Updated 1-20-15 Steering issue all but solved!!!

[dirwin]

Thanks for the help. I haven't had the time to fool with it the last couple of days but I will today.

I centered the box but by the linkage stops, not the box stops. It is the original pitman and it is keyed, it's also pointing directly down the frame so I think I'm close but I will disconnect the drag link and make sure it's exact, that's not a problem.

I've verified with help that there is no give in the track bar mounts or bushings. All the bushings, links and joints are new so there should be no internal play

I will rotate the tie rod and change the angles, I wasn't aware that would make a difference but it makes perfect sense.

As for the castor, I guess I just got lucky with this one because it is the original 74 axle and yes, it is positive caster. I'm not sure what -4.8 degrees of caster would act like, but I really don't want to find out! I'd think it'd rip the linkage off or break a spindle at any kind of speed.

I'll get it dialed in, thanks for all the help!

Dave

 

[dirwin]

Disconnected the drag link and centered the box, if it was off center before, it was very minor but I know it's correct now absolutely.

Moved the double adjustable tie rod over 1/4" to the right centering it in the clamp sleeves which moved the drag link/tie rod mount about a 1/4" to the right and lengthened the drag link so now both drag link and track bar are within a 1/16" of each other length wise at 29"

Rotated the tie rod up to 45 degrees at the drag link mount which raised the pick up point nearly 1 inch and made the drag link and track bar nearly exactly parallel.

I took it out on the road and now the wandering is now just about completely gone, but the bump steer is still too much for my taste, especially for a Bronco that will see nearly zero off road use and never any serious wheeling.

Since I'm more concerned with highway use with this one than off road, I'm going to go ahead and drop the track bar and pitman pickup point. I think that will get me exactly where I need to be, hopefully.

 

[Justafordguy]

Keep us updated, I'm very interested in how the drop trac/pitman works out.

 

[Rustytruck]

On my 74 Bronco with 2.5" lift I have a Trac bar drop bracket and stock steering arm. You should not need both. I have no issues with steering problems. I do have 20 year old urethane bushings all around. This has been running solid for these last 20 years.

 

[dirwin]

Can't seem to figure this one out yet, it's eating my lunch.

The wandering is nearly gone. Put the drop pitman arm on as well as the drop track bar bracket. I'm not sure my issue is bump steer because the swap didn't solve the problem.

Anyway, the damn thing is very predictable, cruising speed (60 mph), if you let off the throttle abruptly it will pull hard right, jump back on the throttle hard and it will pull back to the left, not nearly as hard or as quickly as getting off the gas but it is definitely noticeable. The snatch to the right when you get off the throttle is down right unnerving. 40 mph, no pull, no wander, no darting, tracks out good, definitely exaggerated with speed.

Any ideas?

 

[CopperRanger]

I would try replacing the drag link, that thing looks kind of sketchy with that bow in it. What's that originally off of?

 

[ZOSO]

Maybe look else where. Might not be in the steering. I'd check the rear end. Make sure u bolts are tight. Leaf spring center pin is not broke. Make sure rear springs are together and no broken leafs. Make sure shackles are not in a bind.

 

[ZOSO]

Maybe you have a dragging brake in the rear. Or front. I know mine pulls like that but it's due to the detroit locker in the rear.

 

[dirwin]

I thought of the rear end as well and went back through it, u bolts, shackles, leafs are new from Tom's shouldn't be an issue. I will check the brake adjustment. The rear is just a stock 3.50 open that I rebuilt.

Not sure the drag link would be it, it's the adjustable one from WH.

 

[DirtDonk]

You don't have a locker in the rear end do you?

Paul

 

[dirwin]

No, it's just the stock 3.50 gear and open diff.

 

[dirwin]

Props to everybody but especially to Jason at BC Broncos and Surfer-b.

I've been building cars for 30+ years and was a UH-1H helicopter crew chief in the Army, I'm not a novice when I comes to mechanical but it goes to show, you never know everything.

U BOLTS!!! I torqued them to 70 ft lbs when I bolted the axle up, at the time the frame was on a body cart. When I got everything together and had it on the drive on lift with all the weight on it, I checked and re-torqued everything again, including the 70 pounds on the U bolts. Got it out finally and drove it, nasty steering problem. Scratching my head, playing with geometry angles, drop brackets, drag links, pitman arms, posted my problems here and got a lot of good advise, you name it I went through it.

Bottom line, I called Jason at BC Broncos this afternoon, per his recommendation I took all the steering geometry back to stock, re centered the axle with the track bar and while I had serious doubts with his insistence on checking the U bolts, I grabbed my torque wrench and checked them again anyway. Well, 2+ turns on every damn one of them to get them back to 70 ft lbs later. A little pissed and a whole lot embarrassed, I went and drove it again, a world of a lot better!!! Drove it 5 miles, but this time I went down some very bumpy back roads and put it back on the lift and grabbed my torque wrench. It took nearly 1 turn on all of them before 70 lbs was reached. Needless to say, it took me 2 more times of driving/re-torqueing before I just got the click at 70 lbs right off the bat.

While I still have a bit of an issue with it returning to center, I know that's caster and I'm going to work through that, but the moral to the story: 11 pack leaf springs take a lot of time to settle.

Now, back to shaking things out. The windshield wipers will park only some of the time.... At least my shakedown list is minus the steering issue now!

Thanks again,

David

 

[bigmuddy]

I had a weird steering/wandering issue especially when in corners. Come to find out the bolts that mount the rear springs were quite loose. Torqued them back down and the rig drives like new again.

Crazy...

 

[CopperRanger]

Glad to hear you got it straightened out. After reading you last post I will be checking my u-bolts also.

 

[ZOSO]

Glad you got it figured out.

 

[dirwin]

Thanks again for all the help. Drove it home last night and put about 30 miles on it at 60-65mph. Still has a caster issue with not wanting to return to center that I'll have to work through but at least the torque steer is gone. Put it back on the rack this morning and all of the U bolts had held 70 ft lbs of torque so that was a relief. Never would have guessed that new leaf springs take that long to seat properly. Won't happen again I assure you!

As for the caster, I'm going to disconnect the shimmy shock on the steering and drive it to see if that may be messing me up, then maybe try offset ball joints. I'll keep posting, maybe someone can learn from my mistakes/experiences as I know I have from everyone on this site for sure.

Dave