Ok, on my '72 2x4 i'm converting to 4x4. The '72 steering box mounted behind the axle, which wouldn't work with the straight axle I have now, so I mounted the '79 4x4 box I have in front of the axle. In my mind, I had it all pictured where it would work great, but after I drilled some holes and stuck it on, it looks funny. The box is as close as I can get it to the upper spring bucket, and its still maybe a foot in front of the axle, and the pitman arm sticks foreward, so the drag link is angled a lot. I didn't measure, but i'm guestimate the driver side of the drag link is maybe 18 inches ahead of the passenger side.

So how much angle can you have and not run into problems? The up and down angle isn't bad at all, looking from the front of the truck, its just a little higher on the driver side than the passenger side, not near as bad as some i've seen. If the pitman arm would just stick backwards, and not forewards it would be about perfect. Wish I had some dern pics, i'm not very good at 'splaining stuff.

 

I "think" you are talking about going from the 2x4 setup that puts its sector shaft vertically, to the 4x4 setup which mounts it horizontally. Why not leave the 2x4 box where it is and finish it off with a cross-over setup (see thread near top)? It would work much better.

 

It looks like if I tried a cross over setup from where the 2x4 box was originaly, the drag link would bang trac bar. And I think it would even hit the axle with enough suspension travel. I'll try to post some pictures so it makes more sense. Looking at the pics in your gallery Pro, it looks like the pitman arm on your steering box is pointing towards the back of the truck, is that right? I know my 4x4 box points foreward, not sure about the 2x4 box, me and Mr. Victor had a party getting him off and I haven't looked at it since. Thanks for the reply, hopefully I can get this figured out this afternoon.

 

Yup, towards the rear axle. Pics might help...maybe its cuz I'm sleep deprived and hung over...

 

Less drink for you... More mud.

 

Ok, i'm trying to post pics and something must be broke. I hit the upload button and the PC does its thing, and then there still aint no pictures to look at. So, i'm an idiot or something ain't workin right.

 

Maybe your hard drive is mounted at the wrong angel in your CPU? Sorry, couldn't resist

Seriously, rather than guessing at what your steering geometry should be why not go x-over while you have it apart anyways? Steering can be a scary thing to get creative with for an on-road rig.

 

Hmm, thats a good point, i'll have to get out my hammers and tools and see if I can change the angle some. Hehe, then maybe I can post some pictures for you to see.


About the crossover thing, thats sounds like a great idea, and after looking at my 2x4 box, it should work if I turned the pitman arm halfway around, then the wheels would go the same way the steering wheel does. But I don't see how I could make it fit with the big honking crossmember under the engine that gets in the way of everything, and the trac bar too. I did shorten the drag link, and turn the pitman arm some on the 4x4 box I have mounted on my truck now, and the wheels will turn both ways till it hits the stops. I also don't have shocks on yet so I bounced the front wheels off the ground a few times and nothing seems to be binding.


Hopefully tomorrow I can get the pictures to upload right, then you can actually "see" what i'm talking about, instead of trying to imagine what i'm describing

 

Yeeeeeehhaaaaaa, I think I figured out how to do pics. There should be some in my gallery for you to look at now. So please take a look and tell me what you think, and let me have both barrels, don't hold back none.

Thanks

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=39612&width=2

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=39613&width=2

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=39614&width=2

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=39615&width=2


WOW, are those links I just did? What is the world coming too? I think i'm learning some of this stuff finally. Now ifn I could only figure out how to make the dern pictures show up in my posts, i'd be doing good.

 

Forgive me for the stupid question. I, not being into offroading very long, have no idea what you mean by x-over steering. Could someone be kind enough to explain this to me?

 

I don't think any questions are stupid, 'cept the ones that aint asked. I'm not sure I got a handle on the cross over steering thing completely, but i'll give it a shot. The old 3/4 ton trucks, called "high boys" had some sucky steering on them from the factory. So some dude that was way smarter than me figured out he could take a 2x4 steering box, mount it to the frame in front of the axle. Then rig up something on the passanger side steering nuckle thingie to run the drag like to. Then you got this new steering setup thats much better geometry and leverage for someone who can do the math, for the rest of us we gotta take thier word for it.

And now that i've learned to do links, i'm gonna give you a couple that Ivan used before


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...25252Bsteering

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...25252Bsteering

Read those posts and look in Pro's gallery, then you'll prolly understand it better than I do.

 

OK! Thanks. I am still a little confused, but that helped out alot.

 

Leave it to a guy from Texas to have all heim joint steering and hold the truck up with two scissor jacks from a honda civic

Just kidding of course

My understanding of crossover steering was that you relocated the passenger side of the drag link above the leaf springs instead of under on leaf sprung trucks to reduce drag link angle on lifted rigs. At least all the rigs I've seen with "crossover" were this way. You're using the long drag link stock 1/2 ton style setup but the drag link is still at the lower stock location. I'll try to find a pic of the type of setup I'm talking about.

On edit: Here's a pic of crossover steering on an excursion:

http://mrrottndog.smugmug.com/gallery/14390/1/477120

In the pic you can just see the drag link just below the bumper going straight across from the pitman arm to the passenger side steering knuckle.

Note that the stock Superduty/Excursion steering uses a driver to passenger side drag link but it mounts down below the passenger side spring.

As far as the foreward/back angle on the drag link: Have you looked at any stock 78-79 half tons or broncos to see how far forward the steering box/pitman arm on them?? It doesn't look unsafe to me the way you have it but the steering box could be a bit further back I guess I used to have a 79 and I think it had some angle to it like yours does but I don't have it any more or I'd look at it for you.

 

I did a rough measurement on my 150 and got 7"-8" of horizontal seperation between the drag link and tie rod, nowhere near the 18"s Fredman is seeing.

Everything appears to be mounted in the same relative position as my 150. I can't figure out from your pics where you're getting so much seperation. Perhaps it's the piman arm length. That's the only thing that looks out of proportion to me. I can take a measurement off a stock 4wd F-150 pitman if you would like.




P.S. Fred, buy some jackstands before you kill yourself!!!!