69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

i have an issue with my project, 4'' suspension lift. i installed a new steering box and also a dropped pitman arm. i want to use this oem steering arm but it seems its not letting my left hand turn far enough. its about 1 1/2'' from the wheel stop. as i find the "center" of my steering box it seems its pointing to the right somewhat. do i need the replace the arm with an adjustable one? what will work? as pictured they are not adj. also last pic of the long arm will have to be replaced as the ends are bad

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Pitman arm should be at approx. 90° angle from the frame when centered. Confirm your box is centered & the pitman arm is in the correct position. If they are, switch to an adjustable drag link. Should take care of your problem.

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Do you know what's compatible? Meaning from what year or application would I need? I do have some Moog part numbers someone listed

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Chevy/GMC truck, blazer or suburban all the way up to 1991 on the K5 and burb. I think they started going adjustable in 71 when they went to disc brake

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

what i have is 14 1/2'' from pitman arm to steering arm, and this is a dana 44 closed knuckle. the new adjustable links are 6 3/4'' and 8 3/4'' =15 1/2''. this a drop pitman arm, i put on the old one but def cant use due to the pitch.so im guessing find or shorten one of these ends

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

i stand corrected, they are 6.34'' and 8.34'' so they might work

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

so i replaced with the adjustable setup, im still not able to get a sharper left turn. keep in mind i have the dana 44 closed knuckle so the arms are different. maybe shorten one a bit. there is no more adj, threaded ends are touching. as it stands my wheels are pretty straight along with the steering wheel. what kind of adj is needed to get a "more" left hand turn?

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Did you center your pitman arm by counting turns of the steering wheel and deviding in half? You may have to cheat a little one way or the other to recenter your steering wheel. Thats about all you can do, you should have full steering lock to lock...if not it must be related to your drop pitman arm somehow. Ive always prefered raised steering arms but I know thats not an option with your closed knuckle 44.
Your into it this far why not find an open knuckle 44? Youll love the extra turning radius and disc brakes. I find them around here for about 100 bucks, throw a couple hundred more into axle u joints, calipers and rotors and youll think your driving a totally different truck! (Just my opinion)

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Yes it was centered, and my axles are all rebuilt and hate to change it out, I'm gonna mess with that box a bit maybe to give me a bit more left turn.

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

When you say the threaded ends touch, are you talking about in the middle of the sleeve where the red mark is?.....if so just cut a half inch of each rod...blue lines....will the wheel turn all the left to the stop with the drag link unhooked?

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

yes mongocanfly, right now it hits the stop on right side and its like1/2'' or more from the left stop. my box is 3-1/2 turns left to right. blazerman is right i shoulda swapped out the axle, but didnt think i'd have this issue

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Actually looking close a the pics you posted first off. I do not believe those are 4'' springs, look more like 6'' + on the lift. Regardless, do you still have the solid original link? if so measure the length (center to center). Compare the new pieces. Give us a pic further back showing the box and the drop arm together in relation to the frame. Picture of the angle of the drag link to the axle.

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

I've always had to adjust my drag link "out" to get the steering centered w/4" lift. More concerned with leaving enough thread in the sleeve than bottoming them out.

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

i'll get some info here soon, also the long tie rod wheel to wheel is adjusted all in, no threads showing

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

both old and new links are at 15'', new one is all intouching under sleeve. box is centered,steering wheel is centered. total steering is 3 1/2 turns left to right. right side hits the stop, left side comes within an inch. stops are as i found them

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

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Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

I'm not clear on the starting point. You said in post #1 "it seems its not letting my left hand turn far enough." Did you check each wheel with the tie rod off and pitman pulled? If not, free and isolate each wheel to a left turn, verify they will result in the same radius. Just make sure, first, your problem is steering components; If you already have not. :chevy:


j

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Yes jeffahart, I did that, both wheels move both ways and hit the stops. This is an oem box from Napa also. Does 3 1/2 turns sound correct?

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

I get it now.....didn't catch that you still have a close knuckle front. You'll have to cut the threads on both of the tie rod ends to bring the overall length shorter. Measure the stock one, then where the new pieces come close, divide that in half and cut that amount off each end while still leaving some room for adjustment. Try to leave as much thread as you can.. For clamping and safety allow at least 1-1/2 times the diameter of the threading

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

inner and outer wheel? what am i missing?

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

It's called the akermann effect...the wheel on the inside of your turning radius has more angle than the outside wheel of the turning radius..

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Dont worry about finding the center for now....will the steering box fully turn the wheels to both wheel stops? Left and right?
If it will ,then your gonna have to shorten the adj link threaded ends like has been pointed out a couple times above to find your center
Does your steering box and pitman arm have a indexing spline?

My steering box is 3-1/2 turns as well

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

Disconnect the drag link from the steering knuckle when the wheels and steering wheel are centered. Turn the wheel clockwise until it stops and count the rotations. Turn the wheel counter clockwise back to center and then continue turning counter clockwise until the steering wheel stops and count the turns from center. Are they even? If not, check your steering stops to make sure they are adjusted properly. If the steering stops on your axle are adjusted properly you should be getting the same amount of steering left to right. If you are still not getting the same side to side your pitman arm is indexed incorrectly on the steering box. If this is the case, remove the pitman arm, center the steering box and reinstall pitman arm and repeat procedure. Hopefully this helps!

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

update i have found that i may have the wrong box, The years are 69-76 for the 4 1/2 turns, 77-87 for the 3 1/4s.

Re: 69 gmc 3/4 4x4 4'' lift question
 

box was changed to 4 1/2 turn and it does same thing wtf. dirtroadconceptz maybe its the stops. mongocanfly im gona try shortening them