Bending stock steering linkage

[scotts90ranger]

I have the FA600 pitman arm on my truck, about 7" lift with not enough radius arm drop as the bushings are about maxxed out and don't have enough caster... The issue I'm thinking about right now is the kink in the linkage that goes between the pitman arm and the passenger knuckle is causing the drivers side linkage to hit the pitman arm joint slightly. I was thinking of taking my spare linkage to a friends house, heating it with a torch and straightening it out a bit, but would this weaken it up too much? Would it help to quench it, or just let it cool slowly?

I would like to move my axle a little bit forward while I make new radius arms but since the linkage is rubbing now, it won't let me move it forward, I do realize that fixing the angel of the beams will help some, but I don't think it will be enough with moving the axle forward about an inch like I would like to do.

Thanks

 

[Grey_04]

if you straighten it it may not be a bad idea to take a chunk of angle iron and reinforce it while your at it..

I may not be right but it's what pops into my head at the moment..

 

[scotts90ranger]

actually, that's something I forgot about, since I'd be straightening it out and the adjustment sleeve goes on the other end it would be easy to slip a piece of tube over the bent part and weld that on for reinforcement.

 

[Grey_04]

glad I could bump your brain in gear. wasn't sure I was thinking correctly but i guess I can stumble in the right direction at times..

 

[4.0B2]

personally, if i was you...

i'd be doing a superrunner kit or a custom cross over setup. with that much lift, you plan on using it offroad (i hope) and the stock steering just ain't worth it... upgrade IMO.

if you do heat and cool that stock one.. sleeve it if possible. idk for sure if you can our stock stuff, but find a piece of tube w/ the ID the same of the stock OD.

drill some holes in the tubing, slide it over the stock rod... plug weld the holes.

 

[4.0B2]

lol.. i was on this page for to long... didn't refresh the page so... yeah.

sleeve it is the best option.

 

[scotts90ranger]

came up with the sleeve idea a couple days ago, just forgot, it's been a seriously draining week...

Was going to the steel yard tomorrow anyway to get materials for the radius rm project, so I'll look for a short chunk of tube...

A custom crossover steering setup is in the plans for the future, just not in the budget right now as I have a wheeling trip in mid April and the only project I plan on doing before then is the radius arms...

 

[legoms013]

Do like 4.0 said and get a piece of tubing with an inner diameter the same diameter of the stock linkage....and sleeve it. No problem with that...I'd let it cool slowly after you heat and bend it.


If you get lazy, angle iron will be just as strong, but not just as perdy