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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Anthem AZ
Posts: 281
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Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
Good afternoon,
Last year when i removed the front drum brakes for Disc, i opted to lower Phyllis as well. Putting her together with the Kit I purchased included drop 2.5" spindles, tie rod ends, upper and lower ball joints, etc. from a well known supplier. (i kept the stock front springs). I have had nothing but steering issues since then. the truck wanders, tracks easily in freeway grooves etc. at first i thought it was the steering gear but today i took it to another shop to get aligned to see what they could do. They said that i installed my center link backwards, that the tie rod ends are supposed to be installed and going into the centerlink from the back forward and i have them in going into the centerlink from the front. I gave him the ok to re-install the center link properly. Then he called back and said with them trying to put the centerlink the "proper" way it is hitting the crossmember. (same crossmember). so basically with my lowered truck i have the center link installed backwards and the steering is fighting itself especially when i turn as the wheels tilt inward and "scrub" during the turn. what do i do? |
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#2 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 2,192
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
I have to assume Phyllis is your truck !
When you changed from drum to disc did you per chance change the pitman arm? Measure the center to center length of both the pitman arm and the idler arm...they must be the same. The tie rods must come in from the rear of the center link... Can you post pics of current setup?
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Family and country before all others... 2006 Chevy Silverado (Daily Driver) 2012 Chevy Equinox ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#3 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Anthem AZ
Posts: 281
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
Quote:
Last edited by elorenzof; 09-30-2019 at 08:41 PM. Reason: adding picture |
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#4 |
Moderator
![]() Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cherryville, NC
Posts: 2,192
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
You need to compare the center to center length of the new pitman arm against the old one....
Swap the center link end for end and turn it around so the tie rod ends will come in from behind.... Being lowered has nothing to do with the placement of the cross link.... Hitting the cross member is usually because its in backwards and or the pitman arm is the wrong length....
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Family and country before all others... 2006 Chevy Silverado (Daily Driver) 2012 Chevy Equinox ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#5 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Locust grove, Ga
Posts: 2,234
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
These two pictures should help, one is a saved picture from the board and the other a 72 front end in my yard. As you can see the link is very tight, just being dirty will make it technically rub. You can not physically install the tie rods with the center link installed and centered. You have to turn the steering to be able to insert the tie rod or take the idler arm loose.
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70 C10 highschool truck now C20 cummins powered 72 Crew Denali, Bigger, Stronger, Faster, well you get the point..... the ole 65 continental Syclone killer AWD T56 LS Paypal please pay as Goods&Services Madkidd00000007@yahoo.com |
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Anthem AZ
Posts: 281
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Anthem AZ
Posts: 281
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
STEERING ISSUES SOLVED.
i feel dumb. not only did i have the center link backwards i also had it flipped around. ugh. i drove like this with loose steering for almost 6 months. Phyllis is steering like a new truck again. thanks for all your help guys. |
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#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Locust grove, Ga
Posts: 2,234
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
Good deal. When properly set up these things can actually handle quite well
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70 C10 highschool truck now C20 cummins powered 72 Crew Denali, Bigger, Stronger, Faster, well you get the point..... the ole 65 continental Syclone killer AWD T56 LS Paypal please pay as Goods&Services Madkidd00000007@yahoo.com |
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#9 |
Account Suspended
![]() Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 6,873
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
If it makes you feel better....to install it backwards you have to flip it.
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 3,081
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
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-klb
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67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 21,964
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
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67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Brookfield MA
Posts: 10
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
Thank you for this thread, I just recently got my truck on the road and was having the exact same issues, checked under the front and sure enough I had the center section backwards. Swapped around and set toe and it’s all better now 👍🏻
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 200
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
Just curious so I can check this on my own truck. Can you have the center link installed in the right position, but still have the tie rod ends installed wrong (with the nuts on the inside)? Or if the tie rods are installed right (with nuts on front), does the center link always have to be in the right position? I only ask cause I measured and noticed my inner to outer tie rod end distance is 1/2 longer on one side then the other (and I was always under the impression they should be equal).
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Brookfield MA
Posts: 10
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Re: Steering issues - lowered 1970 c10
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