steering troubles
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: rocky mt
steering troubles
i'm having a little trouble w/ the steering on my truck. it goes in a straight line just fine but it's really tricky going around a curve or changeine lanes at hiway speeds. the slightest turn of the wheel causes the truck to jerk to that side and it takes a bit of skill to straighten it out. i've already replaced the kingpins and had the alignment checked. i added power steering w/ a new gearbox but i ripped a pitman arm off of a 71 truck ( mine's a 72 )seems like the steering got a little worse when i added power. it seems like the truck has a bit of excessive body roll but i'd like to pin point the problem before spending too much more money needlessly.
thanx
mike
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
steering troubles
Mike, What does the rag joint look like, what about ball joints? 
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John
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John
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 609
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From: Watauga TEXAS
steering troubles
Sounds like what my '71 truck does- steering is tight (all new parts) but seems to take no effort at all to turn the wheels. The faster you go down the freeway, the squirlier it gets. What I think my problem is I don't have enough toe-in. It's supposed to be 3/32" but looking at the tires I'd say it was toed-out.
Caster has alot to do with steering ability also. Too much or too little wll make it hard to steer or hard to keep straight. I forget which way it goes.
Caster has alot to do with steering ability also. Too much or too little wll make it hard to steer or hard to keep straight. I forget which way it goes.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: rocky mt
steering troubles
i heard that heidt's rod shop makes an adjustable power steering valve that sounds like it would be the answer to the problem but, i kinda tired of laying out money w/o getting results. i was hoping someone else would have a little info that would help
mike
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 609
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From: Watauga TEXAS
steering troubles
I don't know about a p/s valve, but I did have a '60 F100 that had what looked like an aftermarket steering stabilizer. I had that thing with a stock 292 doing 95 MPH down the freeway and it drove straight as an arrow. Changing lanes was smooth as silk. That truck never did act squirley.
I thought about looking for one for my '71. Like I wrote earlier, everything is brand new- tie rod ends, drag link, pitman arm, axle pivot bushings, radius arm bushings, kingpins, bearrings, tires and wheels. Everything that could be replaced, was replaced. Not to try to find a solution to this problem, but because it needed it. So I couldn't imagine anything else helping much.
Just like SRV said it, "Money's tight, ain't nothin' free." So that's gonna be my next venture is to try to find a steering stabilizer kit when my money tree takes root. I imagine they'll be easy to find at any 4WD supply.
Keep us all posted if you do find a solution.
Joe
I thought about looking for one for my '71. Like I wrote earlier, everything is brand new- tie rod ends, drag link, pitman arm, axle pivot bushings, radius arm bushings, kingpins, bearrings, tires and wheels. Everything that could be replaced, was replaced. Not to try to find a solution to this problem, but because it needed it. So I couldn't imagine anything else helping much.
Just like SRV said it, "Money's tight, ain't nothin' free." So that's gonna be my next venture is to try to find a steering stabilizer kit when my money tree takes root. I imagine they'll be easy to find at any 4WD supply.
Keep us all posted if you do find a solution.
Joe
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