spearchucker
1/2 ton status
The heavy duty shackles are the same length as the stock ones on his 89 so the 'candor' shouldn't have changed.
CK5
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Extended Shackels cause screwy steering?
- Thread starter afroman006
- Start date
azblazer69
Registered Member
Oh, I thought "extended" means longer... Sorry..
On a K5 the longer front shackles give you about a degree of positive castor so going to the shackles isn't going to be a problem in that area.
One suspension characteristic that we're building into any truck we lift is roll steer from the axles steering under the truck. This happens when you have a deeper arch leaf spring that will move the axle back when it compresses. When you compress one side, the axle will actually steer under the truck and of course it will direct the truck a new direction whenever this happens, whether it happens to the front or rear suspension. This typically isn't too big a deal but it's one place that's way different than a stock suspension. You could easily see this effect on a windy day or on a road with some roughness.
Past that, I'm stumped by a wander in a truck with entirely new suspension and steering with decent radial tires.
One suspension characteristic that we're building into any truck we lift is roll steer from the axles steering under the truck. This happens when you have a deeper arch leaf spring that will move the axle back when it compresses. When you compress one side, the axle will actually steer under the truck and of course it will direct the truck a new direction whenever this happens, whether it happens to the front or rear suspension. This typically isn't too big a deal but it's one place that's way different than a stock suspension. You could easily see this effect on a windy day or on a road with some roughness.
Past that, I'm stumped by a wander in a truck with entirely new suspension and steering with decent radial tires.
afroman006
1/2 ton status
I didnt know this when I made this post oh so long ago but the "extended" shackles are the same length that came on my 91 sub, just much beefier. There is and really never was anything wrong with my steering, I just wasnt aware of the quirks of a lifted truck. Party on.
mountain4x4
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Make sure to retorque the front u-bolts. Sometimes they don't need it, but I've worked on trucks that needed them retorqued. My '90 Suburban never needed it, but my '74 K20 needed to be retorqued once. Loose u-bolts sure cause some wandering, but it least its a free fix. I love free fixes. Also check for worn steering linkage, and you can adjust your steering box as well if its loose. On the top of the box is a nut locked down around a shaft with an allen head in it. Tighten allen head shaft until there is very little slop left in the box.
