CK5
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Steering Way Off
- Thread starter 91 Jimmy
- Start date
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
What is off? The steering wheel relative to the tires? The tires relative to each other? How much lift?
If you didn't lengthen your drag link after the lift it will knock the steering wheel over to the right side.
If you didn't lengthen your drag link after the lift it will knock the steering wheel over to the right side.
To adjust steering wheel position relative to wheels, loosen both clamps on the draglink sleeve, and rotate the opposite direction you need the wheel to move. If the wheel needs to move towards the drivers side to be "on center", then rotate the drag link sleeve away from you, and vice versa for the other way.
I just got done doing mine after the balljoint change, get it to what appears close (pipe wrench made rotating the sleeve easy) then take your ratchet and pipe wrench with you, and go for a ride. Pull over, make a small adjustment, repeat, until it's where it needs to be while driving.
I just got done doing mine after the balljoint change, get it to what appears close (pipe wrench made rotating the sleeve easy) then take your ratchet and pipe wrench with you, and go for a ride. Pull over, make a small adjustment, repeat, until it's where it needs to be while driving.
75GmcJimmy4x4
1/2 ton status
now will this adjustment mess with the amount of left and right steering ability
Not if the parts were put back together correctly.
GM manual is very elaborate on how you are to center the steering wheel/wheels/tires after messing with the drag link, however all you have to do is point the wheels forward, find halfway between the steering box lock to lock, and stop the steering wheel in the middle. That will always get you near center, unless something is seriously messed up like bent steering stuff.
What can happen is that the steering wheel is turned while the drag link is off, and you end up loosing a complete revolution of the steering box input (wheel centered, but off one revolution) which means you get full travel steering to one side, and half the other way.
GM manual is very elaborate on how you are to center the steering wheel/wheels/tires after messing with the drag link, however all you have to do is point the wheels forward, find halfway between the steering box lock to lock, and stop the steering wheel in the middle. That will always get you near center, unless something is seriously messed up like bent steering stuff.
What can happen is that the steering wheel is turned while the drag link is off, and you end up loosing a complete revolution of the steering box input (wheel centered, but off one revolution) which means you get full travel steering to one side, and half the other way.
sandypants
1/2 ton status
will this apply to me? i put the lift on and i can turn like no other to the left (driver side) but bearly make a turn to the right. will this solution with the drag link apply
Pointing the wheels straight ahead is easy. Making sure the steering box is "on center" is a bit tougher. Iif the column was not disconnected, then halfway between full right and full left at the steering wheel will put the box on center.
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
x2 on Dorian's suggestion to adjust while taking short drives. I tried to "eyeball" mine and it's very close, but keep in mind a small adjustment (twist) on the drag link can be 1 or 2 degrees on the steering wheel.
It is easy to get really close, but right on center took me about 6 or 7 drive/adjust sessions.
It is easy to get really close, but right on center took me about 6 or 7 drive/adjust sessions.
It is the steering wheel off compared to the tires. Almost a full 90 degrees off to the right. Sounds like the drag link should fix this. I'm also getting quite a bit of bump steer. I got a dual steering stabilizer, but have only put one of them on as I wanted to see how it would drive.
I put a raised steering arm on it, should I still have to adjust the drag link?
cdoggwsu
1/2 ton status
Yep, that sounds exactly like mine was. I have a raised steering arm as well and the stock draglink still needed to be adjusted (lengthened) to recenter the steering wheel. If you didn't mess with the drag link while it was out of the truck, it's unlikely that you're out of revolutions. It seems that some places (Les Schwab in particular) won't bother to center your steering wheel with a front end alignment unless you specifically ask them to. Make small adjustments and take a short drive, it takes a few times to get it dialed in.
When I got my truck it already had the lift and the previous owner had not adjusted the drag link. I decided to replace everything anyway and got a new drag link, steering gear box (O'reilly's rebuild) and power steering pump (O'reilly's rebuild). I also added an ORD bolt-in steering brace. Ever since I have replace everything I too have been experiencing some bump steer that wasn't there before. My steering stabilizer was shot so I put a new one in thinking that might help and it's still a very "touchy" system.
I really don't know if there is anything wrong, the steering is tight and responsive, it just feels really easy to knock around both from the tires and the steering wheel.
I do remember awhile back someone posted that their steering was "too easy" to turn and was looking for a way to stiffen it up. I'd be curious to hear if the dual stabilizer setup helps at all.
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I think part of the problem with bump steer is that the driver is bumped around and inadvertantly adds steering input. The gear valving is generally pretty light on these rigs to make parking manuevers easier. The easiest way to reduce assist is to modify the outlet of the steering pump. You want a smaller orifice there. You could try fittings from smaller vehicles or maybe weld yours shut and then drill a hole a couple steps smaller than the original.
