4x4 swap - one issue
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Saint John, NB
4x4 swap - one issue
Hey not sure if anyone here did a 4x4 swap but I finished mine up last Feb. and its been working for a while. I haven't really went too far with it just a few miles down to the lake and what not. I took it for its first big trip today and hit a bump on the highway on the pass side and the pass wheel bounced up and down and it felt side to side. Steering wheel was shaking all over the place then it settled down. I was wondering if a loose track bar could cause this? anyone ever have a track bar loose or disconnected? Im not sure if mine is loose as its wet here and i didnt want to jack it up in the rain.
Any help would be great.
On a sad note - I;m selling the truck to my dad lol
Any help would be great.
On a sad note - I;m selling the truck to my dad lol
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
interesting... Thats the same thing I think mine does on occasion. Only seems to happen when going above about 40mph, and hitting a large bump (or hole?) on passenger side. Abruptly stops when slowed down to like 25ish.
Details on my truck. 88' F250, was 2wd, now 4wd with Dana 60 SAS. Custom pieced together front suspension with gasser F250 leaf springs with reversed shackles. I never installed the trac bar. Last fall I shimmed the kingpin shims, and I thought had licked the problem. Except for a few random wobbles with big bumps, it didn't happen until about 3 weeks ago when the problem returned.
Ideas???
Details on my truck. 88' F250, was 2wd, now 4wd with Dana 60 SAS. Custom pieced together front suspension with gasser F250 leaf springs with reversed shackles. I never installed the trac bar. Last fall I shimmed the kingpin shims, and I thought had licked the problem. Except for a few random wobbles with big bumps, it didn't happen until about 3 weeks ago when the problem returned.
Ideas???
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 2
From: CASA GRANDE AZ
i swapped out a dana 44 out of a 77 f-250 and put it under my 89 f-250 4x4 ttb
and rancho 4 inch lift springs and it bounces like a pogo stick , and i even made sure that the caster was correct . i think that the leaf springs are the problem , with them having
one side that is extra long , i am at the conclusion that to make it work better you should turn the springs around ( long end forward ) and reverse the shackles . it would require
some fabrication to do it !!
and rancho 4 inch lift springs and it bounces like a pogo stick , and i even made sure that the caster was correct . i think that the leaf springs are the problem , with them having
one side that is extra long , i am at the conclusion that to make it work better you should turn the springs around ( long end forward ) and reverse the shackles . it would require
some fabrication to do it !!
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,319
Likes: 4
From: Elk City, OK
as far as the d60, is it a kingpin axle? if so, they need to be rebuilt. you can help by adding a steering dampner but you can help by doing a kingpin spring eliminator kit. its a bolt that you preload against the kingpin. you just have to keep them adjusted. as far as the OP goes, yes, a loose trackbar will do that, also you need to check your knuckle back degree angle. if its straight or leaning forward then its gonna do that. if you put a degree shim to lean it back then you will track straight and eliminate that issue. if your running up to a 35" tire then you should always have 1 steering dampner, if you have larger then 35 then you need 2 shock setup. also, check your balljoints. you'll get that death wobble if they are worn as well.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,319
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From: Elk City, OK
didnt notice you said the caster was already set, put it back another degree.... as far as switching the leaf NO, it will push it so far back you'll never get to turn without removing or cutting your fenders big time. also, the shackle reverse kit is something i just did..... you cant get away with less then 3" of lift. you can get the kit at sky-manufacturing.com they are the cheapest place you'll ever find. it makes a softer ride, but thats not going to cure your problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
x 10 for the steering stabilizer. You have to have those, and stick with the sizing like oreo said. When i flipped the springs on my 49 ****** pickup and got an effective 12 inch lift, i had the same problem. Had to run duals but when i did, it went away. every time you hit a bump it will do that.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,737
Likes: 179
From: Western Mass
as far as the d60, is it a kingpin axle? if so, they need to be rebuilt. you can help by adding a steering dampner but you can help by doing a kingpin spring eliminator kit. its a bolt that you preload against the kingpin. you just have to keep them adjusted. as far as the OP goes, yes, a loose trackbar will do that, also you need to check your knuckle back degree angle. if its straight or leaning forward then its gonna do that. if you put a degree shim to lean it back then you will track straight and eliminate that issue. if your running up to a 35" tire then you should always have 1 steering dampner, if you have larger then 35 then you need 2 shock setup. also, check your balljoints. you'll get that death wobble if they are worn as well.
Since I'm DON"T HAVE a trac bar, would putting it on help? I'm baffled because it didn't happen for about a year, then magically came back. The only thing I can think of is that I swapped the tires around, but that shouldn't matter... I've read that with the reverse shackle kit, trac bar is optional, so I never installed it.
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Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 77
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From: Saint John, NB
Mine is a D60 as well and its only above 40mph big bump. The track bar actually was disconnected on one side. Not sure why maybe i forgot to bolt up when i did the swap. I cannot get the bar to bolt up. Do you guys think this is the issue or is it a sterring stabilizer thing? So any guys here have no track bar out front and a stabilizer and have noe issues?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
none of the old fords or dodges or chevys had a trac bar , that was with leaf springs
i never new why ford put one on these newer one ? my only guess would be the front shackle is small as not being wide and ca easily bend side ways !! just my guess !!
i never new why ford put one on these newer one ? my only guess would be the front shackle is small as not being wide and ca easily bend side ways !! just my guess !!
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,319
Likes: 4
From: Elk City, OK
the track bar helps keep your steering from going crazy. My company's F450 track bar bracket broke and it was terrible death wobbled and shaking like crazy. To hook it back up is easy. Just jack up the passenger side, that will move the axle closer to the bar. You have a balljoint or kingpin D60?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,615
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From: Hagerstown, Md
didnt notice you said the caster was already set, put it back another degree.... as far as switching the leaf NO, it will push it so far back you'll never get to turn without removing or cutting your fenders big time. also, the shackle reverse kit is something i just did..... you cant get away with less then 3" of lift. you can get the kit at sky-manufacturing.com they are the cheapest place you'll ever find. it makes a softer ride, but thats not going to cure your problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 0
From: Hagerstown, Md
and i had 35s on my truck before and i then put a steering stabilizer on, noticed a difference (good) and now i have 37s and am in the process of making the dual steering stabilizer for it