Correlation between lift and sloppy steering

[1985taylor1925]

The second page of this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/117476-wandering-road-2.html talks about how lifting the front end changes the caster. It creates a lack of postive caster which decreases the wheels ability to follow behind the steering pivot point. This causes the wheels to push or pull sideways easier when hitting bumps and makes the steering generally sloppy.

So I just wanted to gather some info on this from all of us who are running a lift without aftermarket uca's.

How many of you guys have lifts, and have noticed your steering get sloppier? For the guys with adjustable lifts, can you distinguish a difference in handling between the highest and lowest lift settings?

 

[AZTOY]

My signature has my details. I have not seen too much since alignment after putting on lift. Before alignment I did feel a wheel wobble when hitting big bumps at speed. Felt like I needed a steering shock/damper.

 

[absalom]

Before I lifted my truck it had, worn-out steering bushings, worn-out LBJ, inner and outer tie rods, and a bad alignment. Now, after lifting it ... all those have been replaced and fixed. As a result, my steering feels like a brand new car. However, I am very curious what difference new UCA's will make.

 

[Snowy21]

I still wheel stock UCA's and it's not that the steering gets any sloppier but it feels like the lack of caster makes the truck more sensitive to changes in the crown of the road.

It's most noticeable when switching lanes on the interstate or driving down a back road that undulates up and down along the shoulder. You get used to it and just have to be a little bit more of a wheel man when the road isn't as uniform

 

[theizzardking]

Center of gravity

 

[1985taylor1925]

Center of gravity

Ya thats surely another factor in the equation. The combination of raising the center of gravity and decreasing caster angle added to the fact that our trucks have a narrow wheel base all add up to high speed handling issues. It reminds me of a commercial Mazda put out years ago where they kept saying "wider is better".

 

[IanB]

Ya thats surely another factor in the equation. The combination of raising the center of gravity and decreasing caster angle added to the fact that our trucks have a narrow wheel base all add up to high speed handling issues. It reminds me of a commercial Mazda put out years ago where they kept saying "wider is better".

I'm not familiar with a Mazda comercial like that, but I know Pontiac used to say that in their Grand Prix comercials in the mid-late 90's.

 

[Shibby!]

I still wheel stock UCA's and it's not that the steering gets any sloppier but it feels like the lack of caster makes the truck more sensitive to changes in the crown of the road.

It's most noticeable when switching lanes on the interstate or driving down a back road that undulates up and down along the shoulder. You get used to it and just have to be a little bit more of a wheel man when the road isn't as uniform

This guy is on the money.

It reduces the "urge" for the wheels to align straight again. The vehicle becomes more affected by crown, angle of road, ruts, or any unevenness as it can now force the wheels and pull the vehicle easier. It requires more steering inputs. Where a normal vehicle would track straight, you now have to make sure it does. I sometimes wonder if people think I'm intoxicated some days. haha.

IMO, it's a pain in the arse, but I deal with it. I had a horrible alignment prior to the lift so it actually got slightly better. That being said it's still a far cry from what it SHOULD be.