First, not the main issue, but my tires are hitting the radius arms when fully turned - how do I prevent this?
On the inside trailing edge (I believe) of each steering knuckle, there is an adjustable steering stop. It’s an actual bolt, and there is, more often than not, a small tack weld holding it in its factory adjusted position.
Sometimes the weld has to be ground down, but as often as not, you can simply twist it with a wrench and break the tack weld loose.
Adjust the bolt out enough to hit the steering yoke first, before the tire contacts the radius arm.
If you have a GM disc brake conversion, sometimes the knuckles are ground down so much that the location of the steering stop is compromised. If you have those brakes, you may not have the steering stops any more.
Take a peek back there and let us know.
But the concerning thing (and why it was happening before full lock) is that it appears the tie rod adjusting sleeve bolt is snagging on the center ridge of the c bushing cap:
What’s the move here?
As already mentioned, just fix it. Getting your alignment slightly off, or moving a bolt, or twisting a sleeve a fraction of an inch, are all secondary concerns to the primary concern of having your steering lock up.
That one thing outweighs all others at this point.
I think if I Jack it up and turn the wheels to the left, I’d be able to get that bolt in from the backside. I’m thinking just the bolt head would have enough clearance?
You got it. As suggested, flip them both around and see if that fixes the issue.
If not, or if you think it’s still passing close enough to cause a problem if things flex, or if you turn even tighter, then put the adjusting sleeve clamps in a different position.
Most of them are floating so you don’t even have to twist the sleeve to get the offending appendages out of the way.
However, some of them have a little knobs on the sleeve to ensure that they keep the same orientation in relation to the sleeve. In that case, you may actually have to turn the sleeve a little bit after all.
Do you think the adjusting sleeve would stay in place if I remove and reinsert that whole bolt?
It can’t move unless you twist it.
You could remove the bolts and clamps completely, and it’s not going anywhere just sitting there. You don’t wanna drive it that way of course, but changing the orientation of the bolts does not change the adjustment.
Maybe with the wheels back on the ground? I don’t want to mess up my new alignment….
You’re perfectly safe as long as you don’t drive it with the bolts loose. Nothing changes unless you change it. They are threaded, so just don’t turn the sleeves if you don’t have to.
But like Oldtimer suggested, you can also mark where it is, and return it back to that position when you’re done.
Every adjustment of the tie rod and drag link is repeatable and returnable to original positions. If for some reason, you do have to turn the sleeve, then turn it back the same amount, or to your marks that you made.
