Hey guys, need some help here.

I just finished about a week ago lifting my '83 3" and adding 33" tires.

Since then, I've been seeing some variants on the steering, it kinda wants to wonder a little. Have you ever noticed that sometimes on paved roads, there are like tire grooves left by the transit of heavier trucks, well my trucks tends to wonder and follow the grooves even if I tell it to go the other way.

The steering wondering is not that bad, but it does take me by sorprise sometimes.

Do any of you know if the steering play can be corrected by adjusting the drag link?

I have noticed that there are like some slotted threaded retainers on the drag link, which I imagine is for adjusting the play.

I'm saying this because prior to the lift and bigger tires, I replaced both tie rods with good brand ones, it used to sit on 29" tires, so there was no steering play.

I also replaced the front springs and bushings with new ones, so I know there is no play there.

what do you guys think I should?

thanks...

 

I assume you added a drop drag link? Or maybe not? I'd start there. You can tighten the bolts on that drag link with a slot socket (might be hard to find). best thing is to get somebody in the truck with it off and have them lightly turn the steering wheel side to side and look for play that doesn't look right.

There is also an adjustment nut on the steering rod itself where it enters the gearbox, but again, I'd be suspicious of your drag link.

Otherwise, wheel bearings? But you said steering was good before that, so prob. not.

Good luck.

 

I found cranking down the drag link ends as tight as practical worked best for me with stock steering, especially with a dropped drag link:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_suspension.shtml#PhaseI

Aside from that, have someone sit in the cab and slowly turn the steering wheel back and forth just to the point the wheels start to move and then pop your head under the hood and under the front axle and look for where you see the steering moving upstream and not moving downstream and the point you lose all the motion is where the play is coming from.

 

I did not change the drag link, as I understood from reading several threads on this forum and other ones, unless I go higher than 3", then I would need a "S" shapped drag link .

Know, my drag link is the stock one, I imagine it would have a lot of wear on it, so I'm planing on taking it appart and checking all the components, maybe all it needs is some grease and a little adjustment.

I was reading the FSM, and it states that it should be tightened all the way in, and then loosen the plug 1-1/3 turns (both ends).

As for the steering box, there should be something here also for the adjustment of the back nut, I'll check into that.

Any more comments or sugestions, please feel free to say.

thanks...

 

Too much toe-in gave me steering play with all new steering components. Did you self align the truck? That was my mistake

 

Before I replaced the tie rods, I measured the distance from each other (center to center), I took each tie rod at a time, and I measured again prior to removing the next one, so basically the measurement should be the same.

It wasn't giving me any problem with the smaller tires, I think it would not be a bad idea to take it to a shop and have it aligned also.

 

I think 4Crawler outlined how to do a driveway alignment on here somewhere in detail or his website, I can't remember, but I am pretty certain I used his. Anyways, clamp a straight edge to each rotor and measure the distance between the straight edges at the front and the back. Looking for about just 1/8th of an inch more narrow at the front. You can do it just on the tires, but it's less precise.

At first I had too much toe in and it tracked perfectly straight, but the steering was a little unresponsive and it would track with grooves in the road. When a cross wind would hit my truck on the freeway it was really scary. I rectified my toe in and no more problems. Not saying this definitely your problem, but if you can't find any play in steering components it can feel pretty similar.

 

Solid axle alignment tips:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...html#Alignment

 

Looks like an easy setup, I'll try that today just after work.

Here are some before and after pics of my baby...

Sorry for the shots not being action shots, but at least you can tell the diference.

I love the way these little trucks look with some moderate lift and bigger tires...

 

So clean, I'll trade ya!

 

Just to let you all know about some updates on the steering play.

I came up with a tool to unscrew the threaded retainers in the drag link (1/8 thick x .850" x1" long stock bar). I fisrt removed both cotter pins, then placed the special tool in the groove (a big ass flat screw driver will work I guess) and unscrewed one end at a time.

I did not remove each retainer out, I just unscrew them so I could screw then back in all the way, and then I unscrew them out 1 full turn.

That helped, but did not completely fix it.

I guess I'm gonna have to take the truck to get aligned, that maybe it.

O something else I forgot, have any of you guys had any trouble right after completely removing the stabilizer bar?

I took it off yesterday and drove the truck around and it felt much softer, I really liked the feel with out it.

I then took it out to check the flexing on my truck, and wow, the flex is much, much better (sorry did not took any pics, it was getting dark and I did not had my phone with me).

So I'll take some pics today if I can and I'll show you all.

I'll let you know if the steering play wnet off right after I get it aligned.

thanks...

 

Sounds like the tool I made:


And I found forgetting the factory tightening specs and just crank down the ends as tight as you can get them (can't really get all that much torque on them with the makeshift tool anyway) worked best for me. Assuming you have good grease in there, it is not like you are going to be cranking the steering back and forth at 5000 RPM or anything. There are springs behind the sockets in the drag link and the more you compress them the less play there is.

Torque rod will limit flex as you noted, but it also helps prevent brake-steer when the front end pulls to one side when you hit the brakes hard. It also helps to protect the drag link and steering J-arm from damage while off-road. You can search and find some tips on making that parts removable, adjustable or disconnectable for off-road use.

 

Look into flipping the ball onto the top of the J-arm on the drivers side. It'll bring the drag link back to a reasonable angle.

 

I imagine you've done this before peow130?

Or at least seen this done. Do you know if there are any special tools needed to do this, or any written instructions?

I'm interested, and I definitely know it will help.

I already replaced the steering stabilizer, and I'm still having problems with the steering wondering.

What I have not done is adjust the play on the steering box, is there a procedure for doing this that anybody knows of.

 

Seen it done before, don't really know how it was done.

As far as i know, the ball needs to be pressed out of the J arm, and then pressed back into the other side.

And i forgot what the drag link looks like, i think i scrapped my old one, but i don't remember if it has provisions to run the ball on the opposite side. otherwise you'll have to get creative.

 

I would like to thank all for all your help and support, I finally fixed the damn wondering fo the steering.

It turns out, as some else pointed it out before, that all it needed was some alignment.

I did the alignment my self, I followed the 2 pieces of wood attached to each wheel disk procedure.

Before I did any adjustments, I measured both front and back, the diference was about 1 inch. The front was measuring about 54", and the back measured 53".

After adjustments, front read 53 9/16, rear measured 53½, only a 1/16 difference (I could get them to measure exactly the same).

I drove my truck after this and the steering wondering went away, now the steering follows werever I tell it to go.

Here are some pics of the method I used for adjusting the alignment.

I also adjusted the steering box adjusting screw and tightenned that one and kept the play tighter.

Again, thank you all for your help...

Now that the steering has been fixed, all I have to do now is get used to the stiffer suspension, the good thing is that I only drive it on the weekends...

see'ya!!!!!

 

You want to end up with a little bit of toe in (front narrower than the back):
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechInfo.shtml#Steering
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...html#Alignment

So probably another 1/16" - 1/8" in on the front.

 

cool, glad you worked it out.