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4" Tuff Country lift problems...

Hey KPTexan, I have a lift arm and a stock arm sitting in my garage. You can have either of them if you need them. I am literally one block away from Leper, so just let me know. BTW, Leper runs no steering stabilizer up front so he is a bumpsteer/deathwobble guru! :D
 
Your mechanic is wrong; the drag link needs to follow the arc of the springs. I don't think that any specific steering part can "cause" more torque on the box as he suggested because the amount of force on the box is determined by the relationship of the knuckle to the sector shaft, and not by the parts used to connect them. Example - more lift = more force on the steering box because the axle is farther(lower) than it used to be. How does the steering box know what it used to connect it to the axle? It doesn't. You are correct for wanting the dropped pitman arm instead of the raised steering arm.

Here is a copy/paste from a search
and as the suspension compresses the draglink angle (which would be getting more level) should make the tires turn to the right. At the same time the suspension compresses though, the leaf spring is getting flatter, and as this happens the axle is moving rearward, which would make the draglink seem shorter and turn the tires to the left. Is it possible that these two actions cancel each other out?
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Here is a pic of my last truck. It had 7" suspension lift with a raised steering arm. It had NO bumpsteer at all. Note the drag link angle:

02-13-05003.jpg
 
Hey,

Can someone make me feel not so dumb and explain to me what bump steer is?

Michael
 
Mikey von said:
Hey,

Can someone make me feel not so dumb and explain to me what bump steer is?

Michael
Click to expand...
It's when you are driving and the truck hits a bump and jerks quickly to the side even though you are holding the steering wheel in the same position. It's caused by the steering and suspension not working together as the suspension cycles. As your tires move up (from hitting a bump), your steering must be able to hold the tires in the same position throughout the cycle or bump steer will occur.
 
Leper, I sent you an e-mail so let me know if you got it. Kolsimer, that would be awesome if you wouldnt mine giving or selling that stock arm to me because my shop apparently threw mine away.

Thanks so much,

Wes
 
kp texan said:
Leper, I sent you an e-mail so let me know if you got it. Kolsimer, that would be awesome if you wouldnt mine giving or selling that stock arm to me because my shop apparently threw mine away.

Thanks so much,

Wes
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What???? An email.... You so need to buy a membership here. I'm all about the PM. See we are already saving you hundreds of dollars on parts and labor. Pay up man, you won't regret it.
 
There ya go Leper... Kp, pony up for the membership and I will include one genuine Chevrolet part of your choice from my suburban in addition to the steering arm.
 
divorced said:
It's when you are driving and the truck hits a bump and jerks quickly to the side even though you are holding the steering wheel in the same position. It's caused by the steering and suspension not working together as the suspension cycles. As your tires move up (from hitting a bump), your steering must be able to hold the tires in the same position throughout the cycle or bump steer will occur.
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Thank you for the explanation. :bow: It does not sound tooo fun. I have 4" TC springs in front. I have no bump steer. PO had Schawb install the kit and change steering arm. I will have to check receipts to see if it is a dropped pitman or a raised steering arm (not like I really know what those are either).
 
So let me see this guy wants you to buy $400+ worth of shocks from him..... nobody here has anything to gain from telling you their experience. hmmm I'm just not sure what I'd go with
 
Well guys, I finally installed my drop pitman arm, stock steering arm, and new drag link and the difference is like night and day! Y'all were completely right about this issue and the shop was wrong. Now, my drag link is angled more with the arch of my spring and the bump steer is pretty much completely gone and I have a much better steering feel to boot. I suppose all I need to do is have it realigned tomorrow. Thanks so much for the input!

-Wes
 
kp texan said:
Well guys, I finally installed my drop pitman arm, stock steering arm, and new drag link and the difference is like night and day! Y'all were completely right about this issue and the shop was wrong. Now, my drag link is angled more with the arch of my spring and the bump steer is pretty much completely gone and I have a much better steering feel to boot. I suppose all I need to do is have it realigned tomorrow. Thanks so much for the input!

-Wes
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Good deal.. Did you use the superlift brand dropped pitman arm? Where did you buy it? I may do this Exact same lift soon.. just not sure if I'm gonna go 4 or 5" up front. If I only go 4, I'll get the dropped pitman arm, if I go 5, I'll probably get the steering arm.
 
Wow, my steering wheel is all over the road on bumps. Since I drove an old 60's chevy truck for a long time I just thought all that steering movement was normal :D

Seriously, at this point im probably going to remove the raised steering arm and try the dropped pitman. Just threw my stock arm away 2 weeks ago :doah:
 
I used the Skyjacker brand drop pitman arm from Summit. It seems like it's really maybe a 2" drop at the most. Why would Tuff Country insist on selling a steering arm with their 4" lift that is so high? Wouldn't the Skyjacker pitman arm be the same thing as if their steering arm was raised only 2"?

-Wes
 
I have some crappy steering problems (turn radius of a sports car to the left, and like a bus to the right, and some bump steer, not to mention sloppy steering). The PO installed a steering arm lift block with the 3" body lift. The draglink is horizontal. If I removed the block, would that help my situation? Not meaning ot hijack...:o
 
Do you just have a body lift on your Blazer? If so, none of your suspension geometry would have changed and you should not need a higher steering arm than stock (atleast thats the way I see it, someone correct me if I'm wrong). If your drag link is horizontal (the same way mine was when I had bad bump steer) then it will most likely benefit you to get rid of the steering arm block, so long as the drag link angle doesn't get too radical. I was driving my Blazer today and am still amazed at how much of a difference the drop pitman arm made. Before I changed it out, driving was kind of scary because any bumps would make my steering squirrely, especially while driving on curvy roads. My K5 used to wander all over the lane but now I feel like I have much more control. It now feels almost identical to stock even though it sways a little bit more around corners.

-Wes
 
Thanks man. It is horizontal, and drives kinda crappy. I'll pull off the block when it stops raining!:mad:
 
Glad your stuff is fixed. I see you are now a member here. Congrats.

BTW....Lets go wheelin soon. Us Tx folk got to hang out.
 
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