Wandering steering

[buffblazer]

On my 86 k5. I did a D60 swap, then a red neck ram steering box that was tapped for hydro assist and also installed a cooler.

Shop aligned the truck but it pulls to the right. My bigger issue is when driving if you take a turn hard, when you straighten up, the steering wheel is off about a half a turn, then say you do a hard turn the other direction it will center back up, then continue another hard turn to the right and it will be off half a turn that direction.

Any ideas? Ball joints and steering components all are tight and nothing is leaking.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Are you still using kingpin springs or do you have springless arms?

Have you checked that the steering box bolts are tight and that the frame isn't cracked?

 

[chulisohombre]

Is the ram centering itself after
A turn and putting a little force on the tie
Rod? Sounds like the steering box
May be a lil loose maybe. Does the steering move as soon as you turn the wheel or have slight hesitation?

 

[rampage]

Spring u-bolts/studs tight and not shifting on the springs? Were they tightened in a cross pattern and incrementally and then checked after driving a few hundred miles?

 

[wheels87k5]

On my 86 k5. I did a D60 swap, then a red neck ram steering box that was tapped for hydro assist and also installed a cooler.

Shop aligned the truck but it pulls to the right. My bigger issue is when driving if you take a turn hard, when you straighten up, the steering wheel is off about a half a turn, then say you do a hard turn the other direction it will center back up, then continue another hard turn to the right and it will be off half a turn that direction.

Any ideas? Ball joints and steering components all are tight and nothing is leaking.

I have the same problem.

Today I took the truck out to some ruts to see how the flex was and to see if I needed to do some more trimming, and when I headed home the steering was pulling a bit to the right and the steering wheel was almost at half turn. If you turned to the left it would straighten out and go straight but if you give it a bit of tug to the right it would start pulling to the right and the steering wheel was way off again.

The frame is not cracked.....I have the weld on and bolt on braces and they held up great. No play in the linkage.
Gonna do some research....this is strange

 

[wheels87k5]

Right hub

Seems the right hub won't unlock....when you turn it either direction it has a catch but you can continue to turn it all the way around. That may be why it has that slight pull.

Locked the left side and went for a drive......Now it drives like it should. So the right side hub needs repaired.

I'll tear into it tomorrow and fix it.

willie

 

[rampage]

Also check the u-joints on the axle shaft stubs to make sure they aren't frozen and binding. I know, it sounds strange, but if they stick when you turn it'll keep steering in that direction even when you're in 2wd and hubs aren't locked.

 

[buffblazer]

Not sure on the king pins. The box responds immediately when I go to turn.

It constantly pulls that never changes. But the steering wheel will only be off if I make hard turn and after the truck sits for awhile (over night) it seems to be back in the original position until I turn hard again.

As for the u-joint I will check for freezing, they are brand new so I'm thinking that's not it but I will check.

I tightened the piss out of the spring bolts and proper sequence but is there a specific torque they should be at?

 

[buffblazer]

And the frame is not cracked in the typical spot

 

[rampage]

It's been a while. I think it's 120 or 140 ft*lbs.