so i just picked up an '81 sr5 for $1850! one thing i noticed was that the steering wheel was pretty loose..not my cup of tea. i prefer my cars to be tight like a go cart and was wondering what i could do to make this happen? thanks
first you should check out the front end, make sure the balljoints, tie rod ends and control arm bushings are all tight and in good condition. They check the steering box make sure thats nice and tight to the frame, make sure the flex disc that goes from the steering column to the box isnt breaking. if all thats good there is a screw with a nut on it on the box, loosen the nut and tighten down the screw, should tighten up the slop.... DO THAT LAST! if you over tighten it you can lock up your box when you are driving.
My 82 handles like a go cart. 84+ suspension swap chassis tech 2 in drop spindles 24 mm bar off of a later model (think it was a v6) New balljoints (flipped) New poly bushings Sticky 16 in tires sway a way -white- torsion bars Power steering gearbox off of a 86 Original tie rods/drag link/pitman arm. My own custom alignment Crappy monroe blue shocks (JUNK!) Takes turns stupid fast, havent mesured lateral G's, but its up there... The most sport tuned 79-83 front suspension out there Just kidding.
RAff: i might just copy everything you just posted =) i want to lower the truck without having to cut the springs (ive been told it can cause long term suspension damage) will these just bolt right on to my '81 and lower it? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.aspx?category|cat_-30|373=Lowering+Parts&partfamilyid=3346
oh, and will these bolt straight on to my truck as well? http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.aspx?category|cat_-30|373=Lowering+Parts&partfamilyid=3350
The rear drop springs will work. I dont have em, I got 3 in blocks out back. I guess I could get them, but im eventually going to do a ladder bar system. There are NO drop spindles for a 79-83 truck. They are slightly different than a 84+ and will not work. Thats the whole reason I have 84+ Balljoints Upper control arms Lower control arms Bearing hardware (Im sure they are the same, but whatever) And 84+ brake stuff (or custom as is mine, LS400 rotors and calipers) Colorado winter did this. Right after I did the drop spindles. There was 1/4 of an inch between tire and firewall. I need smaller tires or tub it.
thats a sweet ride you have there but it shows me that the drop in front would be too much for me. ive got to keep it as a daily driver and like how the rear sits..its a 3 in drop in the back, ya?
Yup. Just 3 inch PepBoys blocks. The front is rock stock in this pic, but with 3 in blocks on the rear.
the gap between your rear wheel and fender is perfect! how can i get my front to match the back? ps-did the blocks affect the ride quality at all? (if you cant tell, im new to this world of mini truckin so pardon the questions..just like to learn!)
Ask away! Its your thread. A was a newb a year ago when I dropped the truck.............................And still is. Loosening the torsion bars will get you that 2-3 inches of drop your looking for. But Im gunna highly reccomend you get yourself some sway-a-way bars. (the white ones, unless you have 6 bills to burn on the reds) There was a sweet spot for the torsion bars. a little too loose, and it rode miserable. Just gotta experement. The aftermarket bars give you back the ride quality you loose when you drop it. And just so you know, a "ball joint flip" wont work on your 81 unless you swap to a later suspension. To keep you from wondering edit-The blocks didnt effect it at all, after I removed the rear snubbers. With the snubbers it (and statically touching), it rode so wierd I cant explain.
those sway-a-way bars..i could only find applications that fit '84 and newer..do they make one to fit my '81? and those rear "snubbers"..are they just the rubber bump stops?
16X7's off a MK7 Lincoln LSC. 245/55ZR16. The rear snubbers bolt to the frame just above the rear axle. Yes, bump stops. I was looking for a good while before I found the torsion bars. I dont think they are being produced, but you can find em every once in a while. Something like 120 bucks shipped, cheap!
