Steering Woes

[Quatre Coureur]

The steering on my 85 is sloppier than Snooky's cookie.:wow2: I'd like to swap to an IFS box but it seems the only way is to lift it and do a crossover setup. I don't really want to lift it but I'd be willing to go 2"(like an OME). Would that be enough? Or am I stuck with just rebuilding the old push-pull system?

 

[KidVermicious]

The steering on my 85 is sloppier than Snooky's cookie.:wow2: I'd like to swap to an IFS box but it seems the only way is to lift it and do a crossover setup. I don't really want to lift it but I'd be willing to go 2"(like an OME). Would that be enough? Or am I stuck with just rebuilding the old push-pull system?

So there's two kinds of crossover steering - high steer is what most guys do and it places the tie rod/draglink over the springs. I'm told you want at least 3" of lift to do that right, or things start binding when you droop. But you can also do low steer, which keeps the tie rod below the springs - it's not nearly as out of the way of the rocks, but you don't run into as much interference from the springs.

The Trailgear steering arms appear to be designed to install sloping up, to help clear the leaf springs. I haven't handled a set, but it looks like you could maybe install them flipped, so that they slope down the same way the stock steering arms do and run low steer that way. If you did that, I think you'd want a drop pitman arm instead of the flat one, or risk having a pretty undesireable draglink angle. I haven't gotten to that point in my build though, so I could be wrong.

 

[fourwd1]

LMAO
You can't flip a steering arm over and use it upside down.
What would hold the trunion bearing in place ??

OP, you need a minimum of 3" suspension lift for x-over steering.
AllPro used to have a low x-over kit, but I don't think they've sold it for years.

 

[KidVermicious]

You can't flip a steering arm over and use it upside down.
What would hold the trunion bearing in place ??

I thought the middle hole was straight, is it tapered?

 

[fourwd1]

Here's a stock arm and bearing from one of my spare axles.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Thank you KV and 4wd1. Once again you've provided me with a quick and expert reply. Again, thank u gentlemen. So I guess I'll be replacing the stock parts. Is there an upgrade over the stock parts like Moog or ? Those Marlin arms sure are sweet tho...

 

[fourwd1]

Thank you KV and 4wd1. Once again you've provided me with a quick and expert reply. Again, thank u gentlemen. So I guess I'll be replacing the stock parts. Is there an upgrade over the stock parts like Moog or ? Those Marlin arms sure are sweet tho...

No problem.

I don't know off hand of any beefier aftermarket stock parts.
Rebuilding the stock P-P box is a major PITA, I did once and the biggest obstacle is getting the correct parts from Toyota.

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Maybe she isn't so sloppy after all... and the steering ain't so bad either!

 

[fourwd1]

You can get rebuilt boxes from the parts stores.