Hey all, back again!

So a few weeks ago, accidentally bumped into a concrete pedestal thing. Toe was knocked out badly and lost like 30-40% of my left turn radius at lock. Figured I bent tie rods and bought a T style kid. Got everything bolted up and aligned at the shop and I still have the left turn radius issue. I’m thinking maybe the force of that bump moved my pitman arm on the splines? And not it’s off?

Without the drag link connected I have the standard 4 or 4.5 (whatever redhead steering gear is) turns from lock to lock. Trying to get some ideas as I have to tow Wednesday and would like maximum steering to the left beforehand! lol. Hoping maybe the pitman arm just got moved somehow but am open to other things to check that I may be able to fix quickly today.

3 hours ago, YeaImDylan said:

So a few weeks ago, accidentally bumped into a concrete pedestal thing. Toe was knocked out badly and lost like 30-40% of my left turn radius at lock.

Which tire was involved with the "bumped into a concrete pedestal thing?"

3 hours ago, YeaImDylan said:

Got everything bolted up and aligned at the shop and I still have the left turn radius issue. I’m thinking maybe the force of that bump moved my pitman arm on the splines?

It would take some serious force to strip the spines on the Pitman arm / sector shaft. Personally, I wouldn't drive the truck until the steering issue is figured out. Possibly, the Pitman arm is bent.

Diagnosing this problem is going to be a bit more difficult since you swapped to the T type steering before you fixed the steering problem.

Is the steering wheel centered when driving straight down the road?

I would put the front end of the truck on jack stands and remove the front tires. Verify that the steering spindle "stops" contact the left and right axle "stops". If steering to one direction does not reach the "stop", then the steering gearbox can be over stressed on hard turns in that direction.

If either steering "stop" cannot be reached, then something is still bent, or the steering gear box is no longer centered on the steering linkage after you did the steering conversion.

• John

@Tractorman appreciate the reply! So I hit the pedestal with the passenger front tire and had lost the left turn radius then. Figured my tie rods were just bent but still had the issue after the alignment and new T style tie rods. I’m thinking the sector shaft on the box is fine but maybe the force moved the pitman arm? I feel that’s the only thing (besides the box) that could have gotten messed up and causing the lack of left turn radius. I’ll go under there today and pull the arm off and see if it’s damaged and then when putting back on ensure I’m in the middle for when I put the drag link back on.

Edit: yes the steering wheel is currently straight after the alignment

Uploaded some pics. I think it’s even going farther than what it should be able to do when going right. Pitman arm definitely needs to be turned I’m assuming. The front pics are from lock to lock basically (without someone in the cab holding it after it goes back the other way slightly.)

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by YeaImDylan

Something doesn't seem right here. Lots more questions.

• Can you give more detail about the event (forward speed, position of the steering wheel when contact was made)?

• Did you perform the T-style steering conversion yourself?

• Did you perform the alignment yourself?

• Did you ensure that the steering gear box was centered and tires were in the straight ahead position BEFORE you connected the drag link to the Pitman arm?

Typically the Pitman arm is indexed in a manner that would allow for four different directions of installing (90° apart). That doesn't mean that yours is this way.

Have you checked that your new steering linkage is not binding on something when you steer to the left?

• John

13 minutes ago, Tractorman said:

Something doesn't seem right here. Lots more questions.

• Can you give more detail about the event (forward speed, position of the steering wheel when contact was made)?

• Did you perform the T-style steering conversion yourself?

• Did you perform the alignment yourself?

• Did you ensure that the steering gear box was centered and tires were in the straight ahead position BEFORE you connected the drag link to the Pitman arm?

Typically the Pitman arm is indexed in a manner that would allow for four different directions of installing (90° apart). That doesn't mean that yours is this way.

Have you checked that your new steering linkage is not binding on something when you steer to the left?

• John

Probably 5 or less MPH, turning left but going into the straight if a drive thru, hit the concrete cylinder pedestal thing straight on. Steering wheel was probably closer to being straight.

T style conversion was done myself.

Shop aligned everything and it drives straight now, just still not having for left lock to how it should be.

When I tried to center it with the linkage undone and steering box straight I couldn’t get the drag link in. About to take the pitman arm off now and reinstall.

The end of the drag link near where it connects to the tie rod does contact the end links now on full right, but I believe that’s because I’m able to go like 3 full turns to the right from center yet only 1 1/2 turns to the left before I hit lock

Weird. As far as I know, the pitman arm and the input shaft can't be moved because they are keyed in one position. Are you sure you are at the true center of the steering box? Was the gear and rack messed with inside the steering box?

1 hour ago, YeaImDylan said:

When I tried to center it with the linkage undone and steering box straight I couldn’t get the drag link in. About to take the pitman arm off now and reinstall.

So, you are saying that the TIRES were pointed straight ahead and you counted the maximum turns of the steering wheel (about 4 1/4 turns stop to stop) and you centered the steering wheel (2 1/8 turns back to center from either stop)? And, after doing this, the drag link does not align with the Pitman arm?

1 hour ago, YeaImDylan said:

I’m able to go like 3 full turns to the right from center yet only 1 1/2 turns to the left before I hit lock

This tells me that the steering wheel is not centered in the steering box. If it is centered, the steering wheel can only be turned approximately 2 1/8 turns each way with the drag link disconnected. In fact, it seems like the steering wheel is a full turn off-center.

1 hour ago, YeaImDylan said:

About to take the pitman arm off now and reinstall.

Not sure what you expect to gain here since the Pitman arm is indexed to the sector shaft.

2 hours ago, YeaImDylan said:

The end of the drag link near where it connects to the tie rod does contact the end links now on full right

The drag link should not make contact with anything. You will need to address this. There are mechanical steering stops located on the lower front side of each end of the axle housing. When your situation is corrected, your steering to full left and full right will contact these stops.

• John

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Tractorman

About to be in business much better than before.. got the drag link in and picture before hand, I gained a bit closer to center on the pitman arm. The old arm was also bent! Posting pics now

Left is old one