hello everyone, so a couple months ago I had some issues happen to my truck while launching in 4 wheel drive, it started whobbling and then hopping and caused my front drive shaft to bind up and break off the yoke on my front diff, crack my t-case and just ended up causing a lot of carnage. so I have been looking at building my front end so that crap doesn't ever happen again, I have been looking at ppe's kits and also kryptonites stage 3 kit as well. Im just curious on what everyone is using to toughen up their front ends for launching straight and on what I should go with. the only thing that is done to my front end is it has some fabtech tie rods and the front is lowered to where the cv axles are level to the ground. Need some advice on what to do so I can start putting everything back together. thanks guys I appreciate it!
LB7: built front end mods?
- Thread starter Speedster22
- Start date
Not sure how heavy duty those fabtech tie rods are, but your center link was probably rolling/twisting on you. Look at adding a straight center link, or the DHD steering brace to keep your stock link from rolling down. Rare parts tie rods would be added if it were my truck. $.02
thanks for the reply, ya I have been thinking about removing those fabtech tie rods and swapping them with some rare parts ones. Would those tie rods work with the ppe center link for example? also would it be a good idea to upgrade the pitman/idler arms with heavier duty ones or just brace the factory ones?
Thanks for the link :thumb: I may have to look into that, hes kind of got quite a bit of miles on em tho.
The Rare parts should work with any straight center link meant to run factory tie rods. I would rather run the steering brace with the stock center link in place of a straight one, based on others experience with turning radius changes and tire wear associated with them.
how bad does it affect the turning radius? Ive heard that the DHD steering brace does the same, i was told that the brace wouldn't let you turn as well as before it was put on.
your fabtech ones are plenty strong. they are the same as the big cognito ones that came out years back.
Ive had the Fabtech tierods since 2011. No issues with over a hundred 4hi launches.
The steering braces effected my turning radius a lot. I took them off in 2012 after noticing the pitman arm support was twisted and starting to crack. DHD brace would my choice. I have stock centerlink as well. My cousin has the full Kryptonite setup on his LBZ and has battled tire wear issues since putting them on. The truck will be in-spec on an aligment machine, but it wears the outside edges of tires in the front. He's going back to stock as soon as the weather breaks.
The steering braces effected my turning radius a lot. I took them off in 2012 after noticing the pitman arm support was twisted and starting to crack. DHD brace would my choice. I have stock centerlink as well. My cousin has the full Kryptonite setup on his LBZ and has battled tire wear issues since putting them on. The truck will be in-spec on an aligment machine, but it wears the outside edges of tires in the front. He's going back to stock as soon as the weather breaks.
This sounds like a suspension issue. I have the kryptonite and never had any issues with it, my current tire is about to hit the 50k mark with kryptonite steering, even my last tire lasted that long too. The only time I get outer tire wear is when I take corners like a race car or not rotating the tire. I rotate my tires every 5k.
Tires are rotated often. All suspension is in spec. Brand new shocks, lcas, ucas t bars at factory setting. Tires last maybe 30k. Outside edges are feathered, inside is fine. Wear across the tread is normal also.
Well when i launch its only around 8-10psi (stock turbo) and even when launching at 10psi it caused all the damage on my truck somehow. i just want to make sure i add the right things to the front to avoid all that from happening ever again, it caused almost 2k in damaged parts
hmm that's pretty crazy, ive never heard of people having tire issues with the kryptonite kit, most people ive talked to seem to like it and not have issues besides the turning radius problems.
I've been waiting to read about what happens when you install all the extra steering braces and when you do something else has to give when you keep the center link from rolling a bit when turned to full lock...:thumb:
The Fabtech's are some hefty units, have a pair in my garage but have not compared them to Rareparts and doubt the Rareparts are much better, price wise about a $50.00 less.
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If he does a lot of lock to lock turning, I can see it happening. You still have some increased scrub due to the steering setup but no where near as bad as a straight centerlink that uses stock tie rod style mounting. I turn a 1/2 turn back from full lock if possible and it makes all the difference in tire wear when you do a lot of full lock turning. Only when I gotta make that tight u turn or tight space do I go full lock.
No one should be expecting that kit to not have tire scrub. Only stock centerlink will cure that but still has its inherent issues
I have stock center link Kryptonite tie rods, idler arm, idler arm support and frame gusset with a PISK. Shafts and tie rods are flat and level, works great and didn't lose turning radius.