steering ? for matt or anyone that can help

[fledgling666]

ok, i have been contemplating moving the front axle forward when i do my SAS in a couple months. i am using bronco arms and coils with a panhard rod, provided everything fits. i won't move it a LOT, maybe 3-5 inches. but i may run into some problems going forward. right now, my steering box is barely in front of the front IFS diff. the centerlink runs about one inch forward of the frontmost curve of the diff. if i were to move the axle 3-5 inches forward, would there be any way i could keep the stock steering box? i know, i know, these are things i should have thought about before, but i hadn't anticipated moving the axle forward until it was mulled-over a bit and i decided it was a good idea, mainly for tire clearance at the firewall. i was just going to rely on lift for tire clearance. this is not a very good photo, but it is of a Sportage in Korea with a straight axle swap. the axle they used is a 6-lug, but couldn't tell much else, may be a D30 or a GM 10-bolt. also, the diff is almost centered. they moved it about 5 inches forward (by my estimation) and those are 35's on it. they don't give enough info about anything that they did though, and if they explained it, the site i got the photo from is in Korean, so there's nothing i could do about it anyway. just a little eye-candy to go with my questions. thanks for any help.

http://offroad.co.kr/sorts/file/photo/2003030667889200.jpg

[Independent4x]

ok...i'm seeing leafs ther w/ shackles forward. i think on general we decided that it was a GM 10 bolt. whatever this doesn't really matter.

In your case....there is not going to be a recipe you can follow....or even a cookbook :D

you need to decide on a tire size.
decide an axle that accomidates the tire size (strength)
decide a suspension (sounds like you have that)

if you want radius arms and coils....i say run a D44 out of an early bronco....run the whole front end...graft it in and make it work. you can modify it along the way, but basically it's there and there is a lot of product out there for it.

now....i don't know what side dif you need....if it's driver's your in lucl w/ the EB stuff...............but if it's Pass.....well you will want to go Wagooneer or narrow a chevy front 44

set it all up so that the tire size you chose will be far enough forward to stay off the firewall. you can always cut off the front and it alows for a very desirable approach angle

...thinking about the steering box position posibilities...you can always relocate your stock box out front or go to a Saginaw box (like the scout box w/ forward facing pitman arm), or an F150 box, toyota box....whatever.


there are a LOT of truck parts out there to choose from so you will certianly be able to make it work ..... but you have to just get started in order to really solve the issues :flipoff2:

[fledgling666]

Originally posted by TrooperRS
..... but you have to just get started in order to really solve the issues :flipoff2:

yeah, i guess you're right, was just hoping to get everything down beforehand. thanks.

[AirTrooper]

And the cross-over steering drag link should give you some leeway at the far end as it can be several inches fore or aft. At least that is what I am hoping.

And as Matt says, it is becoming painfully obvious, some of this isn't going to get finalized until I get the diff up there for a look see.

btw.. what are you guys using? transmission jacks?


robt