Wandering/Bump steer

[1987/K5/350]

I have an 87 K5, looks like its got a 6 inch lift all around with new leafs/bilstein shocks up front and stock rear with a 6 inch block (I know) sittin on 35" mickey thompson mtz's. There is a ton of play in the steering, it wanders pretty badly, and I'll occasionally get a significant bump steer when I hit a bridge or pothole. This is my wife's daily driver, although she only takes it about 2 miles to work, I would like to fix what I can to make it safer. I am open to changing out rear suspension components and possibly lowering it to a 4 inch lift or so. Any suggestions? Thank you all for the help you, guys saved my ass when I was changing the pitman arm seals on the steering gear.

 

[nvrenuf]

Are there any lift corrective parts on the steering?

 

[1987/K5/350]

Are there any lift corrective parts on the steering?

I'm not sure how to tell. I have been learning as I go as this is my first project.

 

[Justin V]

Look and see if there is an angle shim between the front axle and the leaf spring. A lot of lifted trucks need pinion angle changes to help the front driveshaft, but they end up taking out all of the caster and handling goes to crap.

 

[1987/K5/350]

Look and see if there is an angle shim between the front axle and the leaf spring. A lot of lifted trucks need pinion angle changes to help the front driveshaft, but they end up taking out all of the caster and handling goes to crap.

Looks like there is one, any recommendations? Not expecting it to drive like a modern truck just want to take the play out of the steering mostly.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Pictures will help.

Also check the frame around the steering box. They crack frequently.

 

[Blazooki]

does it have a dropped pitman arm or a block spacer on the knuckle, or neither, or both ?

The steering arm should at the minimum should look like this one. With a lifted 6 inch front spring it should have both a spacer and a dropped arm. With the amount of lift you have and the way the factory front to back/ push pull steering/drag link works, you will get the symptoms you describe when its lifted as high as yours. All you can do is try to midigate it the best you can. The idea being to keep the drag link on a level flat angle plane as it travels thru the steering cycle. The best fix to cure the problem is cross over steering..IE moving the steering arm over to the passenger side so the drag link is longer thus less of an angle and now moves side to side instaed of front to back.