I posted this on another forum and this is what the responses were:
(I do think the member that offered the replies knows what he's talking about as he is a well respected member, but I don't like the steering)
ME: Just had my lift kit installed. There seems to be some play in the steering wheel that wasn't there before. Backcountry with Procomp 35 inch tires, rear springs and high mount steering stabilizer. Is this normal or a bad install job? Also the steering wheel is not straight and there is a slight wobble at 50 miles Per hour. I paid someone to install it, mount and balance tires and alignment. I later found that they did not put the track bar bolt back on. Scary!!
MEMBER: The additional angle on the drag link (steering linkage) means that there will be a couple degrees more rotation of the wheel for a given turn. It's not "play" just something to get used to on a lifted vehicle. At the same time, the stabilizer will numb the steering a bit. You're likely going to need a week or so to get used to the way the truck steers with the added angle and stabilization. The steering being off-center is a sign they did not extend the drag-link properly after installing. There's a threaded clamp that holds the upper tie-rod end to the pitman arm and the other end threads over the drag-link that extends to the knuckle. that sleeve needs to be loosened and rotated until the steering wheel is straight driving on a flat road. You can then ensure tie-rod alignment and tighten it back down. As for a vibration over 50mph, sounds like an unbalanced wheel/tire to me.
ME: That explains a few things. But I do not think the play i'm referring to has anything to do with the revolutions per turn of the steering wheel. For example if I'm driving down the road have to change direction, The steering wheel will move a few degrees before it actually "catches". Also going over a curb at low speed, it feels like the tire will bump or move without any feel or movement in the steering wheel.
MEMBER: That's always been the case... The tie-rod ends will rotate before their point of engagement hits and the linkage locks and moves. That's just part of most non rack and pinion steering systems. As for the going over curbs and small obstacles, that sounds like a combination of larger tires and our stabilizer absorbing road forces rather than transmitting them to your steering.
ME: Is it possible that the track bar was not adjusted correctly? The company that installed the kit left me with very little confidence. They kept my truck for a week then rushed the tire mounting and balancing and alignment. Took them a week to install kit, half an hour to mount tires, and 10 minutes to align it. The truck does ride straight, but does have a small amount of wobble in the steering wheel while driving.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to tighten up my steering? I do not have a drop pitman arm, but do have an adjustable track bar (Carli lift).
Please help!
(I do think the member that offered the replies knows what he's talking about as he is a well respected member, but I don't like the steering)
ME: Just had my lift kit installed. There seems to be some play in the steering wheel that wasn't there before. Backcountry with Procomp 35 inch tires, rear springs and high mount steering stabilizer. Is this normal or a bad install job? Also the steering wheel is not straight and there is a slight wobble at 50 miles Per hour. I paid someone to install it, mount and balance tires and alignment. I later found that they did not put the track bar bolt back on. Scary!!
MEMBER: The additional angle on the drag link (steering linkage) means that there will be a couple degrees more rotation of the wheel for a given turn. It's not "play" just something to get used to on a lifted vehicle. At the same time, the stabilizer will numb the steering a bit. You're likely going to need a week or so to get used to the way the truck steers with the added angle and stabilization. The steering being off-center is a sign they did not extend the drag-link properly after installing. There's a threaded clamp that holds the upper tie-rod end to the pitman arm and the other end threads over the drag-link that extends to the knuckle. that sleeve needs to be loosened and rotated until the steering wheel is straight driving on a flat road. You can then ensure tie-rod alignment and tighten it back down. As for a vibration over 50mph, sounds like an unbalanced wheel/tire to me.
ME: That explains a few things. But I do not think the play i'm referring to has anything to do with the revolutions per turn of the steering wheel. For example if I'm driving down the road have to change direction, The steering wheel will move a few degrees before it actually "catches". Also going over a curb at low speed, it feels like the tire will bump or move without any feel or movement in the steering wheel.
MEMBER: That's always been the case... The tie-rod ends will rotate before their point of engagement hits and the linkage locks and moves. That's just part of most non rack and pinion steering systems. As for the going over curbs and small obstacles, that sounds like a combination of larger tires and our stabilizer absorbing road forces rather than transmitting them to your steering.
ME: Is it possible that the track bar was not adjusted correctly? The company that installed the kit left me with very little confidence. They kept my truck for a week then rushed the tire mounting and balancing and alignment. Took them a week to install kit, half an hour to mount tires, and 10 minutes to align it. The truck does ride straight, but does have a small amount of wobble in the steering wheel while driving.
Anyone have any suggestions on how to tighten up my steering? I do not have a drop pitman arm, but do have an adjustable track bar (Carli lift).
Please help!