Getting new steering linkage aligned correctly
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2012
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Getting new steering linkage aligned correctly
For the life of me I cant find any info on this. I'm posting here since all the components are off a 75 truck (installed on a 65). everything. gear. linkage. pitman arm. tie rods. spindles. I beams. for the life of me I can't get the steering to center up (coorect toe in with gear centered). I don't have a lot of experience with these trucks. most of the cars I have worked on have an adjuster for both tie rods. not a single one. so how do you go about setting up one of these linkages when new? should the adjusting collar be centered or do you get one side close then attach the collar? The pitman arm is keyed so I don't have an adjustment there. is something screwy?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2012
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it's not the wheel i'm talking about. it's the linkage and steering gear.
when the steering gear is centered, i cannot get the wheels pointing straight ahead.
the steering wheel is independent of all this.
when the steering gear is centered, i cannot get the wheels pointing straight ahead.
the steering wheel is independent of all this.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2012
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more weird. when the gear is centered one wheel seems pointing straight ahead and the other off to one side
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
10 Steps
1. Center the steering box.
2. Center the steering wheel.
3. Roughly align the wheels by turning the tie rod(s).
4. Now roll the truck back about 5 feet and forward 5 feet back to the same spot.
5. Mark one spot on the front face of each tire tread and measure from one tire to the opposite tire.
6. Roll the truck back to locate the marks made in Step 5 to be facing rearwards. Measure the distance from mark to mark.
7. Adjust the tie rods.
8. After adjusting, the truck needs to be rolled forward and back to take the bind out of the linkages and scrub out of the tires.
9. Repeat until ya achieve 1/8-inch toe-in.
10. Got it close? Now head to the alignment shop.
2. Center the steering wheel.
3. Roughly align the wheels by turning the tie rod(s).
4. Now roll the truck back about 5 feet and forward 5 feet back to the same spot.
5. Mark one spot on the front face of each tire tread and measure from one tire to the opposite tire.
6. Roll the truck back to locate the marks made in Step 5 to be facing rearwards. Measure the distance from mark to mark.
7. Adjust the tie rods.
8. After adjusting, the truck needs to be rolled forward and back to take the bind out of the linkages and scrub out of the tires.
9. Repeat until ya achieve 1/8-inch toe-in.
10. Got it close? Now head to the alignment shop.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Hmmm... then there's something amidst. i'm not familiar with the earlier models but deduction leads me to believe that the frame is narrower and is therefore projecting the I-beams (and thus the spindles) farther out than the Dentside donor. Meaning, it may fit but it is off dimensionally relative to each other.
If it is supposed to fit, then compare the donor parts to the 65's take-offs.
Say, why isn't this question posted in the 61-66 forum anyway??? Did the OP average out the model years and end up in this here Bump forum?? WTF??
If it is supposed to fit, then compare the donor parts to the 65's take-offs.
Say, why isn't this question posted in the 61-66 forum anyway??? Did the OP average out the model years and end up in this here Bump forum?? WTF??
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
I'v never had a 65 but is the frame the same width in the area where the steering gear bolts on ? In other words is the steering gear sitting the same distant out from the center of the 65 frame as it would be on the 75 ? If it's closer to the center line then that may throw things off, I'm just making a wild guess.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Ah, thanks... I have both a Dent and Bump and get cattywampus sometimes. 
That's along the lines that I'm thinking.. that the tie rods don't have enough "reach" due to the different frame dimensions.
I'v never had a 65 but is the frame the same width in the area where the steering gear bolts on ? In other words is the steering gear sitting the same distant out from the center of the 65 frame as it would be on the 75 ? If it's closer to the center line then that may throw things off, I'm just making a wild guess.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
I' think the gear mounting closer to the center line and like you said the radius arms angle in , if that's happening would throw things off pretty easy.