Truck Drives Awful After 2 1/2'' lift on front.

[Jeff H]

After installing a leveling kit the truck drives awfull. Going around corners at 55 plus I can feel sort of vibration. So I had the wheels balanced. Still does it. Trucks also wanders a lot more too. Truck favors pulling to the right.

Only thing I can think of is if camber changed doing the lift. That and bigger tires 285/75. But I had the bigger tires on long before the lift and ran fine. If any knows what is going on fill me in.

Thanks Jeff H.

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by Jeff H

After installing a leveling kit the truck drives awfull. Going around corners at 55 plus I can feel sort of vibration. So I had the wheels balanced. Still does it. Trucks also wanders a lot more too. Truck favors pulling to the right.

Only thing I can think of is if camber changed doing the lift. That and bigger tires 285/75. But I had the bigger tires on long before the lift and ran fine. If any knows what is going on fill me in.

Thanks Jeff H.

Jeff,



I've seen this before and the culprit was the track bar. They're notoriously weak and don't do well with lifts. A viable option is to replace it with a DT or Linstadt track bar.



Hope this helps.

 

[B KIRK]

Jeff, your track bar is now at a steeper angle. This will pull your axle off center towards the drivers side. You will also get "bump steer" as your suspension moves up and down. You can get a track bar drop bracket, (Skyjacker), or replace with a DT set-up. Also would get a drop Pitman Arm, (also Skyjacker). This would help bring back to factory specs.



Brad

 

[SS]

You can adjust camber with the cam bolts on the front of the lower control arms - at least make sure that they are set equal according to the marks on axle brackets. Check where they are set on a stock truck since yours may have changed. The toe-in can be set with the adjustable sleeve on the tie rod and the steering wheel can be recentered with the adjustable sleeve on the drag link - set the toe first. Loosen and retighten all of the control arm and track bar bolts to improve the ride. This and track bar suggestions should help.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Caster is what you are adjusting by loosening the cam bolts on the lower links. Camber is only adjustable by installing ecentric bushings into the steering knuckle. Rotate the cam bolts forward to push the lower ball joint towards the front of the vehicle this should help handling. Also make sure that the toe is set 1/8 to 1/4in of toe in. I have a 2. 5 inch kit on my truck and had to play with these settings until it handled good. I also added an additional steering damper this stopped the front end shake. I would not recommend lowering the track bar or installing the dropped pitman arm. Your steering linkage and trac-bar angle have to be eqaul or you will get bumpsteer. This steering setup is not the best on these trucks. Good luck.

 

[B KIRK]

Bumpsteer is caused by the angle of your steering bar. If it is to steep, your axle will move side to side while it is going up and down. You will get feedback in the steering wheel, or truck will wander side to side. The ideal setup would be to have a level point from frame to axle. Our trucks, even at factory height, have to steep of an angle. 2" of lift will increase angle, and shift axle off center. I am sure you have followed a lifted truck down the road that was tracking sideways a little. You have to get the axle back to center. In my previous post, I recommened installing a track bar drop bracket, and, ALSO, a drop pitman arm. Both will drop same amount, keeping steering geometry equal. I currently have a 4" lift with 37" tall tires, and my truck steers as well as, if not better than it did factory. I did not have to install a second steering stablizer with the lift, only after I put the larger tires on.



Brad

 

[Jeff H]

My track bar looks to be shot with 160,000 miles on it. I would say at least a 1/4 inch of slop in the track bar. So that will most definatly will need replacemeant.

What is a DT setup?

Where can I buy a lower pitman arm and tracbar drop bracket?

Who also to get a tracbar from?

 

[B KIRK]

Jeff. Look in Readers Rigs at BigBadDodge. The last two pictures show the DT Trackbar and drop bracket, (by the way, great pictures Scott). Bracket is made of 1/4" plate steel. If you decide to go with a stock replacement track bar, try NAPA. Less $ than dealer, and lifetime replacement warranty. The drop pitman arm can be purchased thru Skyjacker. Hope this helps.



Brad

 

[Jeff H]

IS DT the only place to get a drop bracket? Looks like I would not be able to use a napa trac bar with that drop bracket.

 

[Smokey Joe]

B KIRK did you have the bad shimmys with you front end with the 4. 5" kit. I had the skyjacker kit and when I would hit just the right ripples in the hiway it would shake the steering wheel out of my hand. It would shake so bad I could not steer or get my foot on the brake pedal. This would happen about every 300 miles or so when I hit the right bump. I ended up putting on the 2. 5 spacer block kit. This seems to work ok. I also tried to use the track bar bracket and steering arm from the skyjacker kit with my 2. 5 kit but the truck didnt steer right. You are right about the axle being off center. I redrilled the bolt hole on the axle for the track bar to recenter it.

 

[B KIRK]

The only time I ever got a bad shimmy, (or Death Wobble), was while the truck was still stock heigth. I had a slightly worn track bar, but didn't get shimmy until I put cheap tires on it to hold me over till I installed the larger ones. They were balanced OK, but were out of round. You could see the runout while on the balancer. Dealer said if I had any trouble to bring them back. First time I hit a bump, I got to experience the dreaded Death Wobble. Took tires back a couple days later, and exchanged for better ones. No problems with these. I installed the lift kit with the same slightly worn track bar, same tires, and no problems. When I installed the 37" tires, thats when I got a shimmy. Replaced the track bar which helped to fix 90% of the problem. Installed a second steering stablizer, no problems since.



Brad

 

[TRodney]

Linstad Track Bar Info

You can contact Linstad Alignment, Inc. @

1-800-432-0017 or on the web @

http://www.westdakota.com/linstad



I have one on my 94' and it has worked great!



Later,

Tim

 

[Jeff H]

TRodney That link don't work.

About the trac bar. Is there a drop bracket that can be used with the stock like trac bar?

 

[HDH]

Check your Toe. I'll Bet its in way to Far!!!!!

On Model Years 94-97 The Steering linkage is of a Y-type, Which means the toe angle will change with front axle loading, IOW's when the is lifted, The Toe will be in, When its lowered the Toe will out.

On Model Years 98-2002 The Steering Linkage was changed to a "Cross-Over" type Which Eliminated this problem. And Almost eliminated the "Death Wobble".



I Have a 89 Jeep cherokee Which has the same type Steering Linkage as your 95 CTD. I Plan on Getting Rusty's Cross-Over Steering for the Jeep to Eliminate the "Death Wobble.

I Hope this Helps!.

One other Note, I Bet the Newer "Cross-over" steering linkage will fit on the 94-97 Rams.

Doug.