1987 Chevrolet V20 front leaf spring replacement

[hoagster]

This is what I would look for and you'll see it if someone is turning the steering wheel while the truck is running. This is what happens when you put large tires on these trucks without support. Go visit Off Road design. Those are the mount holes for the steering pump. I have seen this on two of my trucks. No lift but big tires, 31.5 X10 and 33 x10 with wheel wells cut out.

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[iamtherealJayy]

So you think my frame might be cracked by the steering box? I’ve been running 16x10 with a 305/70/16 it’s like a 32.8 by 12.4 or something I call it a 33/12.50, I’ve heard about the frame cracking at the steering box but I’ve never looked at my own. Is this something visible with the steering box on the frame?

 

[hoagster]

Look on the inside,

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[hoagster]

Someone else just posted about steering box frame repair, go here and you can see the rest of my pictures.

Frame repair at steering box​

 

[Craig 85]

I'm late to the game here, but before you align every thing, did you replace the upper bushing that goes through the frame at the rear of the front spring? Mine was worn to the metal bushing when I replaced mine. FYI these are ORD aftermarket shackles.

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[Nonstop]

Yes, center tie rod is bent in the middle upwards some. I have a new one sitting right in front of me. Along with all the other tie rod ends and drag link and drag link adjustment sleeve. I’m hoping to clean up some play in my steering. And my wheel is very uhm interesting? One day I’ll be driving and it’s straight then you look down and it’s turned to the right a little and next day you hop in take off and it’s slightly left. I’m hoping replacing all the steering will fix that. If I still have play I’ll check the rag joint next. I’m trying to slowly but surely fix her up.
Edit @Redfish im surprised no one mentioned that sooner in all honesty. I never mentioned it because I never thought of it. Good eye

Since you have it, I would replace that long tie rod end now. It being bent like that is a big contributor to the funky wheel angles you are seeing.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

@Craig 85 Negative, I did not even look, I’ll have to check into it.
@Nonstop I have all the steering parts sitting here I just wanted to finish suspension so I didn’t blow out the new steering parts.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

@hoagster my frame appears to not have any cracks, atleast nothing noticeable. Should I like get a brush and scrub it down and check harder?

 

[hoagster]

@hoagster my frame appears to not have any cracks, atleast nothing noticeable. Should I like get a brush and scrub it down and check harder?

I would have a friend or your dad start it and move the steering back and forth and look for stuff moving that should be stationary. With the truck on the ground.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Started replacing the tie rods today, turns out the center one isn’t right it’s a conversion style since apparently they quit producing the tube one like I have. For the drag link I fought the cotter pins and finally got them out but couldn’t get the drag link off so I’m borrowing a pickle fork to remove it all. Everything has been against me so far for fixing this truck, the truck hasn’t seen the road for three weeks today. To top the cake it was so windy my bag of cotter pins blew away while I was working in the front of truck(bag was on tailgate with new steering parts). Everything else looks like it will work but the center part doesn’t exist to my findings. And the piece I have looks like it goes on drivers side and replaces the tie rod end but the passenger side is just threads so I’d need an adjustment sleeve to make it work. Any ideas? Should I try and find a parts truck to get the center tube off of? Should the bent one be fine? Should I find an adjustment sleeve and try and make this new one work?

 

[hoagster]

Started replacing the tie rods today, turns out the center one isn’t right it’s a conversion style since apparently they quit producing the tube one like I have. For the drag link I fought the cotter pins and finally got them out but couldn’t get the drag link off so I’m borrowing a pickle fork to remove it all. Everything has been against me so far for fixing this truck, the truck hasn’t seen the road for three weeks today. To top the cake it was so windy my bag of cotter pins blew away while I was working in the front of truck(bag was on tailgate with new steering parts). Everything else looks like it will work but the center part doesn’t exist to my findings. And the piece I have looks like it goes on drivers side and replaces the tie rod end but the passenger side is just threads so I’d need an adjustment sleeve to make it work. Any ideas? Should I try and find a parts truck to get the center tube off of? Should the bent one be fine? Should I find an adjustment sleeve and try and make this new one work?

Any of the online stores will have what you need and even napa or autozone. I would find it online using there search engines and then see if I could get it local.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

Any idea what it’s called? I looked up tie rod tube and it doesn’t exist. I looked up gm part numbers and that’s what it was called but I can’t find the center section. Mines bent so I’d really like to replace it.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

I replaced the drag link ends and adjusting sleeve, same amount of threads as last one and sitting side by side it looked same size and it fit right in. I did not replace either of the outer tie rod ends since my center tube is bent and no point in putting new oarts on a bent tie rod tube. I just need to source the tube.

 

[Nonstop]

Look up tie rod adjusting sleeve. Although, It might just be easier to order the long tie rod end and adjusting sleeve to fit it.

 

[iamtherealJayy]

What adjustment sleeve would I need? Is it bigger than the drag link adjustment sleeve? I can’t source the center tube anywhere. But I do have the solid drivers side piece but no way of attaching it to passenger side