I'll let you in on a little secret: right now, this truck is running and driving. Over the last six build installments, I've tried to stay parallel with the theme of each magazine issue, showing the work Off Road Evolution has done to this '94 Dodge Ram that corresponds to what we're concentrating on in OFF-ROAD each month. Since this month is a steering special, I'm showing off all the steering work that Off Road Evolution did on Jinxy. We went with overkill size parts, but stayed with a tried-and-true simple crossover steering setup for absolute reliability while this truck is on off-road trips. Yes, I definitely pondered adding a quick ratio steering box, a hydraulic assist ram, and a double crossover and bellcrank setup. But in the end Off Road Evolution added some massive FK rod ends to a standard draglink and tie rod crossover steering setup that we knew would work out great for this truck.
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 We finally got the front axle...  We finally got the front axle entirely built and under Jinxy (after the story installment two issues ago when we didn't yet have a ring and pinion). It was time to start on the steering. We also held off on making the track bar until now because it's proper alignment with the draglink is crucial to suspension function. If proper geometry is not achieved, a vehicle can have horrible bumpsteer. |  Off Road Evolution built a...  Off Road Evolution built a track bar from scratch instead of modifying our old one. They used 1.5-inch diameter .120-wall DOM tubing with a urethane bushing on one end and a 5/8-inch FK rod end with built in misalignment spacers on the axle end..... |  .....We ended up keeping the...  .....We ended up keeping the original DT Products track bar mount at the frame since it was such a robust unit and didn't get in the way of anything else that was built. |
 Once the track bar was built...  Once the track bar was built and hung from the frame on the driver's side, Off Road Evolution made sure to measure for proper clearance during suspension oscillation. |  At full stuff (at least where...  At full stuff (at least where full stuff is with the hydraulic bumpstops welded in place), the track bar is basically parallel with the axle, and there are no clearance issues. |  The last time the steering...  The last time the steering was built on this truck, the fabricator added material to the forged knuckle and heat treated it after. The extended arm on the knuckle took the tie rod in the hole closest to the housing tubes, while the outer hole accepted the draglink. This had taken stress off the steering box and made it easier to turn, but slowed down the steering quite a bit and diminished the turning radius.Off Road Evolution cut this addition off the knuckle, as we'll use one 5/8-inch bolt through the knuckle, with the draglink on top and tie rod on the bottom. |
 The finished track bar axle...  The finished track bar axle bracket came out looking excellently, using 3/16-inch plate to build the structure.... |  ......It was very important...  ......It was very important to properly place this to keep the track bar the same length and as parallel as possible to the steering draglink from the steering box to the axle's knuckle. |  Since I have been known for...  Since I have been known for occasionally "overusing" anything I touch, I ordered these big 1-inch FK steel spherical bearing rod ends (AKA Heim joints) with a 7/8-inch hole in the ball. They were massive units, but they'd still fit in the parameters of this axle and suspension and I knew they'd survive any of my potential incidents. |
 FK Bearing also had tubing...  FK Bearing also had tubing ends and jam nuts available. Off Road Evolution welded the tubing ends in and made both a tie rod and draglink using these parts. |  As we mentioned earlier, the...  As we mentioned earlier, the draglink will be above the knuckle, and the tie rod will join in below. We got some misalignment spacers from McKenzie's Performance Products to allow the suspension to move without binding the steering. We used tall misalignment spacers on the top [draglink]and short misalignment spacers on the bottom [tie rod]. No, we didn't need misalignments on the tie rod since it would always be parallel with the axle, but we still needed the reduction from the 7/8-inch hole in the FK rod ends down to the 5/8-inch size of the bolt we used for the draglink and tie rod. |  Off Road Evolution went back...  Off Road Evolution went back and made the draglink mounts at the knuckle and pitman arm double sheer for strength purposes...... |
 .....Since both the knuckle...  .....Since both the knuckle and the pitman arm are forged units, we felt safe doing so. |  Notice the slight bend in...  Notice the slight bend in the draglink near the knuckle? Ideally, a straight draglink is always preferred, but we had clearance issues with the track bar mount at full turn, so a slight bend was put in the bar. We went with such an overkill-sized steering system that a little bend is perfectly acceptable...... |  ......Please take note how...  ......Please take note how the draglink and track bar are basically parallel. They are also the same length. Both factors are very important to minimize bumpsteer, but through experience we've learned that having the links parallel is more important than having equal lengths. |
 Check in next month to see...  Check in next month to see a running and driving Jinxy! | | |