massive bump steer after new lift installed

[DGR]

please help i recently removed my 2.5 in. superlift susp. and installed a 4 in. rough country lift with front springs and rear blocks also new shocks and a steering arm. now i am barely able to stay in my own lane any small bump and it really is a hand full. i have checked the frame for cracks(none) steering box is tight, the joints in the front end are ok all was fine until i installed this kit any help would be great. /forums/images/graemlins/burb.gif

 

[thatK30guy]

Did you install a new steering stabilizer? If not, install a dual stabilzer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DGR]

yes i have installed a new single stabilizer and still extremely rough ride and bump steer.

 

[BorregoK5]

Check the draglink by inspecting it while someone moves the steering wheel back and forth on flat ground, look for play. Is the draglink horizontal or high on one side? Makes ure your U-bolts (front and rear) are tight too.

 

[DGR]

the drag link is a new unit and yes it may sit approx. 1/2 in. higher at the pitman arm end.

 

[BorregoK5]

Check the length of your draglink compared to the one it replaced, you should have about an equal turning ratio each way. 1/2" higher at one end isn't enough to cause a lot of bump steer by itself but a short draglink could exagerate it. Does the truck pull one way or the other under hard gas or brakes, is it consistantly the same direction for each?

 

[imiceman44]

Check everything that was mentionned here, then if everything looks good, try and rock the truck from side to side.
I had a problem with a tall lift where the springs were so arched that they didn't have much lateral support.
I just remembered, check your caster, if that changed when you put the new lift, you might need some angled shims to restore some caster. You need at least 3 degrees of caster, if not you will have exactly those problems, caster is what keeps the wheels going straight.
IceMan

 

[m j]

stabilizers do NOTHING in regards to bumpsteer

 

[m j]

can you descibe your dileamma a little more detailed?
does it seem to steer into oncoming or towards the ditch?
is the draglink higher at the steering box end or the axle end?

 

[Greg72]

DGR,

I feel for you....I had the same situation on my K5 after going to a SOFT 4" spring up front.

Over bumps, the truck would pull hard to the right, and then as the suspension came back up, it would pull left. Like you said, almost impossible to keep in your own lane on the highway....and absolutely miserable on long trips. I was bracing myself every time I saw a dip in the road coming up...!

One partial fix for me was to install a front sway bar. 1st Gen Blazers never came with one, but I fabbed up a couple of brackets to hang the later model one, and it helped bumpsteer quite a bit.....not COMPLETELY gone, but good enough that I could take it on long trips and relax a little more when driving.

My eventual solution was going to crossover steering....that was a miracle in terms of fixing bumpsteer for me. There will be people here who argue that crossover steering WON'T fix bumpsteer, or that it's worse than stock steering.....but let's be honest, a lifted truck isn't "Stock" anymore...so it's not a fair comparison.

Anyway, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak and I know that now I can take my hands off the wheel when the truck hits a bump in the road, and it tracks perfectly straight! It's also a lot better for offroad driving too.

Crossover is an expensive way to sure bumpsteer, so if you don't have a swaybar hooked up try that first....a lot cheaper, and it might be "enough" for now. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif