Bought this truck a few weeks ago. Dealer said it was "lifted". I wasn't sure, but it didn't matter. I noticed some bad wandering issues and an occasional "hang up" when steering from a stop. Finally got underneath it today and found the tie rod on the pitman arm shot. About 1/4" of movement!

It looks like the truck is lifted and the pitman arm/tie rod angle looks a little extreme. I'd like to confirm it is lifted and get a drop pitman arm etc to fix the issue correctly, also hear talk of adjustable track bar. I might need one of those too.

Here's some pics of the suspension.
The front shackles<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1298.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1298.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The pitman arm tie rod.<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1297.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1297.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Rear blocks<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1300.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1300.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Suspension clearance<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1295.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1295.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Tire size<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1296.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1296.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

BTW. It's a 4x4 off road edition.

Also found this on amazon. Not sure of the lift if any and what drop I'd need. But thought this was a good deal.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/han...t-bbf_1_glance

 

Rear blocks are definitely not stock, they don't have bump stops on them. Springs all look stock though. Looks like probably a 2" lift with rear blocks and shackles up front.

 

If it is lifted I wouldn't have thought it would throw off your steering geometry that much. Mine has a leveling kit and it looks different to me. Up front I have 7 leaf springs vs. your two. Ive never seen a shackle leveling kit before. That doesn't mean a whole lot though....

 

Lots of people have lifted the front of these trucks with shackles. Might just be the angle, but the shackle in that pic looks longer than stock to me. Of course, I don't have one handy to compare it to since my 05 has coils up front.

I wouldn't think that little bit of lift would need a drop pitman arm. I would bet that replacing that tie rod end and any other worn front end parts will get rid of the wandering problem. Then you will need to get the alignment checked to see if the front axle is shifted to the left from the lift. If it is, you will need an adjustable track bar or drop bracket for the stock track bar. Adjustable track bar would probably be better.

 

It's an aftermarket shackle, the stock truck doesn't have nearly that much clearance at the bump stop. I would like to find some shackles that would only raise it 1 inch.

 

You could buy some aftermarket ones and drill new holes to half the lift they offer. I've done that on some custom jobs to fit slightly larger tires, but not go crazy. Not sure what kind of fab skills you have, but shackles are relatively easy to make. And note that if you do drill out a set to halve the lift you shouldn't use the original hole as the new hole would've weakened the shackle beyond that point.

The angle gets worse when you steer to one side or articulate the suspension. I haven't been able to find a small drop pitman arm so I might just have to buy a new rod end and call it good. I'll have to measure out the shackle length and rear block to see how high the lift is compared to a stock 4x4 off road'r and maybe I can get a drop arm. Most of the sites I've seen have said they were for 4-6 inch lifts and occasionally 3-6. The drops look pretty extreme. I don't think I'm in that bad shape, but dang, I'd like to get it corrected. LOL

 

Looks like no one has a 2 Inch drop pitman arm. I thought maybe the F350 pitman would have a slight drop to it Because I've heard the 4x4 sits 2" higher than the F250 does. I checked the part numbers on Autozone. They were the same. You would think that there would be parts for this, but I suppose a smidge here and there in the rod ends would make up the difference in height. I would just like to get rid of the bump steer.

So, in short I'll replace the rod end with a good quality one like Moog asap. BTW it looks like it has the OE ball joints (no zerks). Think I'll start saving some pennies and do a front end rebuild towards the end of this coming summer. Parts guy showed me the Moog "problem solvers". They looked pretty good. Had a nice high price tag too. haha

As far as the track bar goes, summit racing sells a drop bracket in their 2" kits
Tuff Country 22958 - Tuff Country Suspension Lift Kit Components - Overview - SummitRacing.com I'll get it to the alignment shop when I do the ball joints or see how bad it's off when I do the rod end.

Guess time will tell. Wish I could find some specs on the stock shackle lengths. Maybe someone would be kind enough to measure theirs along with the rear blocks. Thanks in advance if you do!

 

OK! I think this is what they(previous owner) put on the truck. A 3" tuff country and a 4" block in the back. I measured the block. That being said maybe a 3" drop spindle is in order. No harm in giving it a go. They're only around 70 bucks.

Tuff Country 23955 - Tuff Country Suspension Lift Kit Components - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Here's my confirmation.
<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1301.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1301.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Many of the parts match up from the parts list. BTW the red stuff isn't rust. It's some weird stuff the DOT was spreading on the turns in the Cascades here in OR. Never saw it before. Looked at it today on the truck. Looked like a mixture of sand/clay and shale. Kind of disappointing too. Me and the misses were looking for some snow to play in. Didn't find any.

 

I think the "tie rod" you guys are refering to is called the drag link. The tie rod connects the two steering knuckles (Also the wheels) together. At any rate, if the lower tie rod is good, then u simply need to replace the end of the drag link that is bad. No need for allignment. The tie rod contolls wheel allignment. After you put the new end(s) on, adjust the steering wheel centering by the adjuster sleeve that holds the drag link together. Hope this helps.

 

That's a hanger kit its fine just used to level the truck from that raked look .my rear blocks look the same

 

So, I heard the stock rear block is around 2", mine is four and the front kit looks like at least 3"+. The info on the kit that looks like mine, states a drop pitman arm isn't necessary, but can be used. Didn't say what percentage of drop or a part number for it.

I went ahead and purchased the pitman, but ups screwed up and either didn't deliver and lied about it (happened in the past, they said it was,then delivered the next day) or dropped it at the wrong house. Said it was dropped at the front door at 3:30. Wife was home all day and she didn't see them. I purchased the arm for a 4" lift, don't know if that's the exact amount of drop in the arm, but I'll see when I get it. The truck has some bump steer and there's not a good amount threads through the adjusting sleeve. Would like to correct it if possible. If the arm doesn't work out then so be it. I'll have to live with it.

I already bought a new tie rod end for the drag link to pitman arm and installed it. I was going to do the arm and rod end at the same time, but it wasn't meant to be I guess. Made a huge difference. Like it's on rails. The threads on the drag link are shot past the sleeve and it's a little bit on the not exactly loose, but not tight either, so it's got to go next round.

A few things came up while I was doing the work. The adjusting nut on the top of the steering box is leaking. Cleaned it and ran it. Not leaking now, but was definitely leaking. Also noted a leak on the power steering pump, same as the box, cleaned it and it didn't leak while running. Also the box has a creak in it coming from the shaft on the bottom. I think the bearing's shot.

I think I'll save up and do the Box, drag link and arm (whenever it comes).

Feel like I'm being spanked by this. LOL

 

looks like you have 4" rear blocks(f350) and look at your front bumpstops, do they have a 2" spacer on them? looks like it. so it loos like it has a front leveling kit.

 

[QUOTE=SasquatchZilla;11199238]
The pitman arm tie rod.<a href="http://s1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_1297.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb343/BikeSquatch/Truck%20lift/IMG_1297.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
QUOTE]

I have the same upper track arm bracket and have been told it's not stock. This came up when I saw a couple other Superdutys at a meet & greet and theirs were different. They just had a bolt set up just like the bottom mounting point. Your upper bolt has a cam type system to center the axle. Mine wasn't centered with a 4" hanger, it was about 5/8" too far to the passenger side.
I was adding 1 1/2" more lift so I knew the axle would move over even more. I bought an adjustable track arm from Amazon for $100, Zone Offroad I believe, and it worked great. Axle is perfectly centered and with around 5 1/2" of lift, my truck tracks straight as an arrow and rides awesome.

I'd start with replacing your worn parts then go from there. See how the steering feels after that. Is your axle centered?