Help!! 3"BL done, Now Steering Problem

[tomblin1]

Completed a search but couldn't really find what I was looking for, Need help.

I completed the PA 3" BL today. It came with appx a 1" steering extension. I installed it but the truck drives
terrible, it's not safe.

Symptoms: Harder to turn wheel, almost feels as if something is binding. But the worst it that after the wheel is turned, it does not return to the straight position. The truck would continue to turn unless I bring the wheel back to straight.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance..........

 

[Redrig]

i have a 3' bl also. mine was bad at first but now its decent (not perfect) www.flamingriver.com makes an extension to correct that problem. but i think its expensive like 200 dollar range. not sure. i think some people just didnt use an extension at all and it was better, but i think they were 2' lifts. id try searching some more. theres alot of info on this. good luck.

 

[udmsvt]

i am in the process of soing my 3" bl and i took it for a test drive...my steering sucks too. my instructions for the kit say that no shaft extension is necessary because it has a u-joint, and thus, there is no part included. it almost sounds like i have no power steering and my wheel creeks. its just my .02, but if anybody has any ideas, i would be open to them.

 

[tomblin1]

well, I did another search for "steering problems lift."

Looks liked I'm screwed. So much for doing your research ahead of time.

Anyone find any solution yet? Any adjustments to the steering box? I have an email in to Flaming River for assistance. See if their truck slip shaft will work.

Just trying to avoid spending another entire day taking the lift out.
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!!

 

[udmsvt]

yeah, tell me about it. because of bols breaking and the such i now have over 2 weeks into a simple body lift and the truck still isnt finished! i have had to order almost all new bushings...and i have one being sent in from atlanta and one from chicago this week!

 

[akcrogers]

Hey guys,
After my 3" bl, the steering was a little tight at first, but quickly wore in and is not even noticable now. Because of the U-joint it really doesn't need a steering extension, although I don't think the extension hurts anything either. It just takes a little while for the U-joint to break in to the new angle.

If you want to break in the u-joint a little quicker, first make sure your powersteering pump has fluid, and then jack up the front end of your truck off the ground. Then you can just turn the wheel back and forth without the extra friction from the ground. If it really bothers you, you could have someone watch where it is binding and then file that area down yourself, but my u-joint wore in pretty quickly.

Hope this helps.

 

[Redrig]

yeah i should have been more clear. mine wasnt as bad as yours but mine wore in also after about 2 weeks. i wouldnt take your lift back off if worse comes to worse the flamingriver ext. or knuckle will fix it.

 

[udmsvt]

that makes me feel MUCH better! irts bad enough i have had to replace over half of the bushings and spend so much time onit, plus i broke a hammer (using as a prybar) and i had to buy new sawzall blades and i still have to modify the frame up front to put the bumper back on and try to do something about the rear one...and lets now forget trying to figure out a way for my shifter to not smack into my center console every time i go to 2nd, 4th, or reverse.....maybe i will swap for a 91-92 with the single cupholder....will have to test fit with the one from our 91 first, but i think it would work better.

 

[tomblin1]

Guess I Got Lucky

I lucked out I guess in the end.
I was able to get all bolts out. 8 were actually pretty easy. The two in the front were difficult (back hurts today!). No broken bolts and corrosion was not a big problem.

Steering issue: Upon completion of the lift and reattaching the steering shaft with the extension provided, I saw that the upper rag joint rubber was cracked in a couple places - Not good. To replace this rag joint with new part, $200 from ford. To correct the problem I found a used lower shaft assembly from a 91 Ex Sport. This one was different, had a rag joint in the bottom, but a U-joint at the upper end. My old one had rag joints at both ends. This one is soooo, much better. I am also having someone inspect the shaft alignment and possibly notch the firewall to bring the upper and lower shafts back into a straight line. Fortunately, problem solved.

Only complaint now about the 3" BL from PA. Of course, bumper brackets are worthless. I'm having to try and fabricate my own.

 

[IAmTodd]

If you still need help Mascman made a custom extension, just search for it!

 

[udmsvt]

this is what mine looks like, this look right?

 

[tomblin1]

this is what mine looks like, this look right?

Yeah, that is the setup I had. I did add the steering extension that came in the kit. I was about 1inch long and then replaced the lower shaft with one from a 91 Sport that had a u-joint on the upper end instead of the rag joint like the original.

I'll take pix and post so you can see the difference.

With the different shaft, it drives so much better now.

 

[udmsvt]

what also bugs me is that our stock 91 looks like this:

why are they different?

i noticed also that mine is only funny when you first start to turn the wheeel or sny time the wheel is in one spot, turned 90 degrees counter clockwise. every time you pass that spot, it hanhs and squeeks but there is nothing i can see in the way.

 

[tomblin1]

The shaft you have on your 91 is what I replaced my 93 with. The u-joints are alot smoother than the rag joint that was on my 93. I dont know why ford would chage the design. It looks like the rag joint is a more complicated design anyway.

If you were to remove the shaft on your 91 from the steering box, you will see that it too has a rag joint at the bottom. Although, having at least one ujoint makes it alot smoother turning. I think a replacement shaft from someone like Flaiming River will have ujoints at the top and bottom.

After your done, if it drives poorly. Try replaceing the shaft with one like on your 91, I'll bet you will be happy with the improvement. I picked one up for $50 at a salvage yard and replacement was fairly easy.

 

[udmsvt]

well, in theory i could just swap them right? since the 91 is at stock hetight and wil stay that way. how do you get that thing off?

 

[tomblin1]

I believe you should be able to simply swap them. The 91 works on my 93, so I imagine the reverse is also true.

Removing the lower end is similar to the top end you have already disconnected for the lift. there is a cover on the lower portion, simply pull it back from the bottom to gain access to the lower bolt. There is simply one bolt that clamps the bottom end of the lower shaft to the sector shaft coming out of the steering box. There are splines (small grooves) on this shaft coming out of the steering box and the replacement shaft should slide right on. You want to make sure the alignment of the "new" shaft is the same as the old one so your steering wheel is still straight. Mine would only go on one way so not a problem but I cant speak for all vehicles.

Its a good idea to use a threadlock product on the bolts as you replace them and a little Liquid Wrench before you get started and WD40 along the way will help.

 

[udmsvt]

i never disconnected the steering prior to the lift. our of the 2 sets of instructions i had, only one called for it and that was because there was an extension to put in place...the one for my actual kit didnt call for it. i will have to take a look at it later in the week.

 

[tomblin1]

If you do it, ITs simple really.
One bolt at the top and one at the bottom.

 

[udmsvt]

like i said i;ll have to look at it later this week. my p[arents just decided to sell a car and they are paying me to clean it up, i work tomarrow, have a 2-yr anniv on thurs so i wont be able to try it until friday.

 

[Green Lantern]

tomblin1,

Did you get a reply from Flaming River? What part did they suggest. I have had my 3" BL for about a month now and I don't think its breaking in as some have said. It reaches a point betwen 1/4 and 1/2 turn when it gets very had to turn and then all of sudden it seems to break free resulting in a rapid turn.