Steering Linkage Prob.

|I have a 99 Ford F350 Super Duty 4x4 with a 7.3 psd that has a substantial |lift on it (don't really know how high, how do you measure that btw?) and |the steering wheel is almost 180 deg. off and the turning radius is messed |up. If you turn to the left, it is very good, but if you turn to the right, |you need 3 lanes to go around the corner. It looks like the only adjustment |is on the steering linkage connecting to the steering arm coming off the |steering box, but I do not have enough threads in the coupling that holds |the 2 pieces together. My brother in-law attempted to do some modifications |to it, by screwing out the coupling, but all that did is make it fall off |and now I need to buy a new coupling. Can I buy a longer coupling, or do I |need to buy a stock coupling and get one of the arms modified? I am good at |turning wrenches, but have no real experience with 4x4 or suspension |modifications ( but am really interested in learning) TIA.

Sounds to me like you need to reposition the pittman arm on the steering gearbox output shaft. And don't let your BIL near it again.| | |

Rex in Fort Worth

Sounds like your gearbox is not properly centered. Depending on how it is lifted, you may have to get a modified Pittman arm for the correct lift to get it right. You may want to do a bit of searching around the net to see what parts are generally used for your lift height.

substantial

modifications

How do I measure the lift? I think it is around a 10" to 12", but not sure.

Buddah

substantial

modifications

The steering box has output shaft has splines going around it, but on the 4 quad points of the shaft, they have a flatspot so the arm can only be put on

90 degree increments. I'm only about 3/4" off right now and that would put me well over 6". But you are right about the BIL. Teach me to procrastinate so long that my wife gets involved. :-(

Buddah

That might be achieved in both body and suspension:

You'll have to search the different lift manufacturers web pages, because each one patents the method they use to center the wheel. Some with a longer center link, some a different pitman arm, and some a different arm to mount on the left steering knuckle(Older Ford Trucks)

Try to find the original owner, ask which brand he used and if he used X amount of suspension lift, and X amount of body lift to achieve the height. Then you will know which suspension parts to deal with.

On a side note, look at the spacer blocks between the differentials and spering, I'm sure they have the brand cast in, maybe small. But I'm sure it's in there.

One more thing, does your steering box have a link, that goes fron the pitman arm, on the outside left of the frame, to the strring knuckle. Like a Chevy?

Refinish King

Can't rally find the original owner, all I know is he is in jail. All I know is I have a Rancho 9000 suspension lift.

The way it is connected is, from the steering box output shaft, there is the "Steering gear sector shaft arm". It is connected to "Steering sector shaft arm drag link" with a knuckle. That is threaded onto an "Adjusting Sleeve" that is threaded on to the "Tie rod end (inner)". That in turn is connected with a knuckle to the "Tie rod end (outer RH)" and then goes back across the truck to another threaded "Adjusting sleeve" then threaded to the "Tie rod end (outer LH)".

The problem I have is the first adjusting sleeve is about 3/4" to short.

I just want to know where the funny bone is, cause this is not funny at all and now my wife is getting impatient and wants her truck back (yes, it is her truck, not mine). But that is another story.

Then search the Rancho site;

Look at the steering linkage parts for the 900 series lift kits, then look if they use an extended centerlink, or a different pitman arm.

Look at the picture closely, then look at yours, to see if it's comparable to the Rancho or stock unit.

That's about all I can offer you right now.

Refinish King