Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

I'm having some steering issues....The Steering is a little nervous when driving at freeway speeds and the turning radius is pretty poor. In addition the inside wheel in a tight turn at steering lock is dragging the tire or scrubbing the tire a lot. you can actually feel the tire dragging. I jacked the front end up to see if I could see anything wrong with the Steering linkage. I think the Center link is flipped 180 deg. I have attached pics:.....

Thanks,
Dale

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

Yes it is, when fliped it will run real close to your crossmember, also your tie rods go in from the back and the nuts go on the front, not sure if it matters. you can see the tierod in this pic
http://i321.photobucket.com/albums/n...build008-1.jpg

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

Niners1,

Thanks for the excellent pic, Now I know for sure. I'll take it back to the shop tommorrow and have them fix it and re-align the front end.

Dale

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

your welcome, dont ask how i know :lol:

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

Niners1,

Oh...It does matter if the tierods are on the front or back. If they are located in the front that increases the akerman angle by quite a bit. That would explain why the inside wheel is turning to much at steering lock causing severe tire scrub.

Thanks again,
Dale

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

You will have to remove it and swap it "end for end".
Easy to make this mistake,... when replacing everything.
You might have to put some 90 degree grease zerks in the inner tie rods also.
(makes it alot easier to grease the inners)

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

Well....I took the truck to my shop that did the suspension and brake rebuild and ask them to flip the centerlink that was in backwards....Wow!!!what difference!!! The truck has lost the nervous twitch and low speed steering lock is ok now. The steering radius is improved quite a bit. one more problem fixed!...;);)

Dale

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

DJ, I know what you mean, just recently built my front end and it drives sweeeeet!!!

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

That upper bump stop is on the wrong side of the A arm?

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

This thread assured me that I didn't accidentally flip the center link, but now I'm having a hard time getting to the grease zerk on the inner tie rod:
http://i.imgur.com/oUzt7i8l.jpg
Maybe it's just a matter of getting an angled grease gun fitting in there (I only have the straight-end). How do you guys typically get to that zerk?

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

90° zerk fitting will take care of that

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

The inner tie rods I bought from Moog came with 90 degree zerk fittings.

Gary

Re: Is my Steering Crossbar Center link on backwards?
 

Thanks guys, a 90 degree fitting would've made more sense in that spot. This is a CPP front-end kit so the tie-rod ends are likely not Moog. I'll try finding a 90 degree grease gun fitting instead.