Just curious about this. I am going to do the upgrade, but more than likely it will be next summer. Can I go til then on 33s w/ just the idler arm brace? If this prooves to be a big issue, I will have to re-evaluate my plans.

you might also be worried about the 33s rubbing. but if you get em, along with the SL, your steering wont last long. You can do it without, but you might want to have the money set aside for when it goes.

skaggs

A 2" BL is more than likely going to go on before or shortly after the 33s to prevent the rubbing. I was just hoping that if I took it easy and used some finesse I could get by til next summer.

Yea right. Once you get those 33 and a BL, the first thing you are going to do is hit the trail.

What component of the steering is the weak point? Could I get the HD adjusters for the time being? Or is there a beefier tie rod end avail?

The beefer tierods will help from bending your stock ones on a rock crawl, stock rods maybe fine for the street, otherwise the centerlink is the weakest. Even the stock idler arm can snap when offroading. The Calmini SS kit covers it all, you just have to put up with weak bushings is the down fall.

I looked at the TC kit. I may go that route if I have to spend the $.

Bikesdestroy from RMXC has been wheeling with his for a few months now. He did add a brace for the idler arm.

Also he did just bend the TieRoad last week.

i am running 33x10.5 15R BFG M/Ts with a 3" BL and no steering upgrades at all. I had to trim the front fenders and the inside of the bumper jsut a little bit. No problems other than that.

Get offroad w/ that setup and you'll soon look like this..

Do you think that upgrading to the heavy duty adjusters would have prevented this?

98% sure Only one pair ever known to fail I'm aware of..

DBAX

Thanks for the info. I guess I will wait on the BL and just get some of the HD adjusters from AC. Hopefully I can still scrape the $ up to get the BL before fall. I just want to get phase one done.

I'll buy sliders then I'm done, I swear! Until I pay it off then...I buy the steering system, control arms, add a leafs, longer shocks and a rear bumper with the tire carrier.

The thing to watch if you do this is your center link.

THAT is what will wear out and wear out quickly with the setup you're talking about (bending tierods while offroad aside)

So, maybe 32s would be a better option. I really wanted to keep from buying tires again in 6mos to a year. There is no way I can get the $ together for the steering system. The BL is only viable, because I have free labor to install it. Maybe I can nurse the stock stuff along til next summer. I think that I may try to get the HD adjusters and maybe some of the McQuay tie rod ends. Probably will just buy a spare center link just in case.

I take it your current 31's must be bald then, or no?

Why not wait until you have the money for tires and upgrades. That is, of course if your tires will last that long...

Otherwise, you got a tough decision on your hands..

Get a set of skidplates, front to rear....

That's how the money would be best spent. I wished I had a set of full skids instead of some of the other stuff on my truck. But that is soon to be corrected!!

I currently run 32" BFG AT's with the PML.... I don't see why one couldn't step up to a 33x10.50 with just a 3" SL. I think a lot of the rubbing issues come with the 12.5" wide tire. But I could be wrong. I guess I'll find out on my next set of tires!

Not any more.



Axle

I've been running 35's with no aftermarket steering or linkage for about three years with no problem, and I don't know why its been holding together but i'm not upgrading until I have too... It freaks the guys out in my club...

Dave check the frame where the nut, from your tierod, passes by it. do you have metal on metal marks?

He doesnt have metal to metal contact yet. We cant figure out how he hasnt toasted the steering yet.

I wanted to run 33's, but I just couldn't fit them without serious rubbing; spent three hours at Discount Tires with a Jeeper that worked there. All we could do was go with new rims, and 32x12.5 (MudTerrains) which stick out a little on the sides. They also rubbed, but very minor work w/ a grinder took care of that.

I use my skid plates almost every time I go wheeling. Until I can SAS and get the clearence, I will vow that the skids and sliders I run have saved my truck from some very serious damage (I am also not very good at wheeling yet). Invest in the skids first, they may do the same for you.

You could do the BL anyway...its prep for your eventual upgrade path, and not an expensive/difficult mod.

The steering upgrade is a great idea, but you could coast on it for quite a while based upon what others in our club have survived.

I run 33x12.5's with a 2" BL, and I have no upper well rub at all...I do kiss the inner frame (At the frame rail area, not the well) with the rear tires when the opposite tire is fully drooped...but not enough to even damage the lift lips....so the 12.5" section width is OK (On stock rims).