LML Centerlinks

[coker6365]

If you have an extended cab or reg cab LML, odds are very high that you have an isolated centerlink. Do yourself a favor and find a salvageyard centerlink out of a crew cab LML to do away with the rubber isolator and firm up the steering/launches. I paid $80 each for the last 2 I bought with good tierods.

The large eye pictured below for the pitman arm is a rubber isolator that will have quite a bit of slack after some use. The isolator pictured has 160k miles on it and is severely worn. It is designed to cusion the bump steer, etc. and does a good job at it. IMO, even when going to cognito braces with that style centerlink, it will still have play in the centerlink but it will prevent it from rolling on launches for the most part. The DHD brace will not work at all with it.

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[IOWA LLY]

Good info! I wonder why they felt only the shorter wheel base trucks needed the isolater?


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[Novak]

Why would you need an isolator to begin with? Please school me!


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[2004LB7]

^^ 2x

 

[Chevy1925]

someone just needs to lathe out a steel insert to replace the bushing and off ya go

 

[coker6365]

Good info! I wonder why they felt only the shorter wheel base trucks needed the isolater?


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No clue, pretty silly IMO not to be uniform across the board.

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[coker6365]

Why would you need an isolator to begin with? Please school me!


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It is purely a damper for the steering. Much less feedback and bump steer with the isolator than the solid centerlink. Great concept for the average daily driver but no so much on the performance side when doing boosted launches, sled pulling, etc. It does create a bit of "false" slack in the steering as it wears but it's not bad at all.

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[coker6365]

someone just needs to lathe out a steel insert to replace the bushing and off ya go

I agree, that would definitely work if it's a pressed in fit. Otherwise, it would eventually wear and create slack again since the ID on the centerlink is not a perfectly smooth surface.

At $80 for a used centerlink and good tierods to simply swap in, it's hard to justify pulling one off and pressing in a new bushing. But it would be a good option if the price is cheap enough for those that do not have a convenient salvage yard to rob parts.

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[Novak]

It is purely a damper for the steering. Much less feedback and bump steer with the isolator than the solid centerlink. Great concept for the average daily driver but no so much on the performance side when doing boosted launches, sled pulling, etc. It does create a bit of "false" slack in the steering as it wears but it's not bad at all.

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Thank you! Seems kinda dangerous to rely on a sleeve and rubber bushing off your pitman.


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[coker6365]

Thank you! Seems kinda dangerous to rely on a sleeve and rubber bushing off your pitman.


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It's is pretty failsafe the way it's designed. The rubber bushing is flanged larger than the opening and the outer washer is larger than the opening, so it only has about a 1/4" of rubber isolation. Even if it wears out, it won't fall out. It simply gets slack in the steering. My reg cab LML has 190k miles and it has less slack than my extended cab did with 160k miles. Just the nature of the beast and how they are driven.

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[Novak]

It's is pretty failsafe the way it's designed. The rubber bushing is flanged larger than the opening and the outer washer is larger than the opening, so it only has about a 1/4" of rubber isolation. Even if it wears out, it won't fall out. It simply gets slack in the steering. My reg cab LML has 190k miles and it has less slack than my extended cab did with 160k miles. Just the nature of the beast and how they are driven.

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I'm picking up what you're laying down