Drives like brand new again!!!
#1
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Drives like brand new again!!!
Ok, so I had my truck driving absolutly awful. It was so bad and I didn't even realize it till I drove my dad's Duramax after having a lift kit put on it for him. I got back in mine and about crashed it!
Ok, so the list of mods I did are...
1. Replaced "Y" style steering with "T" style steering, all MOOG parts. Stock steering had about 75k on it.
2. Replaced track bar with MOOG trackbar at about 60k.
3. Installed Marv's Steering Stabilizer Bracket. (was easy and definately made a difference, drilled out the holes to the proper bolt size, NO PROBLEM!)
4. Installed a Rancho steering stablilizer shock.
5. Had it aligned by a somewhat reputable shop.
Ok, so here is where I got frustrated. The steering still felt bad. It didn't track well at all and the steering had no "self centering" so I was constantly correcting to keep it staright down the road. The alignment shop did'nt know what the problem is but I had a pretty good idea. They had maxed out the caster adjustment and I still had the caster in red. The reason for that is I had 7.5" of lift with control arms to accomodate 5.5" of lift, making the lower control arms too short.
6. Built a custom Long Arm Kit using factory style bushings and Super Flex Joints.
7. Re-adjusted the caster.
Truck drives INCREDIBLE!!!!
I am sooo happy with it I can't even describe how happy I am! It literally drives like brand new. It is sitting on 7.5" of lift and I towed my Jeep (7k with trailer) to NV at some pretty high speeds in NV and it has never felt so stable! I unhooked the trailer and drove down hwy 80 and just cruised along doing 100mph and it felt like about 70. I let go of the steering wheel for about 10 seconds and it tracked perfect!
I am posting this cause when I was frustrated about how my truck drove, I couldn't find hope here but I refused to give up. I have WAY too much into this truck to give up.
There is hope guys, do what I did and you WILL be happy!
I'll post pictures later today!
Smoke on!
Ok, so the list of mods I did are...
1. Replaced "Y" style steering with "T" style steering, all MOOG parts. Stock steering had about 75k on it.
2. Replaced track bar with MOOG trackbar at about 60k.
3. Installed Marv's Steering Stabilizer Bracket. (was easy and definately made a difference, drilled out the holes to the proper bolt size, NO PROBLEM!)
4. Installed a Rancho steering stablilizer shock.
5. Had it aligned by a somewhat reputable shop.
Ok, so here is where I got frustrated. The steering still felt bad. It didn't track well at all and the steering had no "self centering" so I was constantly correcting to keep it staright down the road. The alignment shop did'nt know what the problem is but I had a pretty good idea. They had maxed out the caster adjustment and I still had the caster in red. The reason for that is I had 7.5" of lift with control arms to accomodate 5.5" of lift, making the lower control arms too short.
6. Built a custom Long Arm Kit using factory style bushings and Super Flex Joints.
7. Re-adjusted the caster.
Truck drives INCREDIBLE!!!!
I am sooo happy with it I can't even describe how happy I am! It literally drives like brand new. It is sitting on 7.5" of lift and I towed my Jeep (7k with trailer) to NV at some pretty high speeds in NV and it has never felt so stable! I unhooked the trailer and drove down hwy 80 and just cruised along doing 100mph and it felt like about 70. I let go of the steering wheel for about 10 seconds and it tracked perfect!
I am posting this cause when I was frustrated about how my truck drove, I couldn't find hope here but I refused to give up. I have WAY too much into this truck to give up.
There is hope guys, do what I did and you WILL be happy!
I'll post pictures later today!
Smoke on!
#6
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Originally posted by Mcmopar
Can you please explain number "1" and "6" from above??
Can you please explain number "1" and "6" from above??
6. Long arm kit
The lift made my lower control arm too short for enough caster adjustment and also the link was way too steep so when i hit bumps, it was a jolt. Now the lower control arm is a lot longer (so is the upper) and the angle is nice and the adjustment was set to have more caster in the front end.
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Originally posted by Cowhand
How much did it cost you to do all of that?
How much did it cost you to do all of that?
Alot cheaper than selling the truck cause I hated driving it
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I built it. I plan to start producing it after I have beat on it for a while to make sure there are no kinks I made it fully bolt on and fool-proof.
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LCA frame mounts need to be bigger....I'll see if I can find the pics of the DT radius arm mounts I put on. (4) 1/2" bolts on the outboard side, (3) 3/8" into the bottom of the frame rails, and (2) 1/2" bolts into the tranny crossmember.
That might be a little more beef than you need for just picking up the LCA's, but that is where most of the road force is transmitted to the frame.
I really like how you used the RE joints on one end and bushings at the other...that'll cut vibration way down. IIRC, you used rubber bushings on the frame end? I would suggest a nylon/poly hybrid bushing on that end and maybe a delrin bushing in the RE joint....
That might be a little more beef than you need for just picking up the LCA's, but that is where most of the road force is transmitted to the frame.
I really like how you used the RE joints on one end and bushings at the other...that'll cut vibration way down. IIRC, you used rubber bushings on the frame end? I would suggest a nylon/poly hybrid bushing on that end and maybe a delrin bushing in the RE joint....
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