I did it, added a front lift. It added about 2.5" to the front....this should of been done at the factory. Anyway when I first drove off it had "bump steer". It turned out that when they added the lift they noticed one of my shocks leaking oil. I replaced it and the "bump steer" had greatly diminished. But when I go over a big dip or bump on the HWY I notice the "bump steer".

Now, my question is does anyone know of a pitman that is just for a 2"-3" lift? So far everything I have come across is for a 4"-6" lift. And lets say I add a 4-6" pitman to my lift what would it do to my steering?

Thank you for any information
Rick

 

Did you drop the radius arm bracket or install degreed C-bushings? By raising the front on a coil spring Ford you lose caster if you don't either drop the radius arms lower or correct it w/ degreed bushings. Lack of proper caster angle can cause wondering and other ill handling characteristics.

"Like a Rock"; on the sides of roads everywhere.

 

72f100,

I am sorry I should have said in post that it was on a '01 SD PSD. I do not have radius arms. The kit came with a traction bar relocater droping the bar about 2.5". My dealer said you can not change the postion of one (traction) with changing the postion of the other.

Rick

 

Ahhhhhh OK. I just assumed that you had an old Ford cause that's a pretty common prob. w/ them.

"Like a Rock"; on the sides of roads everywhere.

 

I'm considering a 2-3" lift for the front of my '99 F350 PSD.

Did you find a Pitman for 3" lift, and will the 4-6" Pitman work ok?

Thanks,
Scott.

 

Don't think you would want to use a drop for 4-6", this would in effect slow down the steering and increase the steering wheel movement in relation to the wheels actual movement. If you have any slop now at the steering wheel, it will only make it more noticable. Other thing to consider (sorry, not up on the newer either!) is what happens at "full stuff", will it hit anything it should not hit now that the steering linkages are closer together? Not sure what you mean by "traction" bar, if you mean the trac-bar, this locates the axle left to right and runs from the frame on one side to the axle housing on the other (I know some leaf spring front ends have 'em and all coil springs do unless they are a 3 or 4 link type suspension), this should have a drop on the frame end (older ones anyway) to keep the front end centered with the rear. Only other option for this is an adjustable trac-bar in conjunction with the stock mounts, still not as good as the drop bracket due to increasing the angle of the bar and thus the movement of the axle when the suspension does it's thing-best to keep this as straight with the axle as possible, within reason of course, it still has to clear the axle at "full stuff", might consider some poly bushings to tighten up the front end, especially on the trac-bar if you have one, this will help deter the side to side movement within the springs/hangers.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 24-Aug-01 AT 08:17 PM (EST)[/font][p]Chuck,

Sorry it took so long to get back you, thank you for the information. Yes that is what I ment to say, trac bar. And yes the kit came with a trac bar relocater. Getting a pitman that is to long is not a good idea. Everyone I ask said the same. It is not real bad but I notice it and want to fix it correct. I am affraid that if I do not do anything there will be problems in the future related to the bump steer.

I will look into the poly bushings. Thank you again.
Rick