Steering issue on a 79 shortbed
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 250
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Steering issue on a 79 shortbed
I have just completed a restoration of a 79 shortbed. The steering is horrible- all over the road and I am at a loss to figure it out. Everything is new- tie rods, ball joints, drag link, steering box, power steering pump. Could it be that the re man steering box is bad out of the box- or that the pump still has air in it?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Rag joint alright? Is the box adjusted properly? Air would just cause a cavitation and the steering wheel would feel tight, just like it did not have power steering at all.
Next item that may have been overlooked is the "caster". Are the radius arms and associated bushings installed correctly? "C" bushings that are installed incorrectly can take some caster away and create some very quick steering making the vehicle unstable, and unpredictable.
(I have made an assumption that this was a 4wheel drive) but since you mentioned 'ball joints' one could draw this conclusion)
Next item that may have been overlooked is the "caster". Are the radius arms and associated bushings installed correctly? "C" bushings that are installed incorrectly can take some caster away and create some very quick steering making the vehicle unstable, and unpredictable.
(I have made an assumption that this was a 4wheel drive) but since you mentioned 'ball joints' one could draw this conclusion)
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 250
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rag joint
I did not check that- how much play is acceptable? I bought this truck out of a bone yard and was used for plowing snow- I assume that anything that can wear is beat. I did install new energy suspension C bushings but can not remember if I was smart enough to follow the wording on the inside for top and bottom. The steering is hard to explain. like you have to be actively steering all the time- it kind of steers to one side and when you correct back to the other real quick.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Near Yosemite CA
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2006
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Thanks for the suggestions- I have not had a chance to lift the hood again, but will check out the pitman arm, but remember tightening it when i switched the steering box out. I am going to check the rag joint because the truck steers the same and I replaced the power steering unit, drove it and then the steering box- no change. I did not have the front end aligned after i put it back together- years ago a shop had told me that their is very little adjustment on the solid axle trucks- is this true? Cant remember which is- cast or camber?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Schweinfurt Germany
But did you tighten it to spec even over tightening is almost as and can be worse than not tight enough you can get a good torque wrench for about 20 bucks.
Toe in or toe out is the more common names for camber (I THink but i can never remember right which one is which)
Caster (again if I remember right) Is the top lug is it positioned forward or rearward (forward is always better)
Toe in or toe out is the more common names for camber (I THink but i can never remember right which one is which)
Caster (again if I remember right) Is the top lug is it positioned forward or rearward (forward is always better)
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
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From: Big Sky Country
Caster and camber are for the most part "set" all an alignment shop will do is set the toe or you can save the 50 bucks and check/set the toe yourself in your driveway with a sharp eye and an accurate tape measure.