still no luck

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 4, 2009 | 05:38 PM

fish-albuq

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 357

Likes: 0

still no luck

well, I got my steering arm down where it should go parallell to the ground and also put a steering damener on it, still walks all over the road. The box is adjusted as far as it will go. Im thinking my only course of action is a remanufactured toyota box. I did put a drop axle on it. Those of you that have a drop axle what gives with this thing?

Aug 4, 2009 | 06:11 PM

BlueOvalRage

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,571

Likes: 22

From: Oxford, Indiana

What's your caster angle? I can't remember whether you've mentioned checking it or not. A lot of straight axle steering wandr issues can be traced back to not enough caster. IIRC, the target for high speed highway driving is 4 to 7 degrees. With PS, I'd try to get as close to 7 as possible.

Aug 4, 2009 | 07:02 PM

8bahead

Senior User

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 216

Likes: 0

From: cleveland,Oh.

Mid fifty sells shims just for that purpose they are wedge shape 4*- 7*. Buy an angle finder cheap magnetic, jack up the truck put in on jack stands make it level front to back. Sit the angle finder on the axle flat surface and see what you have and go from there. I know Summit sells a caster camber gauge as well it attaches to the axle hub.
Good luck!

Aug 4, 2009 | 07:36 PM

HILLBILLY BOB

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 1,522

Likes: 21

From: HUDSON, FL

Someone told me about a yard that sells
nothing but toyota part i have not tried it yet but
here is the e-mail address yotayard.com---303-292-5078
this guy told me that he got his toyota p/s box there & it was a very good price
like i said i have not tried this place out yet--itis in calif

Aug 4, 2009 | 10:56 PM

fish-albuq

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 357

Likes: 0

I had the truck aligned and it has about 3.5 degrees of caster. Do you guys think that a couple degrees would make that much of a diference?

Aug 5, 2009 | 12:24 AM

gearhead1952

Tuned

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 400

Likes: 2

From: Arvada, CO

Quote:

Originally Posted by fish-albuq

I had the truck aligned and it has about 3.5 degrees of caster. Do you guys think that a couple degrees would make that much of a diference?

Yes it will. Does your truck sit level? If your back end is up in the air it is like standing the front axle back up straight.

Aug 5, 2009 | 12:24 AM

BlueOvalRage

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 2,571

Likes: 22

From: Oxford, Indiana

Ayup, it sure will. As caster increases, the tendency of the wheels to return to and stay at center increases, but so does steering effort. With manual steering, caster has to walk a fine line between too much and being hard to steer and not enough and wandering. With power steering, not so much. You want to dial in as much caster as you can within reason. Power steering will easily overcome the extra steering effort that comes with the full 7 degrees. A power box can actually amplify the wander if you don't have enough caster. I'd definitely add a few more degrees and give it another try before condemning your gearbox. Even if that doesn't do it, the shims are cheeep and it won't hurt a thing!