55.2-59 1955-59 Chevy 4x4 Power steering problems

[leegreen]

Have you played with tire pressure? It can make a huge difference in some vehicles. So can the tires themselves, all season type tread is more stable at speed than winter compounds and M+S tread patterns

If you have any easy way to get a couple inches lower on that link end try it and see. If it is not so easy I'd probably do some figuring with a full size drawing before starting any major work. Cardboard is cheaper than welding

Compress the spring to bump stop and measure how much the axle moves forward vs ride height and then how much it moves rearward with unloaded spring.
Break out a large piece of carboard and draw all the pivot points and arcs to scale, try and find a length and angle for the drag link that lets it match the movement of the axle for straight ahead driving.

there are lots of other opinions and experiences on this site

[1957Napcofan]

Originally Posted by leegreen

Have you played with tire pressure? It can make a huge difference in some vehicles. So can the tires themselves, all season type tread is more stable at speed than winter compounds and M+S tread patterns

If you have any easy way to get a couple inches lower on that link end try it and see. If it is not so easy I'd probably do some figuring with a full size drawing before starting any major work. Cardboard is cheaper than welding

Compress the spring to bump stop and measure how much the axle moves forward vs ride height and then how much it moves rearward with unloaded spring.
Break out a large piece of carboard and draw all the pivot points and arcs to scale, try and find a length and angle for the drag link that lets it match the movement of the axle for straight ahead driving.

there are lots of other opinions and experiences on this site

Have crap tires on it now till it gets sorted. Run BFG K02's on every truck I've
owned. We get serious snow here, all season tires wouldn't cut it. Have
Michelin Cross Climate 2 all seasons on my Crosstrek, those are great tires
even though there all season. Rated for extreme snow but have a 60K warranty. Have a "V" pattern like a tractor tire. I enjoy driving by BMW's
and MBZ's that are stuck in the snow when the flatlanders come up with
there stupid cable chains. Thanksgiving 2019 we got 42", super fun

[leegreen]

OT Japanese 4x4. Cheapo walmart brand all seasons were fine, ran them at 32-34 PSI. got down to the 60% range where AS are no good for winter. Picked up a nice set of Michelin winter specific tires. At 34 PSI the truck was all over the road, did not feel very safe on the highway, just night and day difference. I thought a bushing must have torn or something when I jacked it up but could not find anything loose. Puzzled me for days until I dropped the pressure down to 26F / 31R as specified on the door frame. problem solved
26 is lower pressure than I have run in street tires -ever-

A pair of new front tires can compensate for worn out front suspension for a while. Favorite trick of bottom feeder used car dealers.

Other people have gotten away with a link setup just like yours. Easy things first?