I have Skyjacker 4in. springs with 1.5 over stock confer shackles on the front and my steering sucks. Not enough caster. Can I just go to stock shackles or will I still need to shim because the skyjackers do no have the built in caster. Anyone running 4in skyjackers please let me know what degree shim you are running if any. Thanks. I called TPI and a guy there said I needed 6deg. which seemed extreme.

John, I assume that your not running a shackle rev. in the front so your easiest fix is to dump the extended shackles for stock lengthed ones. See if that fixes your problem then start at a 2.5 deg. shim first and work your way towards a 4. You might even invest in a front end shop seeing how far off you are and go from there. Also are you running stock steering? If so your wonder could be coming from somewhere else as I have a sr and 4" skyjackers with no wonder, but I run saginaw ps. Good luck

I am not running a shackle reversal and I have added minitruck power steering. I replaced all of the TREs at that time. It is definitely not slop in the steering. It is a caster issue. I have tried to find a local shop but no one wants to touch my truck because it is lifted. Thanks

Lifted front springs combined with longer than stock shackles effective tips your front pinion up, and changes your stock caster from +1 degree to a negative number. Take a magnetic degree/angle finder and set it on top of the 4 studs on the knuckle. (These are $10 at a hardware store - 4" dial jobbies) This location will approximate the parallel angle of the "kingpins." Stock +1 caster means the top of a verticle line thru the "kingpin" bearings is behind the verticle, towards the back of the truck.

<---front
/ positive caster (good)
<---front
\ negative caster (bad)

This won't be a terribly accurate measurement, since the best method is with the steering knuckle removed, but you should get an idea if you are close or not.

Adding a shim is easy stuff, just make sure you find steel shims, not aluminum. You can start with a 2.5 degree or 4 degree and see if that gets things steering better. Simply put, properly support the vehicle on jack stands and loosen the 4 front u-bolts. Slip the shim in thick side facing forward, to tip your pumpkin down. Retighten/torque u-bolts. Drive 100 miles and retorque again.

IIRC, shims are like $10 a pair.

Shorter or stock front shackles will also help get caster back into stock range, but you may end up with less travel.

If you were running a shackle reversal, then running longer shackles would add caster, tho you can experience other handling issues then.

John,

I'm having similar problems after doing the mini-truck PS conversion. Currently running brand new 4" skyjacker springs with the same Confer shackles you listed (1.5"). Have all new TRE's (4 OEM, draglink aftermarket) and just finished replacing all knuckle and wheel bearings. My 40 ran pretty tight with 33" x 12.50" BFG MT's before I added the mini-box.

After the conversion it steered ok with 33" x 9.50" BFG MT's on OEM wheels; but, when I ran my 16" x 35" Boggers it wandered like heck (finally found out what pucker facter means). I tightened up the mini-box (adjustment screw is currently flush with the tightening nut)? After adjustment, it steered a little better - still darted pretty bad with the Boggers on a local hwy. that sees alot of logging trucks (ruts), but a buddy behind me in a tight stock FJ40 said his was darting as well.

Will have the Boggers on this weekend and will get a chance to see if the knuckle rebuild helped any. If not, I plan to toe in the steering a hair to keep the Boggers from fighting each other - if that does'nt work - the mini-box is getting replaced.

Let me know if you find a cure.

Bill C.

Hey John,

I ran the 6 degree shim when I ran the 4" Skyjacker and it worked great.

Now I run a 4 degree shim with 3" lift.

Later,

-Stumbaugh

PS you want to sell me that Kubota tractor you have?