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Steering issue

70 RR

Well-Known Member
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Location
Brunswick, Ohio
My 70 Roadrunner has an issue with its steering. The center link is not parallel to the ground, the passenger side makes contact with the bottom of the oil pan. Has anyone ever encountered this problem? I'm wondering if maybe the front end of the car got hit at one point and has thrown off the geometry? I have tried replacing the K member but no luck. Any thoughts? 1013140922.jpg1013140923.jpg1013140924.jpgdriver side.jpgpass side.jpg
 
Heres mine during assembly. Yours looks like the same hook up, Maybe dryheat is right.

IMG_1118.jpg
 
I thought about turning it 180, I'll look further into that. Thanks, I'll update you tomorrow.
 
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The center link might be bent , if not pitman and idler arms are wrong

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After looking again, I think the center link needs to be turned 180 degrees.
 
I replaced the original idler arm when l got the car. Just recently, l upgraded the front end with a PST kit.
 
def an idler problem.look at the tierod to control arm clearance in your 4th and 5th pics.
 
Yes l agree, the zert fitting on the tie rod actually hits the torsion bar! I need an idler arm with at least .75 more drop. PST tells me the idler they sent me is correct. The car had this problem when l got it, I have replaced the entire front end including K frame, what next?

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It's not uncommon for the Idler arm bracket to be welded on the K-frame incorrectly. Idler arm from 68-72 B-Body, 70-74 E-body are all the same. I had the problem years ago. A old Mopar dealer mechanic told me to heat the bracket and it would bend easily. He was right, never had another issue. That was in 1985, I still have the car.
Doug
 
Thanks Doug, l was giving that some thought. Did you have any problems with the holes on the K member lining up? How much did you have to bend it and did you bend it on the car?
 
PST sent me an email to tell me that the idler arm from a 73-74 Roadrunner has about an inch more drop than a 70 Roadrunner idler. Does anyone think this might solve my problem?
 
PST sent me an email to tell me that the idler arm from a 73-74 Roadrunner has about an inch more drop than a 70 Roadrunner idler. Does anyone think this might solve my problem?

By your photos, that's what it looks like you need...another inch (That's what she said!) Bending the mount or replacing the arm are your options. Which do you feel more comfortable trying is the question only you can answer, as it's your car. Will bending it put too much angle on the pitman arm, binding the joint at the center link, or will it be okay? Good luck either way, and don't forget to close out this post with what you did, 70 RR.
 
I will post for sure and you're right about the link. I'm going to compare the two idler arms and then go from there. I'll post photos of the extra inch! LOL
 
First, your center link is on correctly, so that can't be it. I agree with what others have said: It must be the idler arm OR the mounting.

I included a picture of my 1970 Road Runner K-Member. I'm not sure how much this will help, but it can't hurt...

Good Luck

IMG_2547.jpg
 
Had the exact same thing happen to me after upgrading with the PST kit and the solid tie rod sleeves, turns out one of the previous owners bottom'ed out the car so hard it bent the welded on bracket to the steering arm and raised it up, never noticed it until we put on the bigger tie rod ends on then it was obvious, we had to cut one of the sides of the bracket off & re weld it in place and add in some gussets for extra support so it would not bend again. all good now. Was confusing at first then it all made sense, unfortunately after that you find other bent parts on the k member :(


d7ad1d83-0cd6-4a7f-b14d-a5a86c162759.jpg



186f1685-8fdc-46de-b527-3bfe51ef157a.jpg
 
I see what you mean, I originally thought my K member was bent so I bought a reconditioned K off a guy locally with the same result. The car had power steering when I got it and decided to go with a flaming river manual steering box. When I installed the new box, the pitman arm was too big! I came to realize, the guy I bought the car from used a later model PS unit and I had to get a smaller pitman arm. I figured if he did that, who knows what else he may have cobbled together? I'm trying an idler arm from a 73-74 that has a little more drop, I'll keep you posted...

Just in case you guys are curious, here is my car. Check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=866081593404214&set=vb.100000071435223&type=2&theater
 
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OK, l installed an idler arm made to fit a 73-74 Roadrunner and although it's not perfectly horizontal, it did give me about 3/4" clearance between the center link and oil pan. If l have to bend the mount a bit so be it.1017141156a.jpg
 
Thanks Doug, l was giving that some thought. Did you have any problems with the holes on the K member lining up? How much did you have to bend it and did you bend it on the car?
I bent it on the car . Had no problems with the holes lining up. DO NOT BEND the arm. I tried that first. Because the bracket was incorrect the arm swung in an arc, closer to the ground on right turns, closer to the pan on left turns. I heated the K-frame and pulled the bracket into position with the arm still attached. It was actually very easy, took about 10 minutes total.
Doug
 
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