Steering is strange - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

john68c10 · 09-19-2023, 11:34 AM

So, I did a full rebuild on the front of my 68. New tires, wheels, drums, brakes, wheel cylinders, brake lines, master cylinder, steering box (manual) all the steering linkage, ball joints, springs, a-arm bushings, shocks etc.

dropped the front by 1" and changed to 255/60/17 tires.

Had an alignment done. Steering is strange now. Tracks straight and all, but when turning the wheel fully it acts like the truck is going to push itself over the tires (if that's an odd description...sorry) It's like the truck doesn't want to do a tight turn...even in the driveway...the wheels will turn fully...it's just that beyond say 60% of a full turn to either side it feels like I've got skids instead of tires...

there's no rubbing going on anywhere that I can find.

What to try ?

72c20customcamper · 09-19-2023, 11:50 AM

Sounds like your tie rods are on backwards post a few pictures

LNP · 09-19-2023, 01:14 PM

If they are they could be hitting on the cross member

john68c10 · 09-19-2023, 01:16 PM

**70shortfleet** · 09-19-2023, 01:21 PM

Looks like your inner tie rods are in front of the center link and should be on the back side of it.

OregonNed · 09-19-2023, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70shortfleet

Looks like your inner tie rods are in front of the center link and should be on the back side of it.

agree..

john68c10 · 09-19-2023, 01:28 PM

Yep, the inner tie rods are mounted backwards...I must have been very tired and very blind...

I'll fix that...double check part numbers to make sure the inners are inners and the outers are outers... and realign and report back

Thanks Everyone !!!

LNP · 09-19-2023, 01:55 PM

You'd think the alignment shop would have caught that.

**LockDoc** · 09-19-2023, 02:01 PM

-
I would think that would mean that the center link is on backwards too. Unless I'm not thinking straight here....

LockDoc

john68c10 · 09-19-2023, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
I would think that would mean that the center link is on backwards too. Unless I'm not thinking straight here....

LockDoc

it is

john68c10 · 09-19-2023, 04:12 PM

Turned everything around and aligned by sight ( till I go back to the shop ) and the feeling of skidding instead of steering is gone...

Thanks Everyone !!

**LockDoc** · 09-19-2023, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john68c10

Turned everything around and aligned by sight ( till I go back to the shop ) and the feeling of skidding instead of steering is gone...

Thanks Everyone !!

Good deal! Pretty easy fix considering all things that can go wrong....

LockDoc

**Rust_never_sleeps** · 09-19-2023, 05:45 PM

fixing this would move the inside end of the tierods further back and toe in the tires by some amount, no?

notsolo · 09-19-2023, 07:26 PM

I thought the inner tie rod ends should have the zerk fittings on the ends, not facing the cross member. The inners look wrong to me....No way to put grease in these?

72c20customcamper · 09-19-2023, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsolo

I thought the inner tie rod ends should have the zerk fittings on the ends, not facing the cross member. The inners look wrong to me....No way to put grease in these?

You have to turn the wheels at full lock the center link comes away from the crossmember he could alway put the zerks like your control arm bushings .

09-19-2023, 11:34 AM	#1
john68c10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 53	Steering is strange So, I did a full rebuild on the front of my 68. New tires, wheels, drums, brakes, wheel cylinders, brake lines, master cylinder, steering box (manual) all the steering linkage, ball joints, springs, a-arm bushings, shocks etc. dropped the front by 1" and changed to 255/60/17 tires. Had an alignment done. Steering is strange now. Tracks straight and all, but when turning the wheel fully it acts like the truck is going to push itself over the tires (if that's an odd description...sorry) It's like the truck doesn't want to do a tight turn...even in the driveway...the wheels will turn fully...it's just that beyond say 60% of a full turn to either side it feels like I've got skids instead of tires... there's no rubbing going on anywhere that I can find. What to try ?

09-19-2023, 11:50 AM	#2
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,279	Re: Steering is strange Sounds like your tie rods are on backwards post a few pictures __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

09-19-2023, 01:14 PM	#3
LNP Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 341	Re: Steering is strange If they are they could be hitting on the cross member __________________ Harley 1969 Chevy C-10 Long Bed, 350cid, 700R4

09-19-2023, 01:16 PM	#4
john68c10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 53	Re: Steering is strange

09-19-2023, 01:21 PM	#5
70shortfleet Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: St.Peters, MO Posts: 2,226	Re: Steering is strange Looks like your inner tie rods are in front of the center link and should be on the back side of it.

09-19-2023, 01:28 PM	#7
john68c10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 53	Re: Steering is strange Yep, the inner tie rods are mounted backwards...I must have been very tired and very blind... I'll fix that...double check part numbers to make sure the inners are inners and the outers are outers... and realign and report back Thanks Everyone !!!

09-19-2023, 01:55 PM	#8
LNP Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 341	Re: Steering is strange You'd think the alignment shop would have caught that. __________________ Harley 1969 Chevy C-10 Long Bed, 350cid, 700R4

09-19-2023, 02:01 PM	#9
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,368	Re: Steering is strange - I would think that would mean that the center link is on backwards too. Unless I'm not thinking straight here.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

09-19-2023, 04:12 PM	#11
john68c10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 53	Re: Steering is strange Turned everything around and aligned by sight ( till I go back to the shop ) and the feeling of skidding instead of steering is gone... Thanks Everyone !!

09-19-2023, 05:45 PM	#13
Rust_never_sleeps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: San Ramon,CA Posts: 449	Re: Steering is strange fixing this would move the inside end of the tierods further back and toe in the tires by some amount, no?

09-19-2023, 07:26 PM	#14
notsolo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Md Posts: 2,454	Re: Steering is strange I thought the inner tie rod ends should have the zerk fittings on the ends, not facing the cross member. The inners look wrong to me....No way to put grease in these? __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635605



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