Ok here is my problem, when I have someone turn the steering wheel the drag link rotates and allows you to spin the steering wheel about 3-5 degrees before the tie rod begins to move both knuckles. all the tie rods feel tight with no play. So I am wondering if the drag link rotation is normal. I added a picture of my trucks axle to show whats happening.
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

It looks bent, maybe to much angle so it rotates some to align for a straight pull or push? Do you need a dropped steering box arm to level out the drag link more?

On a somewhat related question, I just did the same conversion as you, but still have the 250 springs, I had to shorten my drag link in order to center my steering wheel and get the same turning radius in each direction. Did you have to at all? If you added the lift you probably had to adjust it anyways.

 

i don't think and or hope it's not bent, maybe??. I already have a drop pitman arm on my steering box. I also didn't have to cut the drag link any to get my steering wheel to be center, just just turned the one tie end out a little on the drag link. Those are also 4.5" lift springs for a 250 from rough country.

 

The picture makes it look curved. So you have had someone turn the steering while watching it and have seen the drag link rotate? Can you find another truck to look at? Superduty should be a very close setup shouldn't it?

U didn't need to cut it, I just loosened the collar and adjusted it shorter.

 

Yeah I had someone steer the truck while I was watching the front end and the drag link rotates when you turn the steering wheel back and forth. And I don't have any trucks to look at to compare mine to. So If anyone is looking at this thread and has a dana60 can you add some pictures or links.
Thanks

 

I'll try to get a couple pics tonight.

 

I thought it was normal for any of that stuff to rotate.
Just do the the forces, the joint has to push the pressure someplace.

if the pitman arm is moving, but the link isn't, and the link is just rotating, then I'd be worried.

Is that what your saying its doing?


Jack up the front tires and push the wheels left and right to see what the link does.
Mine moves when I do it with mine.
But I have a d50 TTB.
However, I also know that my steering box is wore 280k miles is a lot.
Perhaps your juts seeing the steering box wear.

If you can lock the steering wheel with the tires off the ground, moving things around then will definitely show you whats wrong. Make sure when you move one tire, the other one doesn't lag a bit before moving as well.
With the steering locked, you shoudln't be able to move the tires much at all, unless that arm your wondering about is giving you troubles, then you'll see it rotate as the tires turn.

=)

I hope that helps.

 

Your link is not bent. Or, rather it is bent, but it is supposed to be. My F350 does the same thing. My truck eats the little rubber spacer on the passenger side. I think this is what is supposed to prevent the 'twisting.' I have a 4 inch lift, but no dropped pitman. I've been wondering if the straight pitman is causing my problem.

 

I'll Have to look at my drag link to if it is that shape

 

My stock f-350 rotates the link also.

 

so it is starting to appear that its normal for the draglink to rotate some.

 

I don't think it's normal...that is where all of my play is