Guys,I can say that I have made a lot of progress in adding the new steering box. Drive it last night and WOW what a difference in the steering. Truck still wants to wonder a bit but hey it is a '64. lol. But I am going to work on the toe in / out and see what I can do to improve a bit more, but really what a difference in just changing out the steering box, tie rod ends. And now will move forward on the tie rod pivot issues and will post what I find out.<O</O
Thanks Hammy

 

Hammy, No I don't have any pictures of my Jeep that I fixed that problem on. I sold that project back in 1986, but even if I did you wouldn't see anything special, because the tie rod end that I used didn't look much different than a regular tie rod end.

Do you think that panhard bar helps with the handling of the truck? I have given thought about installing one one my '62 F100, I am thinking that it would have to be installed as close to parallel to the ground or front axle as possible so there wouldn't be any bind in the front suspension during bounce and jounce. My '01 F250SD has one in the front but that truck only has two leaf springs on each side. My '62 has about five or six per side, I know that they are a lot thinner on the '62 but I think the stack of springs make up for it. Anybody have any thoughts about that issue?

 

Kolkat,
Hey it would be hard for me to say if the panhard helps, due to the fact I purchased it with that on it. I would think it does, however with this old school front ends it still wants to bounce around when you hit a good bump. If you need pics, let me know.
As an update, new steering box, new front end parts and now have set the toe and have found a toe in on both sides works much better then when it was, say, straight. (I did the shadetree string and laser to get it close till I can get it over to the shop to get it set up. just hopping I dont go backwards once they set it up!) Drives darn nice now but I don't want to burn the tires off the front. Not sure how much toe in I put in it, but very little. Just off line to straight. 2 to 3 degree...maybe?
Thanks..Hammy

 

I was just wondering about the bar because I went out to my truck and shook it side to side and witnessed no movement. I could only see the use for a panhard bar if the truck was to be used for high speed maneuvering as in road racing or timed events in a parking lot. I don't mean to be hostile I am just wondering if it is there to crutch another problem like may be worn spring bushings or something of the such. You may want to test the movement of the bar trough the complete travel of the front suspension to check if it is installed correctly. If the bar has significant arc it could put a bind on the front suspension as it travels through its bounce and jounce mimicking bump steer. Also the toe setting on a vehicle with a straight axle like a F100 is 1/16inch in, in the front.
But I am happy to hear that you are making progress with your steering issue.

 

Actually a panhard bar can make a huge difference in a solid axle truck. It maintains the distance between the passenger side kingpin and the steering box when the springs compress and extend. You can run a freer bushing setup allowing the springs to work better, improving the ride while combating bump steer.
The mounting points for a panhard bar should be roughly the same distance apart and at the same angle as the tie rod mounting points in order to efficiently work.
Ideally both the tie rod and panhard bar should be level with the axle to prevent excessive force and binding.
For and extreme example look at Fords steering setup on late 70s half ton 4x4. I think the engineers got lazy on this setup as the tie rod angle is so steep that only using a heavy duty panhard bar to force the front end way over was the only way they could stop bump steer. Even then a steering dampener was needed.

 

Hi, You are very correct. The purpose of the panhard bar is to keep the tracking of the of the axle square in the truck/car it is installed in. I have a F250SD that has one, but that truck only has two leaves per side and weighs 7,900 lbs, most of that poundage is in the front. Therefore if it didn't have the bar it would be all over the place unless it had a stack of about six springs per side. I was trying to suggest that hammy should make sure that the bar was installed correctly. I was trying to make the point that if the spring bushings front and rear (on the front axle)and the spring shackles were in perfect running order and the bar was/is installed incorrectly it would bind the suspension up and cause it to act differently than it should when driving on rough roads. I guess I would suggest that he disconnect it and drive the truck to see if it was even necessary to have it.
If everything in the front suspension is brand new or just like brand new that truck shouldn't need that panhard bar.
Now things would be different if it had a anti-roll bar or sway bar. I personally think that a small no more than one inch in diameter anti-roll bar would help when the truck is pitched from side to side on a rough road.

 

Hey Guys,
Darn, I had it off when i replaced the bushings, should have maybe try it. I can say again that the steering is much much better. I tweaked the toe in again and took it out driving and it seemed to run pretty darn straight.
Front panhard bars are not my expertise. SO, I wonder if it has to do with the 460 in it? Weight?
Now I have purchased a lot of rear panhard bars for my mustangs I have owned.

Well I will most likely leave it as it is at this time being I am making progress However, I will go back to study the tie rod set up and its twisting.
Thanks,
Hammy.

 

Hammy, I did some research on your track bar /panhard bar. The reason your truck has one is because it was converted to cross steer. It is necessary because of the side to side movement from the steering box. If your truck was converted with the power assist kit from CPP, the steering set up would have stayed the same except it would have a power switching valve on the drag link and a power ram on the tie rod like a early Mustang set up. Check them out if you haven't before. Disc Brake, Steering and Suspension Products for classic Chevy and Ford cars and trucks

This is my last post as some people don't care to hear what I have to say. If given the chance people would have found that I have some good info to share after being with FMC for 25 yrs. and when I am wrong I will admit it.

 

Koolkat,
hey thanks for all your input , it is appreciated here. Yea I think I may look into doing something different in the near future if I keep the truck. May even just go to a front clip,again if I keep the truck.
Thanks again and will see you around FTE.
Hammy.