Bump Steer - Description/Solutions

[Tad]

I am doing a 3 1/2" to 4" lift to my '70 Wagoneer and keep seeing the term "Bump Steer". I lifted the front of my '51 willy's about 3" and never experienced any problems. What are we talking about in terms of feel, vibration etc. - I am clueless!!!

[River Beast]

Try to visualize this:

the angle of the draglink to the main tierod....if it is severe you will get bump steer.... here is a pic to use as an illustration:
http://home.earthlink.net/~riverbeast/steering_files/image004.jpg
(this is why I went to high steering conversion... it's a drastic pic, but makes my point)

If you were off-roading, you held the steering wheel straight, now you encounter a front right wheel drop.... with the angle of the draglink... still holding your wheel center, the forced droop of the right wheel will cause your rig to actually turn left....then you have the opposite.... if your right wheel gets tucked up into the wheel well... your rig will turn right... understand?

As the suspension travels up and down, your rig will acutally be turning all by itself in the above illustration due to the angle of the draglink... thus causing a loss of control....

I hope this helps you out.... the closer to parallel your draglink is to your main tierod, the less bump steer you will experience.

4" lifts are normally the point where you add a 4" drop pitman arm... 3" lifts you can get away with no mods and still be tolerable...

[ January 13, 2002: Message edited by: River Beast ]

[Tad]

Todd,
Thank you, I get it now. That was great you posted the pic. I'll just have to see where the lift actually comes in and take a look at the angle.
Anybody make a drop pitman arm for a '70 Wagoneer? :cool:

[River Beast]

No problem...always glad to help... ;)