Leaf springs & crossover steering ?

[yossarian19]

So, I'm going to be running a leaf spring front end with no panhard rod / track bar. Think "YJ" suspension or, in reality, a '57 chevy truck.
I know that when you run a track bar you want to keep it parallel to the drag link and as close in length as you can.
If you eliminate the track bar, you eliminate the side-side movement through the track bar's arc on compression (though, through bushing flex & side loads, you may still get side-side motion of the axle)
Without the track bar, is there anything special to do with drag link design / angles to reduce bump steer? Or does it cease to matter?
I'm swapping beam axles to a WJ setup under the truck but not using coil springs. The original equipment does not include a track bar, so though I may add one some day, I'm not planning on it right now.
Just throw the axle under there, measure for caster, weld perches on & attach steering? Or is there anything else to be careful about setting up?

 

[RumbleGoat]

The angle still matters. you want it to be as flat as possible. Meaning that there should be very little angle between the pivot points

 

[ktm racer 419]

the flatter and longer the drag link the better.

I run a leaf sprung front end now (not in an xj) with a perfectly flat angle, as long as it could have been. I still hate how the steering feels, I blame the leaf springs for most of it, and the tall sidewalls for the rest of it. Everything else is new and tight.

Leaves a lot to be desired offroad too coming from a linked front end.

 

[yossarian19]

It's a 2wd project. My goal is to turn this '57 truck from my girlfriend's family into a more reliable highway friendly work truck. If it handles *too* badly, it will get a panhard rod or even lower profile tires. As it is... leaf springs are already there and the 235/75/15s are fresh, so they stay until proven inadequate.

Thanks for the input on drag links. Pretty much what I expected. Glad to know I'm not missing anythign critical about it.

 

[ktm racer 419]

It's a 2wd project. My goal is to turn this '57 truck from my girlfriend's family into a more reliable highway friendly work truck. If it handles *too* badly, it will get a panhard rod or even lower profile tires. As it is... leaf springs are already there and the 235/75/15s are fresh, so they stay until proven inadequate.

Thanks for the input on drag links. Pretty much what I expected. Glad to know I'm not missing anythign critical about it.

ahh, figured it was an xj considering the section you put it in.

yup, just a long and flat drag link.

im sure it will handle just fine (for a 57' truck) without a panhard.

 

[GordoSmasho]

What about hydro assist. I know a few guy that have done it in yjs and say it makes a world of difference.

 

[ktm racer 419]

What about hydro assist. I know a few guy that have done it in yjs and say it makes a world of difference.

good for big tires in the rocks, but with 29" tires on a street driven rig, It certainly isnt worth the time and money.

 

[Oxen__]

What about hydro assist. I know a few guy that have done it in yjs and say it makes a world of difference.

im looking to go this route. i clicked the link because i was curious to see some xj stuff lol