Crossover Steering
- Thread starter vicnation
- Start date
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Craig 85
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2017
- Posts
- 3,917
- Reaction score
- 4,116
- Location
- Nashville, TN
- First Name
- Craig
- Truck Year
- 1985
- Truck Model
- K30 SRW
- Engine Size
- 454/TH-400/NP205
I've had 4 Squarebody 4WD trucks over the years. All were lifted 3-6" with a minimum of 33" tall tires. With your plans I don't think a cross steer set up is needed or cost effective.
Bump steer is the big issue with our factory push-pull steering set up. My last truck, a '79 K15, had a old, very stiff 4" Rancho lift when I bought it. I replaced it with a 4" Tuff Country EZ Ride set up. With the Ranchos, there was no bump steer as it was so stiff. I had some with the new springs but very minimal (I had installed a heavy winch bumper on the front). My '77 K5 with a 6" Skyjacker with 36" tires, had a lot of bump steer due to spring flex. If I had done serious off roading with truck, a cross steer would have been a tremendous help.
Cross steer is designed to remove the bump steer and also prevents the bind our OEM set causes off roading. There are a few issues when running a cross steer. I believe you need more than a 2" lift, like you have, you have to run a 2WD steering box and you lose the factory sway bar as it interferes with the new steering set up. For towing on the highway, you probably want the sway bar. I have seen people fab up sway bars for cross steer setups. Also, if you don't have a D44 in front, you'd need a new right knuckle.
ORD's Cross steer setup
Bump steer is the big issue with our factory push-pull steering set up. My last truck, a '79 K15, had a old, very stiff 4" Rancho lift when I bought it. I replaced it with a 4" Tuff Country EZ Ride set up. With the Ranchos, there was no bump steer as it was so stiff. I had some with the new springs but very minimal (I had installed a heavy winch bumper on the front). My '77 K5 with a 6" Skyjacker with 36" tires, had a lot of bump steer due to spring flex. If I had done serious off roading with truck, a cross steer would have been a tremendous help.
Cross steer is designed to remove the bump steer and also prevents the bind our OEM set causes off roading. There are a few issues when running a cross steer. I believe you need more than a 2" lift, like you have, you have to run a 2WD steering box and you lose the factory sway bar as it interferes with the new steering set up. For towing on the highway, you probably want the sway bar. I have seen people fab up sway bars for cross steer setups. Also, if you don't have a D44 in front, you'd need a new right knuckle.
ORD's Cross steer setup
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