| Author | Message | ||
     John Friederich (Jfriedlvcmcom) New Member Username: Jfriedlvcmcom Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2003 |
Just got back from Borrego with Bill Burke - great trip & learned a lot. Mostly that a good spotter can get you places without damage that you wouldn't have imagined. The long highway drive back to Las Vegas in windy conditions was tough due to the 2" OME lift and resulting loss of caster. The truck was very squirley, and I could tell that the wife had a tough time keeping it between the lines (me too, at times) as a result of it. A few questions for folks that have added TruTrac to the front of their lifted D2 - - Does it really restore the feeling of caster? Right now, just a little steering wheel input on the highway results in a condition that requires correction - very uncomfortable, not forgiving at all. - Offroad, how does the TruTrac affect ETC? - On slippery side slopes, does the TruTrac make the D2 tend to slip downslope? Thanks for observations... John F Las Vegas, NV 2001 D2 w/ OME HD | ||
| Dave_lucas (Dave_lucas) Senior Member Username: Dave_lucas Post Number: 343 Registered: 02-2002 |
Hi John, Just added TT's to my DII last weekend, I have not had a chance to take it off road yet, but I have noticed that the DII drives better in my opinion. Ruts or uneven lanes used to send me all over the lane, the DII would just drop into the groove and go back and forth and lots of effort was required to keep it going straight, but now little to no effort is required to keep it in a straight line, I find that I am no longer constantly turning the wheel back and forth to keep in a straight line. Also the steering wheel now feels like it has some feedback similar to the way it was prior to the 3" of lift. YMMV | ||
| Keith Kreutzer (Revor) Member Username: Revor Post Number: 166 Registered: 11-2002 |
With a 3" lift the tt in the front really makes the truck want to go straight!!! Even too much so in some powered corners... All traction limiting devices tend to make the truck want to "move to the side" a bit but it is usually easy to compensate for and predictable once you get used to them... Usually they are well worth the extra traction provided. As for on the road read my last post... Keith | ||
| John Friederich (Jfriedlvcmcom) New Member Username: Jfriedlvcmcom Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2003 |
How much should I expect to pay for install locally if I just order the TT and bring it in to a diff / trans shop? John F | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 730 Registered: 08-2002 |
John, I've had a TT in the front of my DII for about 9 months now. I love it! My wife will actaully drive my rig again (not that that's a good thing though). Yes, it will self-center again. It will take a little getting used to. Before, while going through a curve I would release my grip on the wheel a bit and it would slowly straighten up. Now, if you loosen your grip at all, boom, it's going straight. Off road, it hasn't made my vehicle crab at all. The rear Detroit will occassionaly do this, but it's the culprit, not the TT. ETC works beautifully with the TT. Instead of left foot braking to engage the TT, the ETC does this for you, making it a very seamless and transparant set up. Highly reccommended. | ||
| Frank Rafka (Mongosd2) New Member Username: Mongosd2 Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2003 |
I agree with Greg, I've had TT's front and rear now for a year. No problems and awesome off-road. I've had some "crabbing" problems, but only twice and it was REALLY BAD. Cold, raining and with the trail like a stream...I needed a canoe not a rover. The other time was on the highway, on black ice, on a bridge... ETC lit up, and I started crabbing toward the edge of the road. Hit the slushy stuff on the side of the road and stopped crabbing and drove right through the ice. The Ford behind me spun out and hit the barrier wall... Frank | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 733 Registered: 08-2002 |
Frank, you get my e-mail last week? | ||
| John Friederich (Jfriedlvcmcom) New Member Username: Jfriedlvcmcom Post Number: 10 Registered: 02-2003 |
Who did the install of your TT's? I'd like an idea of installation cost - I'm already sold on the concept... Thanks, John F 2001 D2, OME HD | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 738 Registered: 08-2002 |
My friend and I did them. Don't know what it would cost. Very straight forward. Local 4x4 shop should be able to accomplish. | ||
| Frank Rafka (Mongosd2) New Member Username: Mongosd2 Post Number: 23 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hey Greg, I thought I responded...I'll drop u a line... Frank | ||
| Barry (Barry) New Member Username: Barry Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2003 |
John, I noticed having to make frequent steering adjustments at highway speed before switching to the OME HD steering strut. Has been cost effective for me... until I can swing the TT's -Barry | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 501 Registered: 03-2002 |
Local mech quoted me about 4.5hrs labor for f/r diff replacement with TT front and DL rear. If I bring him the 3rd members, he'd cut it in half. | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 153 Registered: 04-2001 |
The only downside to a TT front it is that it is hard on the power steering, pumps and boxes do not like the added force. Ron | ||
| Jaime (Blueboy) Senior Member Username: Blueboy Post Number: 587 Registered: 02-2002 |
so the design criteria for all the shit on it is that weak? Jaime | ||
| John Friederich (Jfriedlvcmcom) New Member Username: Jfriedlvcmcom Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2003 |
Ron = That is the first I've heard about the tt being hard on steering components. It was, after all, designed for use in the front of a vehicle like ours... John F | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 740 Registered: 08-2002 |
I think what Ron is saying is that since the TT will always try to keep the wheels straight, the PS box is always fighting it. | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 741 Registered: 08-2002 |
Frank, still nothing. Try me at gregd@westprovident.com. | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 155 Registered: 04-2001 |
Just experience with them. My wife's truck and a few others I know who have had them for a while have had issues with boxes and or pumps. Ron | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 743 Registered: 08-2002 |
Ron, how long is "for a while". You've got my curiosity piqued now.  | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 156 Registered: 04-2001 |
At least a year. These were all DI/RRCs. The DII stuff seems better. Ron | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 745 Registered: 08-2002 |
OK, thanks. | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 158 Registered: 04-2001 |
Just something to keep in mind when making your choice is all. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 572 Registered: 09-2002 |
Ron, how about a D1 that's already leaking oil? "nothing to lose" except for p/s fluid peter | ||
| Ron Brown (Ron) Member Username: Ron Post Number: 163 Registered: 04-2001 |
Except if the pump fails | ||
| RJ Clayton (Tozovr) Senior Member Username: Tozovr Post Number: 332 Registered: 09-2002 |
what about fitting the Old Man Emu CALR1 or CALR2 (the OME caster kits...) Do they fix the problem? RJ | ||
| John Friederich (Jfriedlvcmcom) New Member Username: Jfriedlvcmcom Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2003 |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the OMEe caster kits are available for D2... John F | ||
| Greg Davis (Gregdavis) Senior Member Username: Gregdavis Post Number: 747 Registered: 08-2002 |
John, you're correct. The DI and DII use different radius arm bushings. Besides, from what I hear they don't last long and limit articulation. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 574 Registered: 09-2002 |
Ron, it looks like a 96+ D1 has enough room there for a Saginaw pump and Saginaw 76-series steering box. Once I buy my wife something different to drive and get a hold of the disco, steering issues hopefully become a thing of the past. somehow, it amazes me - not just the Land Rover, but all others as well - have really under-rated power steering setup. peter | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 171 Registered: 03-2002 |
so greg, maybe we should put a marine run time clock on your rig... ;) we can make you the "official trutrack steering pump test bed." maybe we can even have a patch made for your jacket! mike | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 172 Registered: 03-2002 |
peter... i was wondering to myself about how really different steering parts were and how easy it would be to "upgrade" to more tuff stuff... having a DII maybe it will not matter so much, but i would rather not wait to find out. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 577 Registered: 09-2002 |
Michael, i know a guy who's designing a bracket for a Saginaw steering pump for a disco. he's been at it for a while now, so i think something beautiful will emerge, sooner or later i can't say from the top of my head, but my feeling is that the sector shaft of the rover box comes down lower than from a saginaw box. It may pose some clearance problems for the pitman arm - it is difficult to say without having two together. if i get my lazy ass off the couch this weekend, i can go down to my garage and take the measurements of both. if there's no clearance issues, i'd say a bracket between the framerail and another steering box could be welded together out of three pieces of 3/8" thick steel. peter | ||
| michael burt (Mikeyb) Member Username: Mikeyb Post Number: 173 Registered: 03-2002 |
hey peter...! thanks for the feedback! i have been going back and forth on to tru or not to tru since i am one of the DII cdl-dissadvantaged...but the steering issues are new info for me... i am begining to think i should leave rover alone and spend more time with the girlfriend, she is easier to keep running... mike | ||
| Bruce Potier (Bruce_flrc) New Member Username: Bruce_flrc Post Number: 5 Registered: 02-2003 |
Why go through all of that crap? Just get the TT installed and deal with other issues as they appear, IF they appear. I have had my TTs for 2 years in a 97 and no issues with steering components. I guess I am someone who cannot see the utility in replacing something unless I can verify certain failure of that component. To replace a pump becuase it might fail??? Install and enjoy. BTW, cost for me $250/axle with the shop doing everything. Drop the 3rd member and save yourself some money and it's really not that bad of a job to accomplish. Good luck. |
