OEM steering setup for SAS

[rguy]

I've seen a few rigs here with a SAS using a steering setup similar to the OEM style and would like to re-engineer my steering likewise but can't seem to overcome a couple big problems. First of all the OEM tie rod and drag link are now long enough so the adjusting sleeve needs to be adjusted beyond it's safe limits, and Second, the tie rod ends are too small for the hole in the steering knuckles. Is there an adapter or spacer available to use the smaller tie rod ends with the small shank on a steering knuckle with the large hole? For those of you that are using the OEM styler steering on you SAS front end, how did you accomplish it.

Thanks for the help.

Rob

 

[4x4junkie]

You don't want that POS steering linkage on your straightaxle, you'll just wind up transferring all of the problems it causes on the TTB to your straightaxle.

You'll be much better off finding a straight linkage from the same (or a similar) vehicle that your axle came from.

 

[CodePoet]

I think what you have been seeing is people using the stock axles (the solid axles) tie rod. You can reuse the drag link from the explorer and connect the two.

If you're going to spend the time and money to do an sas go ahead an redo the steering. You can flip the tie rod to gain clearance and a new one made out of dom should be a good deal stronger than the stock stuff.

You can use chevy 1ton tre's or heims. I've gone back and forth between the two but am quickly settling on heims. Do some searching you'll find tons of info.

 

[rguy]

yeah, I think I'm bailing on this idea. I've been running a straight tie rod from a '80 Suburban with the OEM Explorer drag link for about a year. I bent the tie rod tube last Sunday so that's what got me rethinking my setup. What I need to do is use Chevy Flat top d44 kuckles and a hysteer arm, but I'm too lazy and cheap to do it. Oh well, time to get motivated and break out the credit card.