Hey guys I've done a serious amount of reading on this forum and there's a ton of good info here. I just picked up a 1970 Highboy with a lift on the front end and I'm sure you guys can see where this is going. The steering is binding so I'm trying to correct the pitman arm angle.

I've seen alot of threads about this problem but not many have the solution that the person used. I know the newer era highboys had a pitman arm that was 2 inches longer but I don't think that's enough. Is a drop radius arm the right solution, like the one from Skyjacker?

I know the transition to power steering is a good idea but unless it's going to fix this problem I was hoping to leave that for the future. I know there's a ton of info here, I"m learning as I go with this truck, it's always hard to jump in halfway through someone else's project. Thank you for any help.

 

What kind of lift does it have? New leaf springs, blocks, or shackles? If it is blocks, that is an accident waiting to happen.

 

I can't figure out how to load a pic on my phone but they welded a piece of square tubing above the front leaf perch and a shackle to lower the rear leaf mounting point. It looks kind of half *** but atleast the leaf isn't on blocks.

 

 

No offense, but that's one of the more ghetto lifts i've seen in awhile, but at least the PO didn't use blocks under the leaves .

Were it my truck i'd put the factory shackles back on and lift the truck correctly i.e. new lift springs.

The angle on that drag link is pretty severe, i imagine the bumpsteer is awful, not to mention the pinion angle is now several degrees off.

If you're bent on keeping the lift as is you could get the longer 76/77 highboy pitman arm and redrill the steering arm to accept the drag link from above, this will alleviate the angle and help correct the steering geometry.

 

And some people wonder why there are safety inspections. That's just death trap stuff right there. If it were me, I'd undo anything that previous owner(s) had done after looking at that.

 

That does look a little unsafe, I bought new springs for the front of mine, then took the old set and cut down and added to the new springs to gain 2 1/4" of lift. This is not the same as adding a block, it's all bolted together and also held in by the new longer u-bolts. This picture is of another truck I used as a example to go by. Mine works great and is safe.

 

Tpdaniels .... Your lift defintely looks a alot more professional then mine. I think the previous owner was a little short on money, which worked out for me because that's why I got such a good deal on it.

I actually haven't even driven it yet, other then being dragged home by a duece and half. I'm looking to get it movable right now. So I guess I'm going to look for the longer pitman arm for now and when I do the real restore on the truck I'll do it correctly.

 

Does anyone know someone who has one of these pitman arms? Turns out it's harder to find then I had hoped.