Steering linkages fouling against each other

[RockHopper]

Ok story so far. After consulting with a few of the Zook guru's on this forum I decided to move my front diff forward 22mm to rectify a scrubbing problem I was having with my 31's on offset rims. Problem rectified, and the zook drives a treat, but I noticed today while I was fitting up some Bunning flares that the steering linkages foul with each other at some stage as the scrape marks on the linkages and the torn boot leaking grease out on my rod end indicate. Just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this problem and what can you do to rectify the problem.

[dank]

THere's not many booty fab fixes for this issue. I looked at using a shorter pitman arm from a vitara to increase the angle at the steering linkage point but this causes other issues and vitaras have different spline count. I think there is enough thread on the captive bolt to space out the steering arm a little. Some peope here have done this Mod.

I have not tried it myself and in no way suggest that this may be a good or a bad thing to do. if you want solid advice, take it to an engineer.

[zook4fun]

22mm should be no problem. make sure your wheels a point strate and jump under the car. have a look at your arm from the steering box to the links that is where it will hit if you have gone to far forward other wise the problem is some where else

maybe you have a lose u bolt or the links are bent a bit.

[slyvan1]

i had similar problem, i moved my diff forward 1 inch, linkages hit really badly. i moved my diff back 1/2 inch and that fixed steering hitting. then i hit inner guard back.

[RockHopper]

Going to extend my bumpstops this week as the wheels go too far up into the gaurds. Have a funny feeling that the linkages only rub on flex, so I'll see if that makes a differance. It's also booked in for a wheel alignment on Saturday, and will let them look at it.

[greg]

the drag link and tie rod will foul each other if you have the diff moved forward (i.e. RUF)... The solution is to move the steering box forward. We did this on my car at the same time as the chassis extension and vitara power steer conversion.

i guess this is another example of any mod in the front end being a compromise for some other funtion down there.

Note: moving the steering box forward will put it all over the front body mount so you will probably end up having to fab up another one of those too...

[lay80n]

With a 2 inch bump stop extension you should not have contact issues with the joint at the end of the pitman arm contacting the tie-rod on uptravel. We run 2 inch bump stop spacers in my brothers ute with RUF and there is no evidence of contact.

Layto....

[RockHopper]

With a 2 inch bump stop extension you should not have contact issues with the joint at the end of the pitman arm contacting the tie-rod on uptravel. We run 2 inch bump stop spacers in my brothers ute with RUF and there is no evidence of contact.

Layto....

I got underneath it this arvo and jacked up the drivers front wheel with my garage jack and a block of wood for extra height and sure enough it does contact on up travel. I got some nice thick scrap box section from work to make up some bumpstop spacers but when I got it home and measured it thought it might be a bit too big at 2 1/2". Next time I go into the workshop I'll hunt around for something a bit smaller

@ Greg, I did think about moving the steering box, but as you already mentioned I thought that would lead to something else, then something else, etc, etc.