79 k30 steering rebuild

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
I will disconnect the draglink and see how the wheel turns. I appreciate the help. I have thought maybe something isn’t right with the new steering box
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
PSC does do some sort of modification with the torsion bar in their boxes...

The boxes are nothing more than hotrodded saginaw boxes you'd find in a junkyard.

They replace the internals, modify the spool valve to flow higher, port the cast case for hydro assist, and they also do something with the torsion bar as well, just cannot remember what.

Probably also open up some of the fluid veins in the box to allow the fluid to flow better.
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
I removed the draglink from the pitman arm and the steering wheel was 100x easier to turn
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
I removed the draglink from the pitman arm and the steering wheel was 100x easier to turn


Alrighty....

Put the draglink back on and remove the steering stabilizer from the axle, put the front on jackstands and try again....

Basically systematically go along and figure out what's causing your trouble.
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
My next thought after the box was the steering stabilizer.

I recall in earlier pics it looked like it was nitrogen charged or some **** like a shock under your car.
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
Copy that. I’ll report back in just a few minutes
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
You're running a dana 60 right?

Wondering if maybe the kingpin assembly is off...
Like the lower bearing cups aren't pressed in all the way? Or the lower bearings are shot.
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
I had the kingpins replaced a few years ago. Idk about the lower the bearings. The truck steered like butter even at a stop you could easily turn the wheel with one finger. After the crossover install the steering wheel takes a lot more effort to turn and seems jerky going down the road. feels like it’s lifting the truck when you turn at a stop

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
I cannot think of anything other than that torsion rod I mentioned earlier, it's not directing enough fluid thru the steering box. Other than that. Im really lost lol
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
Ok. Thank you, I really appreciate your help. The psc box was installed with the crossover. I have a new psc box sent as a warranty replacement. I didn’t want to install it untill I was sure something else wasn’t causing the problem. I will have the new steering box installed and report back
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
Ok. Thank you, I really appreciate your help. The psc box was installed with the crossover. I have a new psc box sent as a warranty replacement. I didn’t want to install it untill I was sure something else wasn’t causing the problem. I will have the new steering box installed and report back


I hope that's not a total waste of your time, I just cannot think of anything else.

Seems like you're just not getting enough fluid flow.
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
187
Reaction score
122
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
To be honest this whole crossover swap has been a total waste of time n money. I agree with not getting enough flow, that’s why I installed the high flow psc pump n external reservoir. Hopefully the new box fixes the problem
 

Vbb199

B-rate Hillbilly Customs
Joined
Jan 12, 2018
Posts
8,875
Reaction score
14,900
Location
Salisbury NC
First Name
Vince
Truck Year
89, 79
Truck Model
89 Suburban R1500, 79 C10
Engine Size
350, 502
You can have all the pressure you want at the box, but if it's not directing it at the same ratio as the wheel moving, it'll be a slow, tough to turn turd unfortunately
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,183
Reaction score
5,077
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
To be honest this whole crossover swap has been a total waste of time n money. I agree with not getting enough flow, that’s why I installed the high flow psc pump n external reservoir. Hopefully the new box fixes the problem

I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time :hidesbehindsofa:

I hate when projects go like that. You start out all excited and then it just starts going downhill with things not going as planned or not working until you finally just want to :gunner: it
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,075
Posts
908,484
Members
33,549
Latest member
kmousseau8
Top