Steering Question

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bgood96861

Jr. Member

Joined

Jul 11, 2010

Messages

71

Loc.

Aurora, Colorado

• Jun 29, 2012

• #1

Hey guys,
Quick history with a steering question at the end.

74 Bronco with factory power steering and tie rod setup. PO put a 2.5" lift on. Axle was shifted approx 1-1.5 inches toward driver's side. Pulled traction bar and centered axle with an adj traction bar.

Pulled pitman arm and centered box (approx 5.75 turns lock to lock) centered at approx 2 3/4 turns). Pitman arm sits toward drivers wheel a little bit (i think that is normal) However, Draglink does not reach now. Do I need an adjustable drag link or am I doing something wrong? Also how far should the pitman arm face toward driver's wheel?

Thanks!

 

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BUCKNBRONK

Sr. Member

Joined

Jun 30, 2011

Messages

521

Loc.

fresno

• Jun 29, 2012

• #2

the drag link is adjustable- look again.

 

thegreatjustino

Contributor

Red Head Grease Monkey

Joined

Jan 23, 2002

Messages

15,663

Loc.

Stockton, CA

• Jun 29, 2012

• #3

Stock drag link is not adjustable.

How far off are you? You can move the ball joint on the drag link a bit to make up for being off a small amount, but if it's too far off, filing your pitman arm so you can move it on the box in increments or an adjustable drag link are your two best options.

 

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BUCKNBRONK

Sr. Member

Joined

Jun 30, 2011

Messages

521

Loc.

fresno

• Jun 29, 2012

• #4

strange-guess mine was never stock then, the end that went to the pitman was adjustable.

 

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broncnaz

Bronco Guru

Joined

May 22, 2003

Messages

24,341

• Jun 29, 2012

• #5

Anytime you have a adjustable trac bar or drop brackets you need a adjustable drag link or drop pitman arm to correct the differance. you cant move one without having to move the other.

 

Broncobowsher

Total hack

Joined

Jun 4, 2002

Messages

34,873

• Jun 29, 2012

• #6

You need an aftermarket adjustable drag link to match the adjustable track bar.

Drop pitman arm is only a match for drop (or riser) on the track bar.

 

OP

OP

B

bgood96861

Jr. Member

Joined

Jul 11, 2010

Messages

71

Loc.

Aurora, Colorado

• Jun 29, 2012

• #7

Thanks for the info! So just so I understand right, get an adj draglink and then just lengthen it until it reaches the pitman arm when the box is centered? And to confirm pitman arm facing toward driver's wheel is correct.

Thanks guys you are awesome!

 

Broncobowsher

Total hack

Joined

Jun 4, 2002

Messages

34,873

• Jun 29, 2012

• #8

Correct. Stock pitman arm does point a little toward the drivers tire, NOT straight back.

 

DirtDonk

Contributor

Bronco Guru

Joined

Nov 3, 2003

Messages

47,478

• Jun 29, 2012

• #9

And it's not just that you've re-centered your axle with the adjustable trackbar that makes the draglink not fit. It's the fact that you've re-centered your steering box after a lift that has put the draglink off.
With the lift, your draglink at stock length, the added height would have pulled the pitman arm over more towards the passenger side. That pulls the steering box off-center, which manifests itself in a crooked steering wheel.
Once you put the box back to center, you would have either needed to turn the wheels to get the draglink to line back up (not fixing anything of course), or lengthen the draglink to get it hooked back up with the wheels straight.

The adjustable link is merely lengthening it so that it can go back into it's stock position with the steering box straight.
Same thing a dropped pitman arm and dropped trackbar bracket are supposed to correct, but with more precision.

Paul