Truck tilts when steering

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.

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,966
Reaction score
23,489
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
I had assumed while stopped. Pretty much any truck with push-pull steering will do it to some degree. It's not a problem, but a level drag link angle should minimize it.
 

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,075
Reaction score
3,044
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
A friend of mine had a '86 Chevy stepside with a 6" lift on it and 35" tires. He noticed movement on the frame while steering lock to lock on pavement while not moving. Not knowing what it was exactly it caused me to do some reading and I ended up buying 2 steering box braces. One for his truck and one for mine. His drag link was at more of an angle than mine- and mine didn't really have any movement at all. (but smaller tires and smaller lift at the time)

It helped prevent the frame from moving so much on his. Plus the frame can get cracked there...

How does your frame look around the steering box?
 

Chaz

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Posts
192
Reaction score
13
Location
USA
First Name
Chaz
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
V1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350 tbi/th400/np241c
My truck has close to zero, if any, frame movement when steering lock to lock, stopped on level ground, as shown in the pics.

I do have the ORD steering box brace installed, and no sway bar.

Im thinking maybe your springs are softer than mine causing the frame to tilt, my springs are very stiff and its a fairly harsh ride. Ultimately your springs must compress on one side for the truck to tilt so i think it must be the springs....or maybe bushings?? Maybe you have rubber spring bushings, i have poly, i think most lift springs are using the poly bushings though....

Seems a shame that it wont pass inspection that way i would think it would lend to better axle articulation off road that way.

We dont have inspection in CA, just smog test, they dont care if our vehicles are safe to drive or not as long as they run clean lol.

There must be some way to firm up that ride to pass the inspection though.....
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
28,966
Reaction score
23,489
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
I think someone else needs to inspect it. That guy doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. If everything is tight and nothing is cracked, it's a normal thing to see on solid axle trucks. It all depends on drag link angle, spring rate, contact patch width, wheel backspacing, weight on the front axle, etc.
 

JoeR Jr

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2018
Posts
191
Reaction score
241
Location
Stokesdale, NC
First Name
Joe
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
6.0/4L80E
I'm not certain of what this mechanic is talking about, but if it is what I suspect, then he should know this is normal. Any vehicle that has a caster setting other than 0 degrees will tilt when you turn the wheel. It has to, because as you turn the steering wheel one wheel gets forced down, and the other side is raised. It's why increasing the caster angle results in higher steering effort.
I agree with bucket. Find another inspection station, because if he doesn't already know this, he's not going to learn it from you.
Joe
 

Griff

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2018
Posts
25
Reaction score
30
Location
Thunder Bay
First Name
Griffin
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K1500
Engine Size
350 sbc
Well I ended up measuring the frame movement from lock to lock and it’s only 1/4” different. I ended up taking it back there for a few reasons: the back lane behind my house which my garage faces also has their parking lot entrance so it is really convenient to take it there, they have already inspected it 3 times now so the only thing he is looking for is my steering to be sorted out, and they are considering the amount of weather cracks in my tires passable (definitely giving me a break here). However I took it back there Tuesday and they said they would sneak it in Wednesday...we’ll its Sunday now and it’s still sitting there and they are closed on weekends. Also tomorrow is a holiday so if they don’t get to it by Tuesday I’ll be taking it elsewhere. I was hoping to have it looked at by now so I could post a reasonable follow up but I’m still waiting lol

How does your frame look around the steering box?

I just swapped the steering box with a different one and there was no cracks on the frame. After my safety I plan to either get a steering box bracket or have a welder buddy fabricate something for a case of beer

As always thank you guys for the help and advice I really appreciate it. I have a few diys coming in the near future. :happy160:
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,859
Posts
903,665
Members
33,372
Latest member
83elcowes
Top