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Old 03-03-2012, 03:39 PM   #1
76stepsidechevy
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recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

The steering wheel has always been a little off in my truck but I replaced sagged old 4" front springs with new 6" springs and now its way off. ive tried to adjust the drag link but im out of adjustment and the wheel it still 70-80 degrees off from center. Can the pitman arm be reclocked or does it only go on one way? whats the fix for this if not? The truck already had the 4" radius arm installed and the place I got the springs from told me the arm is the same between the 4 and 6 inch kits.
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:31 PM   #2
76stepsidechevy
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

anybody? does everyone just drive around with there wheel turned right after a lift?
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Old 03-04-2012, 01:13 AM   #3
andrewmp6
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

Did you get a drop pitman arm?
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Old 03-04-2012, 07:54 AM   #4
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

76: Have you thought about pulling your steering wheel off and recentering. Only take 10 minutes!
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Old 03-04-2012, 10:23 AM   #5
76stepsidechevy
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

I didn't know there was a drop pitman arm available, I didn't buy a complete lift kit but I did look at the parts list and they didn't show one. It does look like a small drop arm would make the drag link sit horizontal again.

As far as pulling the wheel off that doesn't really fix the problem. I'll still have half a turn more in one direction than the other which honestly doesn't bother me that much. What does bother me is having one turn signal that wont stay on and one that wont cancel.
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Old 03-04-2012, 12:24 PM   #6
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

You need to get the steering box where it is dead center, adjust the drag link so the wheels are straight, then adjust your steering wheel if you need.

If your drag link is reasonably close to flat, you don't really need to bother with that.
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Old 03-04-2012, 08:30 PM   #7
76stepsidechevy
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

Theres some angle in the drag link, enough to where a dropped pitman arm would probably improve steering geometry but I think it would probably make the steering wheel even more off in the process. Is there a single key spline on the steering box shaft/pitman arm? I seem to recall seeing one on something else in the past that had 4 so the pitman arm could be clocked as well.
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Old 03-07-2012, 08:31 AM   #8
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Re: recentering steering wheel after 6" lift

The pitman arm only goes on in one position. A dropped drag link is not necessary when a raise steering arm is used...unless lifting really extreme. It's either/or with those two on 4-6" lifts. Remember,with 2-3" of lift neither are required. Count total turns lock to lock,go from one lock 1/2 that amount to center,with wheels straight adjust drag link to connect arms.
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