Still Super Sloppy Steering

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Dougnsalem

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2018
Posts
1,143
Reaction score
1,313
Location
.
First Name
.
Truck Year
.
Truck Model
.
Engine Size
.
Panhards are for coil sprung suspensions, keeps the axle located where it should be. The geometry with leaf springs is all wrong for the application. All it woukd do is create bind. The leaf springs handle all the axle locating duties on these trucks.
DOH! Like how a Jeep has one.... Maybe I should sleep more on it.... Lol
 

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,914
Reaction score
4,115
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Someone else mentioned the rear springs. It made me think, did you have a 4 wheel alignment? I've had a couple of Suburbans where the R/R spring had fatigued and caused it to crab walk when driving down the road.
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
Super Duty's have track bars though, leaf sprung ones.

I would not add one to this truck however. As I've said, I've had some rough squarebody's, and they were more or less ok. And I've had some like my CUCV, that looked good, low mileage, and all over the road lol.

I wonder why ferd thought they needed it.
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
I wonder why ferd thought they needed it.

I took one off mine and it wandered all over the road and had wicked bump steer, put it back on lol.

Took them off my YJ and it just rode better lol.
 

CSFJ

-----------------
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2014
Posts
6,160
Reaction score
5,170
Location
------
First Name
-------------
Truck Year
-------
Truck Model
-------
Engine Size
-------
I took one off mine and it wandered all over the road and had wicked bump steer, put it back on lol.

Took them off my YJ and it just rode better lol.
Leave it to ford to screw up leaf springs. At least they circled the problem, lol.
 

Jon Karnes

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
28
Reaction score
24
Location
Shreveport, LA
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.9 12 valve Cummins Conversion
The Offroad Designs brace is pretty good, there's like a billion out there, I just stick with what I know lol. My CUCV has a ORD brace on it.

And those bolts were finger tight lol.
Funny you mention them. I talked to Steve on Tuesday. Once I get the play issue resolved, I’m gonna put their crossover steer system on it. This summer I’m gonna switch out to their suspension as well. Haven’t made up my mind if I’m gonna just do the straight replace with their custom leafs and shocks or go all it with the four Link coil over conversion.

I really hope the column is the fix, if not, at least it will be eliminated as a possibility.
 

Jon Karnes

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
28
Reaction score
24
Location
Shreveport, LA
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.9 12 valve Cummins Conversion
Did have a four wheel alignment. The rear end was rebuilt the same way the front was as well.
 

shiftpro

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
Reaction score
6,092
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!
Did have a four wheel alignment. The rear end was rebuilt the same way the front was as well.
Slightly off topic here Jon, your other post where you show us pics of the new Burb... is that your shop it's parked in front of? I'm smitten with
(clean) shops as much a squarebody chevs..
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,828
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
I wonder why ferd thought they needed it.
Because they’re ford and they figured they better put something extra there to keep the axle under the truck when the spring hangers break. It’s all in the name of public safety. Now I guess they are getting sued for the same thing VW did with the diesels. Lol
 

Jon Karnes

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
28
Reaction score
24
Location
Shreveport, LA
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.9 12 valve Cummins Conversion
Slightly off topic here Jon, your other post where you show us pics of the new Burb... is that your shop it's parked in front of? I'm smitten with
(clean) shops as much a squarebody chevs..
Not a shop. That’s the garage where I park the Shelby. It’s kind of a mess right now.
 

twinturbo427

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Posts
622
Reaction score
702
Location
Florida
First Name
Phil
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
Sorry, late getting back to the party.

I only mentioned the column because everything else had been covered.

The tilt columns have a universal joint that can go bad. Rare, but it happens. Usually impact related but sometimes just a failure.

Carry on...
 

Jon Karnes

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2018
Posts
28
Reaction score
24
Location
Shreveport, LA
First Name
Jon
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20 Suburban
Engine Size
5.9 12 valve Cummins Conversion
Some had asked for specifics on the weight and the ratings. Had it weighed today. First the front axle is rated for 5500 pounds. The front leaf springs for 2600 a piece.

Total weight: 6620 lbs
Front axle weight: 3380 lbs
Rear axle weight: 3240 lbs
 

Frankenchevy

Proverbs 16:18
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Posts
6,076
Reaction score
7,743
Location
USA
First Name
Jeremy
Truck Year
Square
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
Small
near 50/50 !! that's surprising
 

Snoots

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Posts
8,710
Reaction score
17,997
Location
Georgia
First Name
Roger
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
Jimmy Sierra
Engine Size
350 w/203
Let me see if I have this right.

Your front springs are under-rated by 150 total. Imagine what the weight is on those springs when the front bounces?
Having weight in the rear doesn't remove this load.

Another question, regardless of a 4-wheel alignment; are the axles aligned with the frame?

I'm no high-and-mighty wizard here. These are just questions I would have to get answered if it were mine.
 

Jrgunn5150

Questionable methods
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Posts
2,739
Reaction score
1,412
Location
Ionia Mi
First Name
J.R.
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.slow
Let me see if I have this right.

Your front springs are under-rated by 150 total. Imagine what the weight is on those springs when the front bounces?
Having weight in the rear doesn't remove this load.

Another question, regardless of a 4-wheel alignment; are the axles aligned with the frame?

I'm no high-and-mighty wizard here. These are just questions I would have to get answered if it were mine.


2600 each, 5200 total rating on the springs.

5200 rating on the axle.

Front actual weight is 3800.

Weight, is not a factor.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,083
Posts
949,050
Members
36,162
Latest member
jbahena95
Top