TOY: steering ratios and such

[Randy Burleson <randii@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>By shortening the knuckle arm you increase the leverage the tire
>has against the rest of the steering system which could lead to
>increased kick-back at the steering wheel and faster wear of
>all the components affected.
I'm thinking minimal shortening... I see your point on wear, but I dunno if 
I see your point on control-kickback, since I'm considering lengthening the 
Pitman arm at the same time.

> > The reason I ask is that my truck steering gets less sharp at full droop on
> > the passenger side... I can't turn quite as tightly as I can when 
> full-drooping
> > the driver's side.
>Are the steering stops set the same ?
Yeah -- and this is cross-over.

>You should have more left turn potential than you will have
>right turn potential at full right droop.
Yep... but if you want to turn right at that point, this is a fairly 
significant issue. I think that providing a bit more steerable arc in the 
control linkage will take up this space. Basically, I'd be on the steering 
stops at full lock in every situation, as opposed to my current state, 
where in (admittedly only this single instance) I'm constrained by the arc 
of the steering box and control linkage, and not the steering stop.

>What is the angle of the drag link at rest on level ground.
Within 10 degrees of level.

>How long is it compared to the track width ?
Similar to Toyotas -- probably about 2/3-3/4 the length of the tie bar.

Randii
Randy Burleson
Managing Editor
4x4Wire, the Outdoor Recreation Network (ORN)
http://www.4x4wire.com