Craig- I think it's Calmini steering time...

Well, it looks as if I'm next for the steering system. I'm getting a clunk and can feel it, when I trun the wheel too much.

I'm assuming that my centerlink is probably shot??

If so I can squeeze it into my budget next week. Is there anything else that needs to be purchased? (besides your expertise?)

What about ball joints?

Both of them that I've installed, we replaced both tie rod assemblies. The concern is, if you put in new steering components with the old tie rod ends, you may still feel a little slop.

We can certainly try it without, but you'll need an alignment and then if you decide to change out the tie rod ends later, you'll need another alignment.

Scottsdale Nissan was $100 per side.
ABC Nissan matched Xterraparts.com at $90 per side but they did point out that Xterraparts would charge shipping and they didn't. That was also the reason for Scottsdale Nissan not to come all the way down to match them. :rolleyes:

Let me know when you would like to do it. I'll need to borrow the 4 to 1 multiplier from Marcus again.

p.s. We can check your balljoints when you come over, but they're not part of your steering.

I paid 81 at ABC for the stock tie rod. Hmmmm.

Calmini's doesn't come with a beefier tie rod?

What about SLR?

Never mind they only come with the adjuster on both sets.

Steering system...tie rod assemblies...alignments...

The Xterra takes much more money than any girlfriend

Was that for a "tie rod" or "tie rod assembly?

The price I listed was for 2 tie rods ( a left and right hand thread) and the adjuster. It's cheaper to buy a whole assembly than 2 tie rod ends individually.

One complete assembly. Of course I used my N4W discount. I have it in my spare parts bag if you wanna inspect it.

We may have to use that magic little card a bit more if I have to buy 2 sets!

For the alignment, I went to Firestone. They will do a lifetime alignment for about $150. With as much as we beat up the front end, I thougt it was worth getting the lifetime alignment. The guy told me I could bring it in as many times as I wanted. He said, if you go 4-wheeling over the weekend, come in on Monday and we'll do the alignment.

So far I havn't felt any pulling since my alignment, but when I swap the torsion bars and get new tires, I'll have them align it again.

Nice thing about Firestone, is there national, so if you move, you're still covered!

Andy

Thanks Andy- I'll probably do that.

Craig is the tie rod assembly mandatory? Or would it be such a pain to get back in there if they should still have some play.

If there is play, will that ruin something? Because I can get by with a little play (hell, I've had it over a year now)

Just wanted to get your thoughts about not spending all the $$ at once.

Tie Rods are so easy, even I can do them. Ask Mud, he, Rat and Jim did one on the trail in the freezing sleet during AZ Run III.

Brrrrrrrrr.

Nope, not mandatory. Several XOC'ers have used their old tie rod ends. It's not a problem to change them out in the future (with the proper tools) it only takes about a half hour to do both of them.

Shouldn't hurt anything, worse case scenario is you break a tie rod end on the trail. If you have another one with you and the right tools you can change it out in the dirt. But this is no bigger of a risk than you've been running with, or any of us for that matter. I haven't heard of tie rods breaking so I wouldn't worry about it. You probably won't even notice if they're worn since your overall steering will be soo much tighter than what you are used to.

To sum it up, skip it, lets get the new center link and adjusters in there so you can wheel.

Sounds good- I'm going to try and have it so we could do it next weekend if that works for you.

Thanks for the awesome info!

The 4 to 1 multiplier is ready when you are, just let me know. Let me know if you need any machining, as long as it is a small job I can do it at work.

Marcus

Hmmm- 4 to 1 multplier