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Crossover steering

S

scottjkj1

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From what I understand the big reason for going crossover is because with the factory steering set up on GM's you can actually loose steering when you start articulating. Now the question is I put hydraulic ram assist on my 89 burb Dana 60 with the factory steering set up and have no problem with loosing steering, can anyone give me a good enough reason for spending the money and going with crossover steering?
 
Better shock placement, much stronger steer arms, higher clearance for the tierod. If your not loosing steering than your not articulating enough. When the steering arm max's out from drooping and you keep trying to turn your ram is going to snap the shaft on your steering box.
 
Axle travel, is the main issue with most people. My axle with the stock steering setup was good for 3 inches up and 2 inches down travel. Pretty crappy if you ask me. The passenger side had a bunch more because the draglink isnt stopping the axle from moving. If you go crossover, the draglink is parallel to the axle tube therefore, the axle can flex up and down without the draglink binding and stopping it.
 
Yeah dont forget though when that drives side droops the arm rotates inorder to compensate to keep the wheel straight. If you try to turn the way it already took up the slack you are gonna pop something with that ram.
 
What springs are you running up front?
 
With the stock steering and hydro assist you will probably rip the steering box off of the frame. Either that or you don't have much suspension travel (or some very loose steering components :eek1:)

Basically, when the driver's side droops you won't be able to turn left; the steering wheel will be fully cranked to the left but the tire will be pointing straight ahead.

The hydraulic ram doesn't care what the suspension is doing, when you turn the wheel left it will be giving full pressure to the ram.

So the ram, at full pressure, is trying to steer left but the mechanical linkage won't let it and it binds. Then the steering box gets ripped from the frame.


Really, this is a problem with crossover too but since the crossover draglink is so much longer its much less affected by suspension travel and hence a lot of us get away with the crossover and hydro assist combo. Hydro assist with the stock steering is a recipe for disaster IMO.
 
38377k5 said:
With the stock steering and hydro assist you will probably rip the steering box off of the frame. Either that or you don't have much suspension travel (or some very loose steering components :eek1:)

Basically, when the driver's side droops you won't be able to turn left; the steering wheel will be fully cranked to the left but the tire will be pointing straight ahead.

The hydraulic ram doesn't care what the suspension is doing, when you turn the wheel left it will be giving full pressure to the ram.

So the ram, at full pressure, is trying to steer left but the mechanical linkage won't let it and it binds. Then the steering box gets ripped from the frame.


Really, this is a problem with crossover too but since the crossover draglink is so much longer its much less affected by suspension travel and hence a lot of us get away with the crossover and hydro assist combo. Hydro assist with the stock steering is a recipe for disaster IMO.
Click to expand...

See like i said :) I just woulda thought the sector shaft would shear before the box tears out.
 
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