What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

improving handling in a lifted k5

M

mwood1985

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Posts
294
Reaction score
0
Location
Marietta Ga
ive got a handling issue with my k5. its got a 4 speed manual 6 inch lift and 36 tsl radials. my problem is that the steering feels unsteady especially while braking and at higher speeds 35 plus. normal cruising it feels fine until i try to brake and have to fight it to keep it in the lane or take corners. its got new shocks new steering parts and new brakes. while driving normally it tracks just fine and dandy up to 55 as long as the road is straight. put it on a winding road or when i try to slow down and hit the brakes the steering gets hairy. i get the sensation of im turning the wheel and the tires are steering alot slower than the input im giving them. the sway bar is currently not hooked up due to i need to figure out how to make drop brackets to mount it to the frame. with it steering like that it makes me nervous that im gonna run into someone so how can i improve the handling to get it to a safe level
 
mwood1985 said:
ive got a handling issue with my k5. its got a 4 speed manual 6 inch lift and 36 tsl radials. my problem is that the steering feels unsteady especially while braking and at higher speeds 35 plus. normal cruising it feels fine until i try to brake and have to fight it to keep it in the lane or take corners. its got new shocks new steering parts and new brakes. while driving normally it tracks just fine and dandy up to 55 as long as the road is straight. put it on a winding road or when i try to slow down and hit the brakes the steering gets hairy. i get the sensation of im turning the wheel and the tires are steering alot slower than the input im giving them. the sway bar is currently not hooked up due to i need to figure out how to make drop brackets to mount it to the frame. with it steering like that it makes me nervous that im gonna run into someone so how can i improve the handling to get it to a safe level
Click to expand...

I thought this is was pretty normal for our rigs...LOL!

Like said above, do you have a raised steering arm and a dropped pitman? Your drag link should be flat at ride height.

Lots of guys here are also going to recomend going to crossover steering...which is best if you can afford it
 
To what extent are the brakes new. Pads and rotors? Or new calipers too.

Also check to see if you have cracks in the frame at your steering box, or if the box is loose from the frame ( if it is you have cracks)
 
K5's always seem to pull right under braking. One time i had to get on the brakes hard from 65 to about 20 to save some dumbass in a beamer from getting a whole bunch of steel up his ass after he illegally crossed a solid line to get into my lane. I was steering a full half turn left while i was braking just to keep it going straight. Take it for what its worth to ya.
 
Hairy as in how? And only when you're braking? How are the rotors? They could be warped.
 
It sounds like bump steer to me.

When you hit the brakes hard the front springs get flatter and that will change the relationship of the axle to the draglink.

Crossover steering is usually the (expensive) answer.

-G
 
My knowledge is no where near as great as y'alls, but I had a similar problem with my blaze years ago. Maybe not quite as bad but it pulled pretty hard when I hit the brakes. I changed ALL the wheel cylinders and it fixed it. Maybe a cheaper option to try before you drop some big bucks.
 
my drag link is definantly angled i have the raised steering arm but was told i didnt need the z style drag link
. ill get some pictures up and let yall take a look. rotors calipers ect are new front and rear
 
Did you change the rubber lines on the front brakes? If not do it. They are really cheap and my van used to pull bad one way. Changed calipers, rotors, pads, and nothing worked. Swapped the rubber lines and i can slam on them and not touch the steering wheel and go straight. They get full of build up and crap and dont let the right amount of fluid through. In some cases i have heard of them collapsing and not allowing the calipers to release enough.
 
mwood1985 said:
my drag link is definantly angled i have the raised steering arm but was told i didnt need the z style drag link
. ill get some pictures up and let yall take a look. rotors calipers ect are new front and rear
Click to expand...

A "Z" drag link is not a level drag link. Draw a line between the 2 joints and they are still at an angle.

Drop pitman arm to go with the raised steering arm to get it more level.

Or full on x-over permanent fix.
 
TheBeast_88K5 said:
I'm just gonna jump right out and say it.... Cracked frame at the Steering Box. :whistle:
Click to expand...

Given the OP's comments about the steering of the tires not being as "responsive" as the actual steering wheel inputs, I am tempted to agree with you on this part... though there is probably more than one issue going on here and the draglink setup probably also needs some attention.

To the OP: The steering box area of the frame seems to ALWAYS crack on the later model trucks. You have two choices: You can add the brace now (whether you see any cracking there when you pull the box to check it or not) or you can wait until the cracks are well established in the area and deal with it then. Either way..... a steering box brace in is your future eventually.



-G
 
frames not cracked. forgot to mention we already braced the frame at the box up. shes not flexing there unless its the whole front half of the frame doing it. gotta be something else
 
Jack up the driver's side wheel a couple inches off the ground. With you underneath have somebody move the steering wheel back and forth so that there is some pressure put on the steering components. Look for anything that has slop in it.
While you're at it you might as well check your ball joints by sticking a crow bar underneath the tire (with a piece of plywood between the crowbar and tire to protect it) and have someone move try to wiggle the tire with it and see if there's any play in the ball joints. As for the wheel bearings grab the tire at 3 and 9 o'clock and shake it back and forth and check for play.
There use to be a video of a review from Car and Driver (or maybe it was Motorweek) that showed that a brand new Blazer veered to the right under hard braking. That video has since been removed from YouTube. This is one one the problem with a push/pull steering setup and, as others have mention, a reason to switch to crossover steering.
 
Last edited:
ive looked at the ord crossover kit. kinda pricey for my current budget. is there any cheaper way of going about it
 
push/pull steering is ultra ghey...


may wanna take a peak at your ragjoint too.... jeep shaft...
 
mwood1985 said:
jeep shafts already in man hell that went in before the motor did lol
Click to expand...

Mwood, im not trying to steal your thread, but wanted to contribute.

I too am in Mwood's situation. My frame is braced and trangulated, ALL new front ball joints and bearings/brakes, new tires, and recently rebuilt box and new p/s Pump.....and still get what he is describing, to the tee.

Any other suggestions before just throwing x-over steering out there??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom