Cross over steering

[03 tx pwr stroke]

I'm confused. I've been told that if I lift my truck 8" or more I have to get cross over steering and then I've been told that 8" and less I don't. So which is it?

 

[03 tx pwr stroke]

Anyone?

 

[Betarocker]

Over 8". Equal to or less, you can use regular knuckle.

 

[Cobra 19 & 54]

I'd ask notstock about it. He manufactures a kit and has some preference on this.

 

[BK39]

More than 8".

I ran an 8" kit on my truck for years without crossover steering. Worked fine.

 

[JAP]

I ran 9" on mine for years with no issues, but no doubt that crossover steering would have made turning much easier.

 

[Layson]

It is a HUGE upgrade. My truck with 12" of lift with 40's and crossover steering steered 10x better than my truck on 6" of lift with 37's and no crossover.

Trust me it is worth every penny. That change in geometry is huge. I bet on a 6" lifted truck it would steer as good as stock.

 

[Layson]

I think Truck Toyz recommends it for anyone above 8"-9". Minimum lift is 6" to run it.

 

[BK39]

It is a HUGE upgrade. My truck with 12" of lift with 40's and crossover steering steered 10x better than my truck on 6" of lift with 37's and no crossover.

Trust me it is worth every penny. That change in geometry is huge. I bet on a 6" lifted truck it would steer as good as stock.

When you say it made it 10x better.....what do you mean? What was 10x better? I'm not being smart, I'm honestly asking, since I never had it, I don't know. Does it make it turn easier?

 

[Layson]

yes, it is that much easier to turn the wheel! Worthy upgrade!

 

[03 tx pwr stroke]

Also, since I plan on running 15.5" wide tiers, would hydraulic steering assist be recommended?

 

[Layson]

What size of tires are you going to run? Also how high are you going?

For an 8" on 38's I would probably not go with hydro assist. You could get away without having crossover. But if you did crossover steering I wouldn't worry about hydro assist.

 

[03 tx pwr stroke]

My plan is to go up 8" and I want to run 38x15.50x20 or 22's.

 

[Layson]

My plan is to go up 8" and I want to run 38x15.50x20 or 22's.

I probably wouldn't mess with hydro assist for that height. I would put your lift on and if it steers real ****ty then I would spend the money on crossover steering. Then try that and go from there.

 

[JAP]

:whs: Great advice right there. With that same setup +1", I definitely would have liked to have cross-over steering or hydro assist, but it's definitely livable without.

 

[03 tx pwr stroke]

OK. Thanks for the advice fellas.

 

[NotStock]

I mostly agree with what's been said. Assuming the truck is an 03 as you have listed in your sig, you would not be able to run a crossover setup on anything lower than 8". Not 6" as layson has mentioned. Even some 8" kits have clearance concerns. That being said, a hydraulic assist kit will likely be needed in order for you to turn while stopped. A crossover kit will help slightly with that but nothing in comparison with the difference a ram assist will have. The main improvement you will notice with a crossover kit will be while driving. The '05+ trucks steering setups are different and the height at which a crossover is needed is much higher than the earlier trucks.

 

[03 tx pwr stroke]

I mostly agree with what's been said. Assuming the truck is an 03 as you have listed in your sig, you would not be able to run a crossover setup on anything lower than 8". Not 6" as layson has mentioned. Even some 8" kits have clearance concerns. That being said, a hydraulic assist kit will likely be needed in order for you to turn while stopped. A crossover kit will help slightly with that but nothing in comparison with the difference a ram assist will have. The main improvement you will notice with a crossover kit will be while driving. The '05+ trucks steering setups are different and the height at which a crossover is needed is much higher than the earlier trucks.

Yes sir, the truck is an 03. So you're saying 8" I DO need the crossover steering?

 

[davey99ps]

My buddy has hydro assist on his 06 cummins with 40s, its expensive but a nice upgrade. Im also pretty sure notstock was saying that you need to have at least 8" to even be able to run crossover any lower an you'll have clearance issues

 

[Layson]

Yes sir, the truck is an 03. So you're saying 8" I DO need the crossover steering?

Run it with the standard knuckle first. See how you like it and if you don't change it out.


I still stand by my statement before. I would change steering geometry first before I messed with hydro assist. That change in geometry would make a big difference in how easily you can turn the wheel. Less stress on all the steering components. That is just my personal experience. At a stop on my old 12" lift on 40's I could turn the wheel easier than I could running my 6" lift and 37's. It is all about proper geometry.


Now I am running 14" of lift, a smaller pitman arm, 38's, and honestly I don't really even need hyro assist. Even though I have it. The truck steers unbelievable with or without it. The main reason I have it is if that extra insurance, so if something happens I will still be able to steer the truck. Several guys have had their pitman arms shear off. Typically this happens in a parking lot, but still I don't want to be that guy. Hydro assist does help relieve stress on steering components.


But, once you start going into the realm of hydro assist you will soon realize that it isn't as great as everyone says it is. First of all it is expensive. If you can't port your box than you will be paying 200+$, than you have 100+$ in fittings and lines, a $200 dollar ram, how much in your mount could be $10 or $500? LOL, than when you install it your stock pump will most likely crap out but that is only like 70$, than if you don't get the ram stops set up properly you can mess up your axle LOL, then if you are curious like me and look into the pump while your truck is running, you figure out that you are going to need a reservoir since that pump isn't going to be happy for long. But you never know what kind of pump you have it could be good or bad?? If you have a ****ty pump and turn hard out into traffic and you can't pull your wheel back to center, then you will know what I mean... LOL. Then to top it off the entire system also affects your brakes. To really do it right, you need the $600 pump/reservoir setup from PSC. Unless you know how to do that yourself.


So I am just saying, swapping out to a high steer knuckle, maybe a different pitman arm, and drag link isn't a big deal. To me I noticed the largest difference in steering by improving the steering geometry. Not by adding hydro assit.


Just so I am on the same page, I have seen the high steer knuckle on 6" lifted truck. So who knows what he is running to make it work.