Who said anything about about positive caster? Y'know the front wheels on a shopping cart ... how they lean with the bottoms farther back than the tops? What do they want to do? They want to center up as you push the cart forward ... they are known as casters. Are we beginning to see a connection here? Pull the lower control arms all the way back ... AKA ... max caster.

 

The book says to use Mopar PS Fluid and NOT ATF. I've been using ATF for a long time, since I swithced my pitman arm seal.

I got a leak at the top of my steering box (dunno if you can blame it on the ATF) but it was nothing s bottle of Lucas PS Stop Leak didn't fix.

I think they say to use Mopar brand just so they get more $$$, you know how that is.

 

Ever tried to push a shopping cart really fast? then the wheels start to wobble.
Anyone ever heard of a power steering fluid called "Dunk"? Its the only one I could find here in norway at a reasonalble price, mopar fluid is impossible to find. Some say use valvoline syntetich fluid, but it costs over 30 bucks a quarter!! How much fluid to I need? Iplan to empty the system totally incl cooler.
Torbjor

 

Does "pulling the lower control arms all the way back" move the lower ball joint back?

 

Yea, when you pull the lower control arms back, they will pull the lower end of the axle back incl lower ball joints

 

Moving the lower ball joint toward the back of the truck in relation to the upper ball joint (BJ) minimizes castor.
Looking at the RIGHT FRONT spindle:

minimum castor UBJ
|
LBJ

maximum castor UBJ
\
LBJ

 

So maximum caster means pulling the lower ball joints closer to the front of the veichle, thats exactly how I put mine. The truck steers straight when I let go of the steering wheel on the highway, but when I turn all the way over, either left or right, the truck doesnt straighten up, it just stays at maximum turn going round and round until I must use the same amount of power to pull it back as I did turning it. I'll have a check for tight ball joints or u joints maybe, but the truck doesnt pull when Im at the highway (or at least driving above 40 mph, the highways here in norway really suck!)

 

While trying to stop my truck from wandering on the road, I tightened the steering box too tight and got the same situation as you have with the truck not self straightening after turning a corner. I had to loosen the adjusting screw on the top of the steering box until the truck would self straighten after turning a corner.
Also, too much toe-in will reduce self straightening.

 

You guys do what you want ... I'm out. There is no way your wheels will self-center with the way you've got it set.

 

I have looked at other trucks now, including my 84 chevy K20 and they all have the lower ball joint closer to the front of the veichle than the upper ball joint. What Ive been told, its the weight of the veichle that pushes down on the ball joints and in that way make them straighten up. Just take a look at a bike, they have the same thing. The concept of the shopping cart is probably good, but try pushing it really fast, and the wheels starts to wobble alot, that wouldnt be cool in a truck at all.
Btw, changed my power steering fluid today, found Mopar oil at the local dodge dealer, and believe it or not, it was acctually cheaper than buying PSF at a auto parts store.
It helpedsome too on the self straightening, so now its actually starting to be driveable
Gess I'll have an alignment done and get the toe in checked, it might be the reason it doesnt self center after a full turn