Weird steering

[bot0611]

Ok i put in a new set of leafs up front but was too high, soo took off some leafs and lately i added an angle plate cause the front shaft did not aligne right to the transfer due to the it grinding againts the trannys croosmember, this is where i maybe messed up.....

So had that angle plate put in so the yoke went up a few dregrees and now ive got weir steering, over 30 mph it gets wobely.

Dont know much about caster degrees or that stuff, im new at that...need some help..i thought i needed a new steering stabilizer.

The front knuckles looks to be a couple of dregrees towards the rear on the upper part

Pics:
http://s311.photobucket.com/albums/kk471/bot000/

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The "angle plate" that your talking about is called a shim, and yes, adding shims to the front axle will decrease your caster and change the way the vehicle steers and tracks.


From this picture it doesn't look like you have much caster (maybe only 1 or 2 degrees), it should be around 5-6 degrees.

The solution is either to modify your crossmember so it will work or grind out the welds on the inner c's, turn them to exactly the right caster angle and weld them back up.

BTW, if you upload pictures to photobucket all you have to do to post them here is click on the text in the IMG code box (it will copy it for you) and then paste it here.

 

[bot0611]

Hm.. i see what you say but dont get it, sorry......is the shim ok?? i mean i only put it on so i can get a higher yoke angle. or could i take it off and go back to what i had

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Caster is the part of your alignment that keeps your truck going straight (e.g. on a bicycle, the front forks are angled forward. Its what allows you to ride with no hands, caster keeps the bike going straight).

When you add shims to the front end, you reduce the caster. The stock spec for caster is 5-6 degrees, if you added a 4 degree shim you caster is now 1-2 degrees. That will make the steering much more vague and will allow the truck to wander.

What do you mean by wobbly?

 

[bot0611]

When driving and go over bumps or holes i have to hold my steering wheel firmly of else it goes with the road

 

[bot0611]

In deed it take it off, and put a leaf instead. how do you determine the degrees, wich tool is it?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

You need an angle finder, something like this.

Set it on the flat part of either ball joint to measure your caster.

IMO, removing the shims and modifying your crossmember is the best solution.

 

[bot0611]

Yeah that might be best.

Thanks for the help!!!

Ill be getting me my membership soon, this site is cool.

 

[DavidB]

Get it fixed? Gotta ditch them shims. New mounts and/ or spacer to space the case up off the xmember.

How much lift?

 

[kicker30]

Idk about your steering issue, but I hope you are not the owner of that H3 on wagon wheels (literally) that you have a pic of in your photobucket. Wtf!?