Is there any issue with running the cross steer link at an angle as viewed from the top? I want to move it foreward on the left side and run it back at an angle to the right side in order to gain a bit more pan clearance. It won't hit the tie rod or axle or frame or...or...or... I just have never seen it done and I want to run a big sump pan.
If I read it correctly, your steering link will be ahead of the tierod, and then cross over or under the tierod, to get to the right steering arm? For it not to hit, the steering link is angled up or down quite a bit, and then angled off to one side? Sounds like bump steer will happen, as well as most likely not behaving the same on hard turn on one side, then turn hard the other way...it can't end up the same IMO
No matter which orientation the link is installed, the more one end/pivot is away from being level with the other, the more bump steer there will be. And..... with the link going north/south any fore and aft movement of the axle will cause unwanted steering. With the link going east/west (cross steer) any side movement of the axle will cause unwanted steer.
He is saying "at an angle as viewed from the top". I think he means just having the steering box forward as far as possible without the end of the pitman arm touching the tie rod.
Well then....you must have a right side steering arm with two holes like the 35-up Fords? Then I can't see a big problem if the pitman end of the link, is at the same height as the tie rod Edit: If you are planning the pitman tip so very close to the tierod, you really need to know if your caster will be what you finally end up with. That's because, on an I beam or tube axle, as you move caster, the tie rod will either raise or lower and now be higher/lower than the steering link. Another reason to worry about caster with it that close, is that if you found you needed to go from a lot of caster, to less, the rod could hit, if it was mocked up being very close with heavier caster. The upward rotation of the axle ***'y during your changing the caster, would get the rods closer to touching.
The 2 links are not on the same plain and are not on the same arm. The tie rod is on original arms that drop to the level even with the bottom of the axle. The cross steer link is connected to a bolt on arm at the top of the spindle. The links, axle, etc can not hit. As a matter of fact they could cross and still not hit through the entire range of travel.
As long as you're not raising or lowering the box, any bump-steer will remain as is . When you move the steering box forward [on the LH side] you need the pitman arm slightly inclined to the right [ and the steering arm inclined slightly to the left ] when the steering is pointing straight ahead. The cross steer drag link should be at 90 degrees to the pitman and steering arms when pointing straight ahead I have seen similar situations with center steer in off roaders
I was thinking I needed to re-clock the arm to be 90 degrees to the drag link, or the rate (and effort) of turn would be different from side to side. The Pitman is easy. Still figuring out the other side.
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