Replace Front End Parts...

August 21, 2008

Alright with 128,000 miles my front end is pretty "loose"

i can turn my steering wheel about 1/20 of a full turn (a good jiggle side to side about 2-3 inches)so that means what? pitman arm?

i am also thinking about cranking my t-bars 1/2" more so i am going to replace the front shocks too right away... i did the back ones right away since the bushings fell out of the old ones..

it just sucks cause since its so loose going down the highway the truck moves on its own and wont stay in a straight line.. looks like im drunk or something...

and when i replace the pitman arm should i get an alignment right away? i need one of those after the t-bar crank... will they be able to adjust with a t-bar crank? they couldnt on my old truck.. but putting the ball joints on the bottom of the control arm fixed that.. will i have to do that on this truck?

August 21, 2008

and is a pitman arm something I can replace? or should i leave somebody else do it?

2000DV4.8 · August 21, 2008

They will be able to adjust for the torsion crank as long as you don't go much over an inch and a half over stock height. The amount of crank on your old truck was absolutely INSANE, that's why you had alignment issues.

And the looseness could be anywhere in the front end. Check the pitman arm, idler arm, inner and outer tie rods, etc. for play. I'd get the alignment right away just to be safe, don't want to wear out the tires prematurely.

August 21, 2008

i will replace parts as i get money prolly... and when im all done ill get an alignment...

1. Shocks

2. Pitman

3. Tie Rod Ends

3. Idler ( i heard these are stronger than the 88-95 )

August 21, 2008

with the add-a - leafs and a torsion key lift i would be nice to have it drive striaght down the road...

because after that stuffs done im buying a 3" body lift and 33" tires it will look like my old truck but an extended cab

tobias · August 21, 2008

with the add-a - leafs and a torsion key lift i would be nice to have it drive striaght down the road...

because after that stuffs done im buying a 3" body lift and 33" tires it will look like my old truck but an extended cab

NO! Put the wrenches down and step away from the vehicle!!!

Dude, your truck is perfect right now, don't go and Riggs it all up like the last one. Seriously, it looks great, maybe some new wheels but NO LIFTING!

August 21, 2008

yea maybe idk....

i guess i could just do the 1.5" ADD - A - Leaf and then crank thr front up about another 1/2" inch... (front sits 1/4" higher right now)

that should give it a pretty good stance.. i do really want to get rims too though..

since my rims are only 7" wide putting a stock offset 8" wide rim makes my tiers look wider too so that would be kinda nice...

2000DV4.8 · August 21, 2008

I agree with Daddy, don't do the BL on your truck. The GMT400s just show WAY too much frame when they have a BL. I'd hold off on the AAL and torsion crank too, new wheels might give you the stance you're looking for. The further you crank, the rougher the truck will ride, and I know you hated that about your old truck. The torsion bars are just meant to be a small adjustment, not a cheap lift.

August 21, 2008

well i already bought the add - a - leaf...

plus i really could use the extra load capacity (would really come in handy for hauling the 4 wheeler) and the little clearance it gives...

and the front is far from fully cranked.. so i was just going to give it a "little" more so it wouldnt have a outrageous rake...

August 21, 2008

Its a Fabtech Soft Ride Add - A - Leaf

1.5" Of Lift.... hoping to be a little less....

so yea... that shouldnt look too bad its only an extra inch and a half.. there a few people i know that left there stock wheels on with a 3 " body lift (one kid here put a 4.5" body lift on (4 hockey pucks and left his stock wheels on) and this will be like half that and show no frame so it should be alright..

im guessing the 1.5" of lift is with ideal conditions with no leaf spring sag...

my friends 98 z71 sits 3/4" lower than mine so my leafs are pretty good compared to his

2000DV4.8 · August 21, 2008

Just because there's a lot of bolt showing, doesn't necessarily mean you have more room to crank, but I have no idea what your front end geometry looks like.

Do you think you could take and post some pictures of your CV angles?

2000DV4.8 · August 21, 2008

Its a Fabtech Soft Ride Add - A - Leaf

1.5" Of Lift.... hoping to be a little less....

so yea... that shouldnt look too bad its only an extra inch and a half.. there a few people i know that left there stock wheels on with a 3 " body lift (one kid here put a 4.5" body lift on (4 hockey pucks and left his stock wheels on) and this will be like half that and show no frame so it should be alright..

im guessing the 1.5" of lift is with ideal conditions with no leaf spring sag...

my friends 98 z71 sits 3/4" lower than mine so my leafs are pretty good compared to his

Please never ride in hockey-puck kid's truck. That is one of the most unsafe things you can do to a truck. Hockey pucks aren't meant to hold up to that kind of stress/pressure, nor are they meant to withstand the elements. If they chunk apart in a hockey game, I'd hate to see what they do as body mounts.

August 21, 2008

but i havent cranked it that far... and i dont plan on going that much more... the truck rides pretty good..

How Are These?

2000DV4.8 · August 21, 2008

Haha damn dude, that was quick, I was expecting pictures tomorrow or something.

And those look good. You should be able to crank about another quarter to a half inch (no more than that though) without any trouble. Go for it, just don't go crazy like you did with your old truck.

Ok, time to watch women's beach volleyball. Oh guess what, it's raining there, and they're wearing white.