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Bumps cause lane changes

sykanr0ng

Bronco Guru
Joined
Aug 11, 2014
Messages
5,363
Your geometry is wrong... Looks like you have the "drop down" power steering box arm for a suspension lift. For stock height (no lift) that arm should be almost flat. As mentioned before, your drag link and track bar need to be parallel. Yours are not...

/\/\ That.
The drag link (blue arrow) should be parallel with the track bar (yellow arrow).
 

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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
Will a longer drag link be necessary after installing stock pitman arm or will same drag link work?
 

PaveBronco

Sr. Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
912
Wow...didn't see that one coming...not so stock steering apparently.
PO in action.
Pictures save the day.

"Shameless Plug"....This is why everyone should become a contributor
 

Eoth

Bronco Guru
Joined
Mar 10, 2004
Messages
1,677
Will a longer drag link be necessary after installing stock pitman arm or will same drag link work?

It should work... However, at worst case your steering wheel might not be centered. Hard to see what is there. OEM is a "non adjustable link", since yours was probably lifted at one time, the link might be upgraded to an adjustable, or they could have used the stock with the steering wheel being off a bit. In that case, with the correct pitman arm, your steering will be centered again.
 
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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
Thanks everyone. Will order stock pitman and let you know results.
 

elan

Sr. Member
Joined
May 27, 2015
Messages
541
Loc.
s
Make sure you give them the right year for the pitman arm.
And, bump steer can occur whether raising or lowering too much
 
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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
One more question. Will same pitman arm work on manual or power steering? I have a 302 with power steering.
 

toddz69

Sponsor/Vendor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
10,080
One more question. Will same pitman arm work on manual or power steering? I have a 302 with power steering.

It should, although the power steering pitman arms have a little more 'meat' around the area that attaches to the sector shaft of the power steering box.

Todd Z.
 
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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
Stock pitman

Stock pitman seems to have fixed bump steer. Need to put a few more miles on it to be sure. Will send pics when I figure out how.
Next problem: front end clunks when making very slow turns.. Otherwise it drives fine.
Drifting is much better also..expect new tires to help with that.
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
47,353
What type of clunks? And does it do it only when you're turning very sharp? Or just about any time you're turning at slow speeds?

Paul
 
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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
Clunking

Most of the time when I make a fairly sharp low speed turn.
 
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MikeCon

MikeCon

Full Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Messages
276
Pitman swap

New geometry with stock pitman.
 

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sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,734
Stock pitman seems to have fixed bump steer. Need to put a few more miles on it to be sure. Will send pics when I figure out how.
Next problem: front end clunks when making very slow turns.. Otherwise it drives fine.
Drifting is much better also..expect new tires to help with that.

Hmmm.. no locker in front? Didn't read back sorry 🤔
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
47,353
Reason I asked it if was on sharp turns only, is that two "common" things can make growling, bumping noises when doing tight turns.
The larger than stock front tires will rub the radius arms is the most likely, but do not usually make a popping sound in a high-pitch unless they are very aggressive mud tires. Yours don't look like that, but they may still be rubbing.
The other is that the rear differential may be a limited-slip type and is grumbling from not having the proper lubrication.

Of course, other things that can make noises up front are:
1. steel wheels flexing, or worse that have cracks.
2. Loose or failing wheel bearings.
3. Brake pads loose in the calipers (rare to have drum brakes make noise, but a loose spring or something could make that noise I suppose).
4. Locking mechanism in one or both of the hubs half-engaged, or broken.
5. Axleshaft u-joints if the hubs are locked, or half-locked.
6. Driveshaft u-joints at either end.
7. Other stuff...;D

Paul
 
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