Crossover Steering kit.. Anyone use one?

[DesertBen44]

So Since the girlfriend is now driving my maxima fulltime, I am now driving the Extended cab longbed fulltime
This is all good except for the fact that driving through downtown Tucson is quite difficult in this rig. Horrible steering! (cant imagine what its like in the 4 door longbeds!!)
Guy at work mentioned installing a crossover steering kit on this 84 f350 and it making a huge difference.
After hearing that I jumped on it, looking for a kit for the truck. Have had no luck
Granted his truck is jacked up so high its completely useless as a working vehicle (Think its on 48s? 52s? I dont know)

I have seen kits that say for trucks with 10-12 inches of lift, does anyone know if there are kits for stock height or slightly lifted idi's?
Did a search of the forum going back to 2010 and didn't find any threads with crossover steering in the title.
Wondering if there is any legitimacy to his claim, and if anyone knows a kit that is available.
Love driving the diesel but Tucson is a city of U turns... and they make me cry in this thing


And since no thread is any good without pics; here are some pictures of the scab style patch repair I did on my passenger side cab corner.

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Should have taken pics of the rust damage before, but I'm not that smart.



Yes it probably lowers my resale value but I never plan on selling this truck, I think it looks cool, and I did not have access to a welder to weld in the new piece of skin.
At least it gives you guys something to look at while reading the post.

Thanks in advance!

 

[riotwarrior]

What front dif do you have? If a solid axle then cross over is perhaps possible, otherwise your outta luck.

Oh kewl repair job btw...

 

[DesertBen44]

Damn.. I have the dana 50. So the idea of crossover steering is null and void for me? Is this yet ANOTHER possible reason for a solid axle swap before lifting it? hmm

 

[DesertBen44]

and thanks haha. Yeah there just cherry-max rivets, didn't see any way to get a bucking bar involved.

 

[rjjp]

and thanks haha. Yeah there just cherry-max rivets, didn't see any way to get a bucking bar involved.

Why didn't you go with the countersunk head?

Dana 60s in these trucks came with crossover, a TTB would do some funky **** with it.

The Dana 60 can out turn the TTB as long as you have the F350 pitman arm.

 

[DesertBen44]

Hmm.. sounds like the d60 is the way to go.

I wanted the patch to look like a tank patch and stick out so I went with the protruding heads, plus no bucking bar could fit on those top ones if I went countersunk. Figure this thing is a brick anyways a few rivet heads isnt going to change that

Guess i need to keep my eyes out for a whole d60 front end with all the steering suspension and everything, probably be the easiest way to swap it.
Do you know how big a difference in turning the crossover makes? worth all this trouble?

 

[fx4wannabe]

Crossover won't make that big of a difference on a near stock rig. Not to mention you have to have at least a 4" lift for everything to clear. I talked to the guys from Sky Manufacturing about it for my truck and they told me I would be better off buying good quality stock steering components. What steering issues are you having? I had a TTB truck once upon a time and it steered horrible as well but it was also slap wore out. My F350 steers great. Making sure that your bushings are good and tie rods, ball joints, etc. would be my first step if I were you.

 

[DesertBen44]

Mostly i was hoping to improve the turning radius. Steering isnt too sloppy or loose, just impossible to handle the Tucson Uturns around U of A.
I realize it is because of the Long wheel base, Just have been in dodge pickups (late 90s) that are teh same length and seem to steer way better. Was hoping there could be aftermarket support to improve this. Will have to check my steering components like you suggested.

 

[bobracing]

...Dana 60s in these trucks came with crossover, a TTB would do some funky **** with it...

X2 on the stock crossover.
But when you get the solid axle, your going to probably want hi-steer with that much lift. This will move the steering point from middle of the knuckle to the top. Lots of info in a search.

 

[Coyote_Red]

TTB cross over DOES exists,. The truck pictured probably has 16-22" of travel in the front and about that in the rear. This is common in the desert racing scene some times called swing set or ******* steering.

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[fx4wannabe]

Part of the reason that the newer trucks have a better turn radius is the switch to coil springs. With leafs the tire can only turn so far until it rubs on the leaf. So if its turning radius you want and you aren't afraid to drop a little cash, I would look into swapping in an axle from an 05 or newer. Going to require extensive fabrication but could be done. Other than that not much you can do for better turn radius that I know of.

 

[DesertBen44]

Yeah, coil springs are nice. Came across a small company that makes a little kit to make the swap to a 05+ front axle less painful. Emailed him well see what he has to say. If its not too high that could be worth doing, as I dont ever plan on ditching this truck for an 05+.

 

[gonecrazyi]

that's my plan. I already have the axles, just no time.

I just put crossover steering on my 91 w350 dodge and it made a night and day difference. Especially with 6 inches of lift.

 

[riotwarrior]

TTB cross over DOES exists,. The truck pictured probably has 16-22" of travel in the front and about that in the rear. This is common in the desert racing scene some times called swing set or ******* steering.

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Though similar a it is not a TRUE cross over steering which the D60's do not have wither they use a semi cross over....the tie rod does not go the the RIGHT hand knuckle and then a drag link from the R knuckle to the L knuckle...that would be a true cross over...having the tie rod cross down to the drag link is an inverted T style IIRC and dodge used an inverted Y which IIRC is what the TTB use...

Two completely independent tie rods are what makes a true cross over...

Now maybe your confusing cross over and HI steer ????

Take a lookee here and see for your self what I mean

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Steering/Steering_Research/steeringresearch.htm

 

[DesertBen44]

Gonecrazy thats your plan as in your going to do the axle swap with the 05+ for the coils? Have you researched how much fab work it takes? I havent got that far yet.