Turning Issue Solved!!!!

[73K5Kid]

After installing an 8 inch lift for a 4 inch lift I am having issues with my turning. I have adjusted my draglink and centered my steering wheel. The problem I am having now is that I cannot turn my wheel to the left as much as the right. My draglink appears to be to short. I have done a search on here and without having to go to crossover. I have read that you can cut your draglink a 1/2 inch to 1 inch on each side to fix this problem. What do you guys suggest?

***** Thanks to everyone for all the help and suggestions. Thanks Greg72 and Dremu. Did exactly what you told me to do Greg. Dremu I jacked the front end up and adjusted the draglink. I am now able to turn equally. What a difference!!! This will do until I go crossover.
__________________

 

[Greg72]

If your draglink is too short, I wouldn't cut it any more....






Seriously though, it sounds like you've diagnosed it properly (draglink) the issue now is figuring out how to solve it. My guess is that with more lift it's not long enough anymore (OR) you are 1-full turn off on the steering wheel currently.

Here's how I'd attack it:

1. Remove the draglink from the steering arm on the axle temporarily
2. Center the front wheels so that they are pointing straight ahead
3. Turn the steering wheel and count the total number of turns you get from lock-to-lock.
4. Take 1/2 of that number of turns back out of the steering wheel....your steering wheel should now be centered with exactly the same amount of motion available for left or right turns.
5. Look at your pitman arm and see if it's truly pointing straight ahead (it should be)
6. FINALLY: Take your draglink and lift it back into position without moving the steering wheel or front tires.......does it fit into the tapered hole? Too Long? Too Short?

That final step is where you will find out what's wrong. My suspicion is that when you go to re-attach the draglink, you are going to come up short...maybe there's enough adjustment to make it fit correctly, but be careful that you have enough threads left in the sleeves that it will still be safe.


Post up what you find out.

 

[gmc4cw]

if you have the stock setup then your drag link would have to be to long to lose turning to the left. Use the method Greg described first before cutting anything.

I had a 8" lift with the 4" raised steering arm and a 2" dropped pitman arm. it turned lock to lock on flat ground. flexed was a whole different story.

If you do not have enough correction for the amount of lift you have then you will lose turning ability. this is because the pitman arm travels in an arc while the steering arm arcs the other way. as you increase the height difference between the two it becomes harder to reach full lock. as some point the steering arm is no longer pulling the drag link forward, instead its pulling the drag link towards the frame while the steering arm needs to swing forward and away from the frame to turn left.

 

[dremu]

I'm wondering if you have a *stock* draglink or a modified one from the 8" lift... either your steering was WHACKED scary before, or you had lots of steering mods to cope with 8" lift.

Is your draglink straight, or is it bent, by chance, as in intentionally S-shaped?

-- A

 

[73K5Kid]

If your draglink is too short, I wouldn't cut it any more....






Seriously though, it sounds like you've diagnosed it properly (draglink) the issue now is figuring out how to solve it. My guess is that with more lift it's not long enough anymore (OR) you are 1-full turn off on the steering wheel currently.

Here's how I'd attack it:

1. Remove the draglink from the steering arm on the axle temporarily
2. Center the front wheels so that they are pointing straight ahead
3. Turn the steering wheel and count the total number of turns you get from lock-to-lock.
4. Take 1/2 of that number of turns back out of the steering wheel....your steering wheel should now be centered with exactly the same amount of motion available for left or right turns.
5. Look at your pitman arm and see if it's truly pointing straight ahead (it should be)
6. FINALLY: Take your draglink and lift it back into position without moving the steering wheel or front tires.......does it fit into the tapered hole? Too Long? Too Short?

That final step is where you will find out what's wrong. My suspicion is that when you go to re-attach the draglink, you are going to come up short...maybe there's enough adjustment to make it fit correctly, but be careful that you have enough threads left in the sleeves that it will still be safe.


Post up what you find out.

Will do Greg and thanks for all the help everyone. I won't get to it until Sat will post it what I find. I will take pics

 

[Mudstud]

Is there a good trick to ensuring your wheels are facing straight ahead?

I have a 2" drop draglink I just took off my truck.

[email protected]

 

[73K5Kid]

Is there a good trick to ensuring your wheels are facing straight ahead?

I have a 2" drop draglink I just took off my truck.

[email protected]

Mudstud I may need that 2" drop draglink. Don't know exactly what I need to do yet

 

[dremu]

From that last pic, I don't see the problem -- just thread that thing on there. The adjusting sleeve should be threaded all the way through, yeah?

-- A

 

[73K5Kid]

From that last pic, I don't see the problem -- just thread that thing on there. The adjusting sleeve should be threaded all the way through, yeah?

-- A

Dremu yes they are threaded all the way through. Should I leave the steering wheel locked and try to screw it on? What do you suggest?

 

[dremu]

Dremu yes they are threaded all the way through. Should I leave the steering wheel locked and try to screw it on? What do you suggest?

Well, you have a pretty good idea of where it should be... I'd put the adjusting sleeve on, which means either jacking up the front end or unlocking the wheel... get it close, then adjust to finetune.

Remember the sleeve is left-threaded one way and right-threaded the other, so turning it one way will shorten the overall draglink, and turning it the other way lengthens it.

This make sense?

-- A

 

[73K5Kid]

Well, you have a pretty good idea of where it should be... I'd put the adjusting sleeve on, which means either jacking up the front end or unlocking the wheel... get it close, then adjust to finetune.

Remember the sleeve is left-threaded one way and right-threaded the other, so turning it one way will shorten the overall draglink, and turning it the other way lengthens it.

This make sense?

-- A

Yes it does. I am going to jack up the front end and see what that gets me. I will post in a bit to see what happens. Thanks Again

 

[73K5Kid]

Thanks

 

[Greg72]

Thanks

Another happy CK5 customer!

$25/yr for a membership doesn't seem like much when you can solve problems like this for FREE with a little help from the brotherhood.

Enjoy the new steering.....in BOTH directions.

 

[Chrisblazzer89]

Would this be the same for me I have a 4" lift and a raisd steering arm. and with the tires stright I can turn my wheel 2 and a half times left and only half a turn right.

Would I have to do the same thing??

BTW I also have a weld on repair kit and bolt on brace installed so no cracks or anything

 

[dremu]

Would this be the same for me I have a 4" lift and a raisd steering arm. and with the tires stright I can turn my wheel 2 and a half times left and only half a turn right.

Would I have to do the same thing??

BTW I also have a weld on repair kit and bolt on brace installed so no cracks or anything

Adjusting the draglink is free and non-destructive -- try it!

NB: You don't hafta remove it, actually; just turn it (counting turns) one way or t'other until the steering wheel moves the way you want.

Count the turns so you can put it back if it's wrong.

-- A

 

[73K5Kid]

Another happy CK5 customer!

$25/yr for a membership doesn't seem like much when you can solve problems like this for FREE with a little help from the brotherhood.

Enjoy the new steering.....in BOTH directions.

Thanks again Greg and yes well worth the 25 bucks.

Chris I would recommend doing what Greg told me to do. And I also jacked up my truck in the front when I adjusted my draglink like Dremu said to do. It made a difference with the jack. Good Luck