Re: Steering, and I tried the dropped pitman arm.

["Steven Stegmann" <steve.stegmann@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joel,

Was the new pitman arm shorter than the old one?  I've missed a lot of
Digests lately.   Viewed from on top the length should be the same.  Else
the steering box would not be able to move the wheels L & R as much, nor as
quickly, as it did.  I can see where this would be irritating.

Doesn't anyone make a dropped pitman arm of the right length?

The bump steer won't actually hurt anything if you're ready for it.  It may
be useful if it serves to keep one awake.

Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "joel brodsky" <travelall1974@domain.elided>
To: <ihc@domain.elided>
Sent: Friday, July 04, 2003 3:26 AM
Subject: Steering, and I tried the dropped pitman arm.


> TRE,
> I think you may have things confused.  The toe-in ONLY
> changes if you adjust the tie-rod.  Changes to lift,
> or caster do not effect the toe-in.  Caster MAY change
> with a lift, depending on the shape of the springs.
> Usually (requiredly?), you should change the shackles
> to longer units with lift springs as they need more
> travel to allow the lift spring to flatten out.  This
> is why MOST spring hangers are ripped from the frame
> on trail rigs.  Yours look fine.
>
> Well, I put the front shocks back in, and changed the
> pitman arm to the dropped unit, and let me just say:
> TWO BIG THUMBS DOWN.
> to the dropped pitman arm.
>
> It acted like someone else's truck.  Actually it was
> like riding a horse.  You can tell it where you want
> to go and when, but ultimately it's up to the truck to
> do it.  It seemed like turning was more of a casual
> suggestion of turning radius, rather than a command to
> do so.
>
> I still noticed a bit of bump steer on the speed hump,
> and the turning circle got HUGE!  So, the choices are,
> diminish the bump steer about 40% of the whole, and
> accept the huge turning circle, OR, go back to the
> stock pitman arm, keep good shocks in the front, and
> get the same great tight turning radius, and live with
> some appreciable bump-steer.
>
> The stock pitman arm is back on the truck, and the new
> shocks are all there.  It rides like a champ right now
> (Aside from the g'd up steering wheel alignment, which
> will get fixed).
>
> I just wanted to report back that the dropped pitman
> arm is ALL hype.  If it were longer than 7 inches,
> then it would probably be okay, but the short arm, and
> not eliminating bump steer?  Yeah, it's not a full
> fix.
>
> purely, clearly, FYI.
>
> G'night all,
>
> JoelB
>
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