Bumpsteer with level kit
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: NE Ohio
Bumpsteer with level kit
Has anyone ever experienced bump steer with a leveling kit? I have a 99 f250, and when I got it, the front sat in the weeds, it's a plow truck so I wanted to level it and get some extra spring under the front so I went with an add a leaf (sky jacker or super lift, i'd have to double check who), it ended up picking the front up about 3" maybe 3.5". It's been on the truck for 2 years now and it's just been annoying, so I'd like to take care of it.
I put the recommended track bar relocator bracket on when I put the add a leafs on. Someone said the track bar and drag link should be about parallel, I checked that the other day and at the pitman arm, the two aren't parallel, it's out about an inch or two off.
After looking, all the drop pitmans are for 4-6" lifts and everything i've searched on here said I shouldn't need one. Any suggestions on what to do? The truck just got new balljoints, all new tierods, new wheel bearings, a new gearbox and tires. Yea that was spendy. She drives like new, just new with bump steer.
I put the recommended track bar relocator bracket on when I put the add a leafs on. Someone said the track bar and drag link should be about parallel, I checked that the other day and at the pitman arm, the two aren't parallel, it's out about an inch or two off.
After looking, all the drop pitmans are for 4-6" lifts and everything i've searched on here said I shouldn't need one. Any suggestions on what to do? The truck just got new balljoints, all new tierods, new wheel bearings, a new gearbox and tires. Yea that was spendy. She drives like new, just new with bump steer.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: NE Ohio
I had a friend throw it on his alignment machine a couple weeks ago and the driverside tire was showing a .10 degree over acceptable on camber i believe it was, we think it was because of the wheelbearing having so much play. And toe was out, we reset it at the time. It's going in again tomorrow being I just finished all the front end work and the tires are going on too.
As for the bumpsteer, hit bumps to where the front end travels and it causes the steering wheel to move. It's really bad when I put the plow on the front, the steering wheel ends up going out almost 90 degrees.
As for the bumpsteer, hit bumps to where the front end travels and it causes the steering wheel to move. It's really bad when I put the plow on the front, the steering wheel ends up going out almost 90 degrees.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
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From: NH
Has anyone ever experienced bump steer with a leveling kit?
Most assumptions are that by only leveling, one does not create the similar issues related to a full lift. This is usually not the case.
everything i've searched on here said I shouldn't need one
If in-fact you were lifted 3-3.5" i would guess that your pitman arm is at its threshold if not above. If you search enough you will find that 3" of lift on some trucks require the use of a drop pitman arm.
Seeing as you did the proper install of the track bar drop bracket i would look at a couple of other issues/items as well.
1) Is the skyjacker or superlift bracket adequate/strong enough where no flexing or binding is taking place.
2) What is the condition of your track bar bushings? consider installing poly bushings, pretty cheap insurance.
3) confirm the condition of your springs mounting hardware and properly torqued.
4) Consider caster/camber shims and proffesional realignment.
Achieving 0 bumpsteer can in many cases become difficult/costly to achieve.
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