of offoraders and lifted truck drivers say it is like a night and day comparison going from aftermarket lifted stock side steering componants to the cossover steering...

It has been proven with larger taller tires it can take 90 % of bump steer away.Thats when you hit a bump or pothole or rut and your steering wheel wants to tear out of your hands...

It allows for more articulation offorad in mud holes or rock climbing or just medicore hill climbs without binding upi your steering..If you have been in a trail ride offroad and hit a rut your steering wheel pulls right out of your hands, not so much with crossover.
Take a lifted truck and put a wheel in a rut and try to turn out of it with your steering wheel being twisted ..
then take a lifted truck with crossover steering and try the same thing.. Alot easier to turn and less force on your steering componants..

You get a lot of bind with an aftermarket lifted steering setup.No matter what you do you cannot get the geometry correct with a big lift and parts are expensive to buy and wearout fast, and expensive to replace..
Crossover has less wear and tear overall makeing several good points to have it...

Hope this helps you out

[Blue Beard]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.....

[6869704X4]

I got a couple of D44 Xover pics.
Here is the 2WD steering box with a full size jeep pitman arm(Ive replaced that one with an arm from a 1ton ford van) and the draglink headed toward the pax side knuckle.

[6869704X4]

Here is a shot of the pax side. I got my draglink and steering arm from Tim at Shakerbuilt.