'67-91 GM Truck/SUV Kingpin Dana 60 Crossover Steering-Chevy Dana 60-8-11" Lift
*** Installing this system requires a 2wd steering gear box***
Many trucks suffer from some serious steering problems, one of the biggest is due to poor geometry. The factory steering will fail to steer the truck when you're in twisted offroad situations. In fact, there are many times when the steering box is all the way to lock and the tires are pointed straight!
Our solution to this is a "crossover steering" system where the draglink runs side to side instead of front to back. This dramatically improves the steering geometry and makes turning to the axle stops possible under all conditions.
These crossover steering systems are designed specifically for the '67-91 GM Trucks and SUV's. Our draglinks are already cut to the correct length and directly threaded (not welded). If needed the draglink is bent to help tie rod end angle and to clear the engine/crossmember. Our draglinks use heavy wall 1020 DOM tubing and the best possible construction techniques.
We spec out specific pitman arm options depending on application.
We use the shortest tie rod ends possible (not OE draglink ends) because that can be crucial for engine crossmember clearance, often the offset bend needs to start as soon as possible. Our tie rod ends are a metal-on-metal design for the ultimate in durability, see details on that here.
Our tie rod ends are manufactured specifically for us. Factory GM draglink ends have good angle capacity, but have long shanks that can cause clearance issues. Factory GM tie rod ends are nice and short, but have very little angle capacity. Our ends are built with the best of both worlds, this is crucial in some applications (particularly 67-87 GM straight axle trucks) as many times the bend in the draglink has to start as soon as possible to clear the engine crossmember, the extra shank on draglink ends makes that impossible.
Additionally, our tie rod ends are a metal-on-metal design with a preload spring on the bearing race (sort of like the upper kingpin on a Dana 60), that helps keep the joint tight even as the parts wear. Many joints are built with a plastic race that don't hold up well, see the picture below. Additionally, the plastic ends don't appear to have a heat treat, our band saw flew right through them. Notice the appearance of the metal-on-metal end (at right), it was very difficult to cut due to the heat treat.
Our billet steel steering arms are built to match the rest of our system and can be built to use the OE spring or springless if you'd prefer. You'll notice that the ORD steering arm is cut on an angle where the tie rod end seats. This is to correct for the kingpin axis inclination angle and keep the angle on the rod end minimized for best life of the joint and more vertical wheel travel without steering bind. We've attempted crossover steering systems using arms that aren't built with the angled end and the rod end was maxed out at ride height with no droop available at all. This is an essential feature for a properly built fully functional system.
A set of true ARP studs tie the steering arm to the knuckle, substantially stronger than grade 8 hardware!
Long story short, our crossover steering kits are NOT generic at all. They are a matched system that will bolt right on and get your truck steering lock to lock!
‘67-‘91 (straight axle body style only) Chevy’s will need to have a 2wd GM steering box in order to use the crossover steering conversion.
The year breaks for steering boxes are:
‘67-‘76 (flare fitting, 36 spline input)
‘77-‘79 (flare fitting, 30 spline input)
‘80-‘91 (o-ring, 30 spline input, applies to old body style straight axle trucks)
As long as you get a 2wd box from a truck in your vehicle’s year group, it should be a 100% bolt on installation.
Kit Contains:
Pitman Arm (This is the arm attached to the steering box shaft)
Steering Arm (These are the arms that attache to the steering knuckle on the axle, All right hand steering arms will have 2 holes so they can be upgraded to our High Steer conversion later if necessary. All D60 arms are also drilled with the extra bolt hole to bolt on Reid Racing HD knuckles or factory GM, Ford and Dodge D60 knuckles.)
ARP Stud Kit (Set of 4 ARP High Strength, 190,000+ psi studs)
Draglink (This is the link that ties the pitman arm and steering arm together. We sell the tube threaded on each end with the ends installed)
Tie Rod Ends (1 LH, 1 RH with jam nuts and castle nuts. These are a new HD end with angle capability similar to a GM draglink end but with the short strong shank of a tie rod end.
Our tie rod ends are manufactured specifically for us. Factory GM draglink ends have good angle capacity, but have long shanks that can cause clearance issues. Factory GM tie rod ends are nice and short, but have very little angle capacity. Our ends are built with the best of both worlds, this is crucial in many applications (particularly 67-87 GM straight axle trucks) as many times the bend in the draglink has to start as soon as possible to clear the engine crossmember, the extra shank on draglink ends makes that impossible.
Additionally, our tie rod ends are a metal-on-metal design with a preload spring on the bearing race (sort of like the upper kingpin on a Dana 60), that helps keep the joint tight even as the parts wear.)
