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#1
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Steering linkage prob
I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial
lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. Buddah |
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#2
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"Richard Cox" > wrote in message >...
> I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > Buddah Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the center point. Reconnect the pitman arm and drive straight to an alignment shop to have it checked out. Also, I have seen this problem if the steering geometry is not corrected due to a huge lift (mine was 6"). Any 4x4 shop can look at your steering geometry and tell if it has been corrected. Hope that helps. Derek |
#3
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"Richard Cox" > wrote in message >...
> I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > Buddah Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the center point. Reconnect the pitman arm and drive straight to an alignment shop to have it checked out. Also, I have seen this problem if the steering geometry is not corrected due to a huge lift (mine was 6"). Any 4x4 shop can look at your steering geometry and tell if it has been corrected. Hope that helps. Derek |
#4
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"derek" > wrote in message om... > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message >... > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > Buddah > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > center point. <snip> This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. Buddah Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. |
#5
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"derek" > wrote in message om... > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message >... > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > Buddah > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > center point. <snip> This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. Buddah Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. |
#6
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"Richard Cox" > wrote in message >...
> "derek" > wrote in message > om... > > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message > >... > > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a > substantial > > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) > and > > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is > messed > > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the > right, > > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only > adjustment > > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that > holds > > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some > modifications > > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall > off > > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do > I > > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good > at > > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > > > Buddah > > > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > > center point. > <snip> > > This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was > 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer > coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. > > Buddah > > Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. If the center of the pitman arm is not long enough, then it sounds as if your steering geometry has not been corrected for the lift. Your first task is to figure out how much lift than darn truck has. The only for sure way I know to tell the amount of lift is to find a stock truck, measure the front axle to frame and then measure the exact same spot on your truck. Maybe you can find some numbers somewhere that might clue you in also. Once you find out the lift, any good 4x4 shop can tell you what you need to do in order to get the geometry correct. When I bought my lifted truck, I just bought an extended pitman arm that hung low enough to connect to the stock steering. Once I had the new pitman arm, I cound definitely see that the old one was way too small. Not much help, but my .02 Derek |
#7
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"Richard Cox" > wrote in message >...
> "derek" > wrote in message > om... > > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message > >... > > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a > substantial > > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) > and > > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is > messed > > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the > right, > > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only > adjustment > > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that > holds > > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some > modifications > > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall > off > > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do > I > > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good > at > > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > > > Buddah > > > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > > center point. > <snip> > > This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was > 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer > coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. > > Buddah > > Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. If the center of the pitman arm is not long enough, then it sounds as if your steering geometry has not been corrected for the lift. Your first task is to figure out how much lift than darn truck has. The only for sure way I know to tell the amount of lift is to find a stock truck, measure the front axle to frame and then measure the exact same spot on your truck. Maybe you can find some numbers somewhere that might clue you in also. Once you find out the lift, any good 4x4 shop can tell you what you need to do in order to get the geometry correct. When I bought my lifted truck, I just bought an extended pitman arm that hung low enough to connect to the stock steering. Once I had the new pitman arm, I cound definitely see that the old one was way too small. Not much help, but my .02 Derek |
#8
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"derek" > wrote in message om... > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message >... > > "derek" > wrote in message > > om... > > > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message > > >... > > > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a > > substantial > > > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) > > and > > > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is > > messed > > > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the > > right, > > > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only > > adjustment > > > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that > > holds > > > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some > > modifications > > > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall > > off > > > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do > > I > > > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good > > at > > > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > > > > > Buddah > > > > > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > > > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > > > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > > > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > > > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > > > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > > > center point. > > <snip> > > > > This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was > > 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer > > coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. > > > > Buddah > > > > Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. > > If the center of the pitman arm is not long enough, then it sounds as > if your steering geometry has not been corrected for the lift. Your > first task is to figure out how much lift than darn truck has. The > only for sure way I know to tell the amount of lift is to find a stock > truck, measure the front axle to frame and then measure the exact same > spot on your truck. Maybe you can find some numbers somewhere that > might clue you in also. Once you find out the lift, any good 4x4 shop > can tell you what you need to do in order to get the geometry correct. > When I bought my lifted truck, I just bought an extended pitman arm > that hung low enough to connect to the stock steering. Once I had the > new pitman arm, I cound definitely see that the old one was way too > small. Not much help, but my .02 Thanks for your input Derek, will do jus that. Buddah |
#9
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"derek" > wrote in message om... > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message >... > > "derek" > wrote in message > > om... > > > "Richard Cox" > wrote in message > > >... > > > > I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a > > substantial > > > > lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) > > and > > > > the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is > > messed > > > > up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the > > right, > > > > you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only > > adjustment > > > > is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the > > > > steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that > > holds > > > > the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some > > modifications > > > > to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall > > off > > > > and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do > > I > > > > need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good > > at > > > > turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension > > > > modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA. > > > > > > > > Buddah > > > > > > Whoever installed your lift probably screwed up the steering box > > > center. What I would do is get the wheels as straight as possible and > > > then disconnect the pitman arm. Turn steering wheel full left and > > > then count the number or turns it takes to reach full right. Take > > > that number of turns and divide by 2 (to get the center point) and > > > then go back the other way that number of turns to get close to the > > > center point. > > <snip> > > > > This is exactly what I did, but the center coupling of the pitman arm was > > 3/4" too short to connect the 2 halves together. Can I get a longer > > coupling, or do I need to have 1 half of the pitman arm lengthened. > > > > Buddah > > > > Ps, I think I have a 10"-12" lift on it, but not sure, how do I measure. > > If the center of the pitman arm is not long enough, then it sounds as > if your steering geometry has not been corrected for the lift. Your > first task is to figure out how much lift than darn truck has. The > only for sure way I know to tell the amount of lift is to find a stock > truck, measure the front axle to frame and then measure the exact same > spot on your truck. Maybe you can find some numbers somewhere that > might clue you in also. Once you find out the lift, any good 4x4 shop > can tell you what you need to do in order to get the geometry correct. > When I bought my lifted truck, I just bought an extended pitman arm > that hung low enough to connect to the stock steering. Once I had the > new pitman arm, I cound definitely see that the old one was way too > small. Not much help, but my .02 Thanks for your input Derek, will do jus that. Buddah |
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