I'm sure, I'm not the first to put a Skyjacker lift on a Ford, but I can't find posts that have had this problem.

I've got a 6" lift with the drop pitman arm and a drop drag link. But my steering travel is limited a little by the srping clamp on the front of the spring pack. And further if the spring clamp was removed (theres one on the back of the spring pack too), the pitman arm could swing over the spring pack and when I hit a bump while turning (turnin and burnin), Blam-Oh, the spring compresses into my steering box.

I know, cross-over steering, ...but really is this the best engineering Skyjacker can do. I'm wondering what you guys have done. If maybe I could raise the steering arm on the axle up, keep the drag link, and put the stock (higher) pitman arm on. And have all the clearance I need.

Let me know...

 

hmm, could you take pictures of your setup? I'm having a hard time picturing it in my head.

(whoa..an earthquake just rolled through)

 

Earthquake... Wow, ya the other day. We had some tsunami warning thing. Like an E.Q. in Eureka is going to get me wet all the way up here in Olympia.

Back to Business.

I'll get a pic tonight, but the pitman arm hangs out towards the driver side tire and when I turn left it moves forward towards the front spring pearch. The pitman arm has a key way in it so it can only go on in 90 degree increments.

Example, from what I know to make it x-over steering you turn it back 90 so the pitman arm is point back over the axle not pointing at the tire. and run your drag link over to the passenger side.

Since I've talked about it twice now. I don't want to do a x-over, but its the only answer I've found so far. If someone knows what parts I'm going to need and its a bolt on, I just might do that instead. But I'd like to find a fix for what I've got if possible.

Anyone raise the steering arm thats bolted to the axle.
Or maybe flipped the drag link so that the tie rod end are on top of the pitman arm and axle arm.

 

You cant flip it because of the taper in the arm. I think my steering arm was blocked around 3", before i went cross over.

 

Here some pics

 

Did you have to fab up an arm off the passenger side axle and or the x-over link?

Nobody has a 6" suspension with the drop links like me, huh?

 

Ah i see what you'er talking about. I never though there would be clearance issues on a setup like that. But I think you're tall enough to justify a cross-over steering setup. The angles on that drag link are awful! I think there are spacers you can put ontop of your knuckle, but It wont help if your pitman arm are hitting the leaf spring. I guess the only other option is to get a pitman arm with less drop and a spacer for the knuckle. Have you called skyjacker about this?

To do a cross over steering setup you simply rotate the pitman arm, buy a crossover steering arm for the left knuckle of your axle and fabricate a draglink between the two with your choice of using Tie rod ends or Heim joints.

 

Bullet proof http://bulletproofsteering.com/main.html has drop pitman arms that are fully adjustable and different size drops or you could even get your crossover steering stuff from them I have their rockproof draglink with spherical rod ends with no complaints. Purchased my left side knuckle steering arm I got off a guy on ebay if your interested send me an email or PM

 

Thanks for the info. That web site has a lot of nice stuff for x-over steering.
I guess I'll start researching this x-over steering idea.

 

The easiest solution is a bigger lift. Seriously though, I've seen several local guys running that exact same setup and none of them had any problems with the pitman arm hitting the spring. That's a new one to me! I will tell you that I got one of them to build a crossover steering system and his truck handles a lot better since I talked to him last. I have a gallery that covers some of the details for crossover that you may want to check out and see if it helps you at all.

 

I think URU makes a raised arm for the 44. I know i've seen blocks advertized for them somewhere, maby Trail Master ?

 

http://www.offroadunlimited.com/stor...products_id=99

This kit has everything you need and wont have to fab anything up. Its pricey, but its a one time fix. Though its still just a Dana 44. If you plan to off road much and run bigger tires, you may want to consider swapping in a Dana 60 and work off that.

Just got my ORU X-over steering arm yesterday, it came with cone washers and I only need to get longer bolts then its ready to be put together.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...oid=80174&.jpg

 

Heck ya thats pricey I normally don't care what it costs when I want something but I pieced together my crossover setup for around 300 bucks thats with spherical rod ends, I had fun piecing it together. Most ppl say im not right in the head but it's a matter of opinion I guess.

 

I did a cross over steering on my 76 f100, it has f250 axles, works fabulous, send your knuckle to parts mike if it has the flat spot with 3 bumps underneath it, he makes arms too. use a steering box from a mid 70's 2 wheel drive half ton, some welding required take it ti a certified person for that.

 

also heims are illegial to use on steering on some states