Crossover steering problems

[GRINCH]

72 with a PSC 2wd ported gear (No RAM yet) ORD Crossover steering for a Dana 60. Jones racing pump with an external PSC reservoir.

Been done with the build for a while and all I have really done was race it in the sand drags and a few obstale courses all summer. No road time, trailered everywhere.

Well it's winter and time to go playing in the snow.

Last trip out I had finally got some road time in it and the steering was very sloppy. Like driving an old truck with everything all worn out. Hence the problem.. Everything is brand new. Dana 60 completely gone though and ORD crossover steering a new PSC gear and pitman arm.

I checked everything and it's all tight.

First problem noted was TOE. I had 3/4" of toe out. Corrected that to 1/8" toe in.

Next with it up on jackstands I twisted the steering rod (XJ Swap) back and forth and notced a lot play before the pitman arm would even move.
Did a quick search and found I should adjust the set screw on the steering gear to remove the slop. loosed the jam nut and turned the adjusting screw a few turns in and noticed the slop slowing disappearing. I ended up turning it in almost 2 full turns. Figured I was good to go.

Now the real problem.

Still up on jackstands I fired it up to test it out and noticed I could turn to the left and the steering stop would hit about the same time you could hear it deadhead. Next turning to the right I could feel the stop hit (also watched the tire stop moving but the gear would never deadhead. Its like the steering gear was off center and wanted to go more to the right. I got down and had someone turn the wheel and watched as my frame moved and the pitman arm and draglink kept moving.

Did I screw something up by adjusting the set screw to much or is this common on 72's with crossover steering?

I checked and the pitman arm is centered when the wheels are straight. Not running it is 3 revolutions lock to lock. so 1 1/2 from lock puts the wheels straight and the pitman arm in the center.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to make sure I didn't leave anything to be questioned.

 

[miniwally]

72 with a PSC 2wd ported gear (No RAM yet) ORD Crossover steering for a Dana 60. Jones racing pump with an external PSC reservoir.

Been done with the build for a while and all I have really done was race it in the sand drags and a few obstale courses all summer. No road time, trailered everywhere.

Well it's winter and time to go playing in the snow.

Last trip out I had finally got some road time in it and the steering was very sloppy. Like driving an old truck with everything all worn out. Hence the problem.. Everything is brand new. Dana 60 completely gone though and ORD crossover steering a new PSC gear and pitman arm.

I checked everything and it's all tight.

First problem noted was TOE. I had 3/4" of toe out. Corrected that to 1/8" toe in.

Next with it up on jackstands I twisted the steering rod (XJ Swap) back and forth and notced a lot play before the pitman arm would even move.
Did a quick search and found I should adjust the set screw on the steering gear to remove the slop. loosed the jam nut and turned the adjusting screw a few turns in and noticed the slop slowing disappearing. I ended up turning it in almost 2 full turns. Figured I was good to go.

Now the real problem.

Still up on jackstands I fired it up to test it out and noticed I could turn to the left and the steering stop would hit about the same time you could hear it deadhead. Next turning to the right I could feel the stop hit (also watched the tire stop moving but the gear would never deadhead. Its like the steering gear was off center and wanted to go more to the right. I got down and had someone turn the wheel and watched as my frame moved and the pitman arm and draglink kept moving.

Did I screw something up by adjusting the set screw to much or is this common on 72's with crossover steering?

I checked and the pitman arm is centered when the wheels are straight. Not running it is 3 revolutions lock to lock. so 1 1/2 from lock puts the wheels straight and the pitman arm in the center.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to make sure I didn't leave anything to be questioned.

Drive it into a shop or your work area nice and straight, like drive for twenty feet going as perfectly straight as possible. Park it and pull the drag link off the pit man arm and verify turns lock to lock on the box and make sure it's centered. If it's not then there's your problem if it is then. It kind of sounds like the drag link is too long, turns more right than left. This can also be verified with the steering wheel, is it centered while driving straight.

Steering stops can also be removed, turn the tires and slowly rotate the wheel by hand until you feel the ujoint binding, adjust the stop to just before that happens, this gives you max steering in both directions. That might help things to.

Also verify that your drag link and tierod ends are tight, even with castle nuts they can seat into the taper more and be loose.

 

[Fred_M1010]

x2 on what miniwally said

And the steering stop on the knuckles should always bottom out before the steering box.
(unless you have hydro assist, then the ram should bottom out first)
If it doesn't you don't have a steering arm that matches the pitman arm.
But in your case it sounds like it's just not correctly centered.
When you measured it to 3 revolutions lock to lock, was it with the draglink disconnected?
If not you have to check it again.

Did you turn the adjusting screw on the top of the steering box?
If so, that one only sets the firmness at center, so if you where off center when adjusting it, you've probably have tightened it up too much.

The correct way to adjust a steering box is to first adjust the "screw" around the input shaft, and then the little screw on top

 

[GRINCH]

It's the simple stuff that gets ya!!

Not checking the basics and over thinking it will get you every time.

I drove it straight in and my steering wheel was off (already knew that). Dropped the Draglink and checked the centering on the steering gear. 3 1/2 turns lock to lock. centered the steering gear back and put the steering wheel back in the center and adjusted the draglink to fit.

All better now. Steering is nice and tight, truck returns to center no problem and drives great.

Thanks

 

[JDNobodi]

On a variable ratio box, you suppose to tighten the pitman shaft end play while the box is centered.
Due to design of the variable ratio box, it is tighter in the center and looser at full lock.