The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Shims

Hey guys I have a 51 3100 and I put power steering on it with a kit from CPP. The kit went on without a problem. The problem is the truck wants to wander and it seams to get worse the faster you go. The truck has stock suspension in the front and rear. I was wondering if I put shims on the front axle if that would help. Sorry for being dumb but the linkage arm from the steering box to the front drivers wheel is completely horizontal with the truck sitting still. Any help would be appreciated greatly because right now it is a wild ride.

You say “stock suspension”, does that mean stock steering components also? If so, check for play in all the steering parts before you take it to the “Big Truck” alignment shop. Shims might fix it but might not do any good at all and could aggravate the situation. 🛠

Flat road, no wind ..........does it drift to one side consistently?

Wandering...........is the steering now ultra sensitive ?...........so sensitive it constantly making you over correct ?

What tire size?
What size stock wheels?

Have tried reducing the tire air pressure a little?
Did you go through the adjustment procedures described in the Shop Manual?

The following need to be carefully inspected:
1) Leaf Spring eye bushings.
2) Proper placement of caster shims between leaf springs and front axle. (Your CPP setup would greatly benefit from 6 degree caster shims as apposed to the original shims.)
3) Kingpin play.
4) Check tie rod ball ends for roundness, and correct end cap adjustment.
5) Make sure that the adjustable draglink is a set to the proper length to give you the same number of turns left and right of the steering wheel.
6) Proper adjustment of wheel bearing preload.
If you have any questions about how to do any of these, let me know. I can walk you though it.
Carl

Is it wander or sway of the body? I had so much body sway that I put a anti-roll bar to keep her going straight.

Chris

Does the "center point" of the steering gear correspond with the wheels being straight ahead? If the gear is even slightly off-center when traveling straight, there's going to be slack inside the steering box. Hopefully, you installed an adjustable drag link that will allow you to establish the right sector gear preload and then adjust the wheels straight ahead. I have fixed "steering wander" problems on dozens of vehicles by simply center-pointing the steering gear.
Jerry

I was thinking he might have a power rack and pinion kit ???? .....vs............the conventional power steering box ?

https://www.performanceonline.com/1947-55-Chevy-GMC-Truck-Power-Steering-Rack-and-Pinion-Kit/

Thanks for all your advice. I have replaced everything in the front end so I know nothing is worn out. Yes shockey it is like way sensitive and I am always correcting back and forth. I never heard of centering the gear box but I will check on that. Thanks again.

Listen to what Carl and Jerry says, make sure you have an axle that hasn't bent, caster wedges are needed.
Positive caster creates a lot of align torque (the force that straightens the steering wheel when you go forward) which improves straight line stability of the truck. If your truck does not have caster wedges between the axle and leaf pack then they have been removed and need to be replaced and positioned correctly to start off then continue your checks.

"Worm and sector" steering boxes have a taper-ground worm gear (the one that the steering wheel turns) which must be adjusted to zero clearance at the "high point" in the center of its travel. With the Pitman arm or the drag link disconnected, turn the wheel lock to lock, then back up about halfway to get a rough centering of the steering box. Then use an "inch pound" torque wrench on the steering wheel center nut to turn the wheel through the middle of its travel. As you pass the center point, the torque should rise approximately 10 inch-pounds. For instance, if it takes 10 in/lbs to keep the wheel turning, the reading should rise to 20 as you cross the center point, then it should drop to 10 again after passing center. If not, adjust the screw opposite the output shaft in or out until you get the right preload.

Once the steering box is adjusted properly, THEN you can go about adjusting the drag link so you're steering straight ahead with the gear on center. There are NO shortcuts to this procedure- - - -don't ask! Adding more caster might also be required, but it's not a substitute for doing everything else right.
Jerry

You didn't state what type of steering box that you purchased from CPP. Toyota and aftermarket control valve/ram type systems
operate on about 900 psi. GM Pumps produce about 1300 psi. Too much pump pressure may cause some of the problems you are experiencing.
There are kits available to reduce the pump pressure.
Fred

Thanks again guys.