Steering Issue - need help!!

[HotRodPC]

With that much lift, my suggestion would be to highly consider Crossover Steering which uses a 2wd steering box. The Pitman arms are clocked different on 2wd vs 4wd, so the 2wd box is necessary for the crossover steering. It's costly but you'll love it. For that truck, it's certainly worth the expense. That is sure to cure and stress, strain and any binding that might caused this problem in the first place. Just a suggestion.

 

[HotRodPC]

Ohhh and the other thing to check, is to make sure your frame isn't cracked where the steer box is mounted. This is a common problem, especially on trucks with oversize tires that put more strain on the steering members. Again, crossover steering will help alieviate some of that strain. If the frame is cracked, there is repair methods available that make it better than new with some fab work.

 

[HuskerFan]

Well guys, haven't had much time to work on it, but finally got a new drop pitman and a steering arm riser block installed. I naively hoped that getting that draglink parallel to the ground would solve my steering issue, but it was to no avail. However, think i now know what's wrong. After some google searching and more analyzing of the steering issue with my buddy(he's got a rock crawler and a lot more experience than me), think whats wrong is the bolt that goes down through the driver's side leaf spring pack is broken. Some guy on another thread on a different site sounded like he had the exact same problem, and that was his issue. Now just need to wait till my buddy can make it back down here with his high lift jack so we can lift the body up on that side and pull the leafs off of that stud to see if its broken. It's never something easy .... lol

 

[HotRodPC]

Well, if you've made the proper diagnosis and it is indeed a broken spring bolt.... Then the hard part is done. Usually in these type situation, diagnosis is the hard part. It's all downhill if you have confirmation of what is wrong.

 

[hirschdalechevy]

I think you are on the right track , I have had some square's with that same sound and that was the problem , (broken center pin). If you already have the box off , (check for crack's , like hot rod pc said) then look at ord's steering box brace kit , (a must have imo. with big rubber). I have converted a lot of my lifted square's to crossover and i think thats the way to go.

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[hirschdalechevy]

One thing I forgot , if you do go cross over , I would run a reid racing knuckel on the passenger side. They are beefier than stock , also for sale at ord.

 

[HotRodPC]

I think you are on the right track , I have had some square's with that same sound and that was the problem , (broken center pin). If you already have the box off , (check for crack's , like hot rod pc said) then look at ord's steering box brace kit , (a must have imo. with big rubber). I have converted a lot of my lifted square's to crossover and i think thats the way to go.

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Look at the porn !!! If that don't make your sticker peck out... then you're probably just gay.

 

[HuskerFan]

Hahahah Yes! That's a nice setup. I looked into crossover steering, and i would agree that it's definitely the way to go with bigger lift and bigger tires, unfortunately my current circumstances with personal life and work life right now, had to go the route of saving money in order to get it ready for the summer(only dropped a couple hundred on a new drop pitman and steering arm riser block versus the crossover setup). Gonna have to look at the center pin on the leafs here once i get a high lift jack. Side note, once i reached that stopping point with the steering issue, went to pull off the passenger side locking hub cap as it was stuck in 4x4, once i got inside it, the locking gear was indeed stuck locked in on the axle. Little WD-40 and a pick and i got it out. Was of course quite rusty, probably should go through and get new locking gears in the future, but for now i put it back in after cleaning it and the spring up a little(funny side note, couldnt get the dam gear to pop out, then of course, after a lot of prying/picking, put my head down to get a closer look, and the locking gear popped free, sprung out and clocked me right in the face -__- lol) but i read somewhere that too much grease is bad in there and can make the locking gear get stuck, so i just sprayed a generous amount of WD in there and put it back together. What would you guys recommend for lube there? Just a light coat of oil on the locking gear and around the axle gear?

 

[TXHorseman74]

When I first purchased mine, it was making a very similar noise. It ended up being the leaf springs shifting due to a worn out bushing. Not saying that's what you've got, but might be worth the inspection. Sounded just almost identical.

I have play in my pitman arm, too, but it doesn't pop like that. Just makes for sloppy steering. I've had a heck of a time finding a replacement, though.

 

[87scotty]

When I first purchased mine, it was making a very similar noise. It ended up being the leaf springs shifting due to a worn out bushing. Not saying that's what you've got, but might be worth the inspection. Sounded just almost identical.

I have play in my pitman arm, too, but it doesn't pop like that. Just makes for sloppy steering. I've had a heck of a time finding a replacement, though.

Same here

 

[75Monza]

I had a similar issue with my '86 with 8" of spring, had no turning radius though. My popping noise turned out to be bad upper and lower ball joints. After I rebuilt my axle is when I figured out I had no turning radius once all the slop was gone, lol. I don't have a drop pitman on mine, think it's just stock, but do have the raised steering arm. I also bought one of these, a skyjacker offset drag link.

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Have not had a chance to put it in yet, but holding it in place looks like it will do what I was after. Hoping to get it on next month when I take the 37's off for snow tires.