The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-15-2025, 02:04 PM   #1
Rg500gamma
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Warwick ny
Posts: 74
Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

My 72 K20 is stock height but my dad swapped the split rim wheels to 33 x 12.50 x 16.50 . Doing that, does it require a new steering arm to compensate ? Or I just go with a new rag joint, upper/lower ball joints and tie rod ends to stop the wandering ?
I would toss a new ps box if needed.
Rg500gamma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2025, 02:15 PM   #2
MJN
Registered User
 
MJN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn
Posts: 3,257
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

Start with checking all your steering components and axle shaft ujoints. A steering arm isn't needed since the suspension is at stock height yet. How aggressive are the 33's? radials or bias ply?
__________________
'51 South Bend Model "9A"
'56 Chevy 3600 NAPCO
'74 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20-restored on 37's
'72 GMC Sierra Custom K2500- in progress
'08 GMC Envoy Denali
'12 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali
'17 GMC Yukon XL
VCCA member #58596
http://www.nohrco.com
MJN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2025, 02:19 PM   #3
Richard
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,346
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rg500gamma View Post
My 72 K20 is stock height but my dad swapped the split rim wheels to 33 x 12.50 x 16.50 . Doing that, does it require a new steering arm to compensate ? Or I just go with a new rag joint, upper/lower ball joints and tie rod ends to stop the wandering ?
I would toss a new ps box if needed.
Are you asking about wandering as truck is now or after a lift? Wider tires will make tramlining more pronounced. Steering joints should be tight if stock or lifted. A raised steering arm just flattens the drag link to lessen bump steer and get turning radius back to stock. If the ball joints/end links are worn out yes steering will be sloppy.
__________________
Richard
1972 K10 Custom Deluxe SWB Fleetside
My build https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=800746
Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2025, 02:42 PM   #4
350TacoZilla
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hancock Md
Posts: 477
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

Yeah wider tires will follow cracks in the rd or uneven sections more than a skinnier tire. As everyone said before no arm change needed just check and replace worn components if you find any but it might be down to the tires entirely pun intended.
350TacoZilla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-15-2025, 04:15 PM   #5
LS short box
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 2,592
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

Just guess but with a lift you reduced the caster? Caster keeps the truck going down the road straight. Most lift companies can supply tapered blocks that go between the axle and spring to restore the proper caster.
Also radial tires need more caster compared bias tires.
LS short box is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2025, 11:51 AM   #6
kwmech
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,944
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by LS short box View Post
Just guess but with a lift you reduced the caster? Caster keeps the truck going down the road straight. Most lift companies can supply tapered blocks that go between the axle and spring to restore the proper caster.
Also radial tires need more caster compared bias tires.
Bingo! Plus a different and wider rim will throw off/exaggerate toe-in settings
kwmech is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2025, 08:31 PM   #7
67swb72klb
Registered User
 
67swb72klb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: livingston co.mi
Posts: 2,559
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

I would check the toe measurement if all the steering components are tight..
__________________
California 65 GTO---Texas 64 burb 283 ---Oklahoma 67 CST SWB BBW wood bed 327 2004r---New Mexico 72 k10 350 350 auto---Georga 72 short step project
67swb72klb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-16-2025, 10:39 PM   #8
Fbks_Cruiser
Registered User
 
Fbks_Cruiser's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Posts: 371
Re: Taller tires Vs lift kit wandering steering

O.P. Indicated no lift, just larger tires. So that should not throw off caster. But, the larger tires will exaggerate problems from worn steering and suspension components. Ball joints, tie rod and drag link ends, rag joint, steering gear, spring bushings, anything loose.
When I got my truck, the spring bushings were so worn I could see the whole front of the truck shift side to side when a helper turned the steering wheel. New spring bushings, tie rod and drag link ends and tightening the clamp bolt that holds the pitman arm to the steering gear shaft fixed nearly all of my wandering issues. (My rag joint, steering gear and ball joints are all pretty good.
__________________
1972 GMC K2500 Super Custom

Matt
Fbks_Cruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2025 67-72chevytrucks.com