Help!! Bad Steering!!

[lulanda21]

Hi Im new to this site and my truck needs serious help.
I have a 93 ranger with a 6 in leaf and 3in body lift sitting on 35s.
My steering has always been loose since I got it and I have been trying everything I know to fix it.
I have replaced tie rods, ball joints, drop pitman, wheel bearings, and even a used steering box from a friend who said it worked fine on his truck.
It has a whole lot of play and when your driving down the road and if you hit a bump or uneven place the tires seem to go where they please and jerk the steering wheel out of my hands, it seems as if the tires are floating if that makes since. I have tried adjusting the steering box and it does no good.
I have a clue that it might be the shaft that goes from the column to the box where it comes togather with a packman like shape, if so what do I do to fix it? Any other ideas of what it might be?
Thanks
Matt...

 

[legoms013]

You are suffering from classic massive bumpsteer, and most likely nothing is loose or worn out.

Read this article, and post back after doing so. My hunch is your pitman arm is not dropped enough for the amount of lift height you have.


http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2008/steering_tech.htm

Are you sure you are leafs up front? TTB is coil sprung just so you know, stock.

 

[lulanda21]

Yea that does make since, Ill try to order that arm. But the one thing that doesent fall in those lines are its not just loose when you hit a bump, it sways when you hit a bump but steering is loose all the time.
The drop arm I just got was from James Duff, it said it was for 6 to 8 inches I beleive.
Yea it does have the independent front I was talkin bout leafs on back sorry.

 

[4x4junkie]

The swaying feeling comes because the left and right side are "bumpsteering" in different directions all the time (I'll bet it gets real bad when you try to swing a left turn fast?).

A bigger drop arm or a better linkage that works in phase with your suspension better should help clear up the issue provided everything else is in good shape (rag joints, steering column, box itself).

Welcome to TRS

 

[lulanda21]

Awesome, thanks 4x4junkie. What do you reffer to as a linkage? the one that goes to the collum or what? and do you know anyone who has a extreme drop pitman for sale?
And also I have pics of my front end now if someone could tell me how to post them to this thread.

 

[4x4junkie]

Linkage = draglink/tierods.

To post pics, you'll need a website to host them online such as www.photobucket.com.
See here for a tutorial:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82034

 

[lulanda21]

Ha ha thats a lot for someone who doesent know how to use a computer lol.
Ill just add them to my profile pics, anyone who wants to take a look have at it.
Thanks again everybody.

 

[Earl43P]

Your photo #DSCN2923 shows the joint that I suspect is your problem (has the cotter pin facing the front).

It is part of the longest steering rod, sorry I don't know its name. They run about $60 and are the least frequently replaced items in the front end, yet have the most dramatic effect on slop.


Have someone rock the steering wheel while you watch the joints, engine off. You'll see where the slop is.

 

[lulanda21]

Earl43p- All tie rods are new.