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Steering with crossover and high steer

odoa3

odoa3

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 31, 2004
Posts
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Location
Anchorage, AK
Ok, I am having a couple issues with my steering. I have a Dana 60 with ORD High Steer and Crossover steering. I put in a new steering box and pump when I put the axle in. This is on a 75 K5 with six inches of suspension lift, and 35 inch Boggers.

First issue is the wheel do not return to center, even when the front end is off the ground. The steering is extremely easy to turn when the front end is off the ground, and not much harder when the tires are on the ground. The alignment seems to be correct. I do not have a stabilizer on, and I don't think I really need it. Any suggestions? I have searched and read the recent thread on this but the information there does not really seem to fit with my issue.

The second issue I have, is that on the trail I really cannot feel where my tires are in their turn radius in rocks. Due to my crappy, broke down seats and the lap belt I can't get out the window enough to see them either. I hope to be able to get some new seats in at some point, but that is not happening anytime soon. You guys have any tricks for feeling where your wheels are? When I am moving forward it is no problem, just when I am trying to inch into position to get up on the rocks.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer. (Yes I am a pretty new wheeler, as you can probably tell. :doah: :D )
 
For the first issue, check and make sure the pitman arm is indexed correctly.

For number two, use a spotter.
 
Yes, I have the pitman arm indexed correctly. At least I believe so, any other way I put it on, the drag link will not reach it.



Yeah, I have been using a spotter, but it seems like most of the guys I wheel with seem to have an easier time lining up than I do. Just wondering if I am missing a trick I should know. :D

100_1107 (Medium).JPG
 
Guess experience will be the only think. I have wheeled a fullsize chevy for 8 years no, and don't think I could wheel anything else, but i can hit the mark with one of my trucks.
 
Yeah, I really need to get some experience under my belt. I have only had it on two real trips since the lift and one tons. Thanks for the help.
 
odoa3 said:
First issue is the wheel do not return to center, even when the front end is off the ground.

The second issue I have, is that on the trail I really cannot feel where my tires are in their turn radius in rocks.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer. (Yes I am a pretty new wheeler, as you can probably tell. :doah: :D )
Click to expand...

your tires will only return to center while driving. if the truck is sitting still the tires will stay pointed the way they are. if they were returning to center without input from the steering wheel while you were sitting still you would have problems.

Experience is the only way to get a feel for your truck. you just need to develop your trail memory. when on the trail you need to be invisioning the terrain directly in front of you that is blocked from your sight by the truck. don't lose track of the way you last turned. all that matters is the last 10 feet and the next 10 feet. focus on that and you will do fine.

or remove the body and make it look easy like the rest of the truggy crowd.:doah:
 
gmc4cw said:
your tires will only return to center while driving. if the truck is sitting still the tires will stay pointed the way they are.
Click to expand...

That is correct. It is a function of the caster.
 
"Return to center" is a term that describes what the vehicled does after taking a normal street turn at speed. The wheels should automatically come back to the straight position after you make the turn. Sounds like yours is acting fine. You gonna get bigger tires with them big difs? I have 1 tons and 36s and I drag everywhere. If you do rocks with 35s I highly recommend some dif protection if you don't have it all ready.
 
it sounds like you just need seat time in your rig on the trail. You changed two major attributes on your vehicle at once (Axle size and vehicle height), and i think its just a matter of getting used to how it works off road.

A lot of guys have told me about something called 'feeling' where all 4 tires are when taking on obsticles. Good suspension articulation allows for this, but the idea is to feel out where each tire is, or when it is making some sort of adjustment in the suspension going over rock or into holes, etc... Again, this is something seat time will give you.

Cliff notes - GET OUT AND WHEEL MORE! :D
 
my sheet metal used to be this clean...

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Thanks for the input guys, makes me feel a little better.

Mudstud, I will eventually be going to 38 or 39 inch tires. I just wanted to get somemore experience before going any higher. The rocks we have to deal with are just the ones in the trail, not rockcrawling like down in the lower 48's.

Bizee... you are just seeing the one area of the truck that is not messed up. :haha:

Sledneckak... one more time - bite me Nissan boy! Show up at the Meet & Greet and let me know what i am doing wrong! :eek1: :D (For those that don't know, we are in the same club so this is just joking!)
 
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