Steering opinions?

[tucker74]

After bashing my 40 around on the rocks last weekend and breaking some knuckle bolts (I'll get to that), I realized I need to do something about my booty-fabbed steering. My 40 was SOA at some point in its past life and the suspect mechanic chose to plane two steering arms together and use bolts to attach them to the knuckle for steering. Of course these are always backing out w/o the cone washers, so I have always re-torqued after each run while wheeling. Well ... they decided to loosen up much faster with my new mini PS conversion and I broke out on the rocks. So now I'm seeking opinions on which direction to go.

Preface - new mini conversion that's staying, SUA w/ 4" springs, small pattern knuckles.
Good - new mini steering box and center arm with fairly new 40 ends everywhere.
Bad - crusty drag link, tie rod (way bent) and relay.
Ugly - planed double arms on PS knuckle - unwelded.

Option 1 - replace everything factory with OEM steering arm.

Option 2 - same except with HD tie rods and 80 ends (can I do this with factory steering arms?).

Option 3 - HD route again with a new double arm.

Option 4 - Hi-Steer with new HD stuff (how does this work with the mini box and center arm?)

This is getting kinda long here - what do you guys think?

Tucker

 

[PabloCruise]

I think some pics of the suspect componentry will help spur the discussion along...

 

[Trollhole]

If money is a problem then get an Aqula arm or equal.

If money is not a problem. Get hi steer.

Don't go back to your original setup. It's obvious it's not working.

OEM will not work on SOA without benting the arm. If your SOA most likely you have bigger tires. And if you are sheering bolts then a bent arm is not going to be the best fix.

 

[Poser]

Not aware of anyone other than 4x4 Labs that offers a hysteer set up for the small knuckle bolt pattern....


I would get later knuckles and open up your hysteer options....and then get new knuckle studs from these guys. FROR

 

[tucker74]

If money is a problem then get an Aqula arm or equal.

If money is not a problem. Get hi steer.

Don't go back to your original setup. It's obvious it's not working.

OEM will not work on SOA without benting the arm. If your SOA most likely you have bigger tires. And if you are sheering bolts then a bent arm is not going to be the best fix.

Maybee I wasn't so clear ... the truck is SUA with 4" springs and I've never had the stock steering on it. Just the booty-fab left over from the SOA that used to be there -

Tucker

 

[Mark W]

A double knuckle arm that is NOT welded together?!?! Just held in place by the knuckle studs? Someone in that rigs past needs to have all of his tools taken away from him. Followed by a swift kick in the ass. Or the head!


Mark...

 

[tucker74]

A double knuckle arm that is NOT welded together?!?! Just held in place by the knuckle studs? Someone in that rigs past needs to have all of his tools taken away from him. Followed by a swift kick in the ass. Or the head!


Mark...

I've thought this many times ... not even knuckle studs (to short), grade 8 bolts!

Tucker

 

[Trollhole]

Sorry. Then you can go hy steer but it's money.

I would probably get new studs and stock arm and rods. This stuff is out there really cheap.

 

[Poser]

Go back to later modle stock stuff, and be done with it.

 

[HawkDriver]

First off you need to update that avatar.

The bent rod and unwelded arms are pretty scary to even think about driving on the street.

Honestly I would do this, since you're still SUA you don't even need that old double arm setup, just get a used unfxxxed arm and slap it on. Then sell all of your minitruck PS and get rid of that PITA center arm and slap on a Saginaw box. Then step back and call it good. Of course I'm budget minded and there are tons of different more pricey options to go with as mentioned above.



Jeremy

 

[tucker74]

Go back to later modle stock stuff, and be done with it.

That's pretty much what I thought - I run tall and skinnys with the 4" springs. You think it worth going with the large pattern knuckles huh ... are the later model tie rods the same? Just go OEM or HD like BudBuilt with 80 ends?

Tucker

BTW: Are the later model 40 knuckles the same as mini/60?

 

[andrewfarmer]

A double knuckle arm that is NOT welded together?!?! Just held in place by the knuckle studs? Someone in that rigs past needs to have all of his tools taken away from him. Followed by a swift kick in the ass. Or the head!


Mark...

I ran this setup on mine for ages - but it was large pattern, and the upper arm was reamed out for cone washers.

Setup was orig arm, cones, flat washer (spacer), cones, upper arm, flat washer, nut. (yes had studs).

Bent relay rod, tie rod, but the arm on the knuckle never moved.

With a big lift I found I needed this to get the steering to behave because with the lift and std mounitng there was too much rotation in the tie rod = steering slop.

When I put the p/s on it, I had a new single piece arm made...

 

[Poser]

That's pretty much what I thought - I run tall and skinnys with the 4" springs. You think it worth going with the large pattern knuckles huh ... are the later model tie rods the same? Just go OEM or HD like BudBuilt with 80 ends?

Tucker

BTW: Are the later model 40 knuckles the same as mini/60?

The later, 1979 and on 40 series knuckles are the same a mini/60....The steering arms for the mini/60 are larger, and have a larger taper in them, if you are looking to use the stock 40 ends in them, you will need a little spacer piece, or simply upgrade to beefier components, and move forward from there.


I would run heavier duty steering ends and linkage pieces if it were me....



Good luck!


-Steve

 

[LC_Hamma]

For me, that small knuckle pattern, p/s, 36" SX's & hysteer was a bad combo. I felt it was too much torque on the upper double steering arm, so I changed back to a lower double arm & refigured my steering linkage - closer to the stock configuration. What size tires are you running?