| Author | Message | ||
     ken nishikawa (Scubaman99) Member Username: Scubaman99 Post Number: 130 Registered: 06-2002 |
Hi All, I went wheeling in the Sierra foothills last weekend and during the course of day we ran into a patch of deep snow. The snow was so deep that we eventually had to turn around and head back due to the fact that short of having a winch drag a rig through the snow there was no way to cross the 150 foot patch of snow… In any event what was happening was as our rigs would get a few feet into the snow patch then basically get high centered on the snow. With that said…. It looks like the act of getting high centered and trying to “brute force” my way through the snow… I once again tweaked my track rod… this is the third track rod I’ve tweaked and I’m @#$%$#% tired of replacing them. The last time I bent it I looked around and it seems that there are three “heavy duty” solutions: 1. buy some kind of HEAVY duty replacement track rod 2. buy the Safarigard front end setup 3. buy a track rod and steering dampener relocation kit What's the best solution???? And who carries it?? Thanks KEN | ||
| Will Selden (Ncrcwill) New Member Username: Ncrcwill Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2004 |
Ken, I was the one to winch thru the snow pit last Sunday. I'm partial to your #2. You could also look into adding winch and front recovery points. With the condition of your rear bumper, you might try for a package deal. Looking forward to next adventure. Good Luck, Will | ||
| Clif Ashley (Cta586) Senior Member Username: Cta586 Post Number: 542 Registered: 04-2002 |
Anyway you go, you should relocate your steering stabilizer to upfront. Rockware makes a kit for that, as does RoverTym, and SG. From there, either get the SG rock guard, which sleeves your track rod, or the Rockware tie rod, which is much stronger and high clearance. Those are just my thoughts, FWIW. | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Senior Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 398 Registered: 08-2003 |
http://rovertracks.com/ is another place to get HD and offsetted tie rods. Oh yeah - and i got HD tie rods from DAP (havent seen rovetracks when was looking about), relocation kit from Rovertym (hats off!), and OME dampener from EE(hats off for John, who patiently handled me mumbling  ) | ||
| ken nishikawa (Scubaman99) Member Username: Scubaman99 Post Number: 132 Registered: 06-2002 |
Thanks clif/will i know Will's is partial to SG... "Mr. I Got Every SG Part in the catalog" =:-D but im interested in hearing from folks who either actually have, or have seen the alternatives perform in the field... anyone??? another alternative is keeping the stock setup and getting the Southdown front axle skid plate. in any event, i need to make the "right choice" cause when it comes to spending money on the Disco... i have to choose my battles wisely... or else the "boss" (AKA wife) has a tendency to get a little excited/fired up =:-| | ||
| Shane Lesteberg (Snwbord24) Member Username: Snwbord24 Post Number: 128 Registered: 01-2004 |
There ya go wheeling without me Ken. Where in the Sierra foothills did you go? I'm out near Jackson quite a bit. | ||
| ken nishikawa (Scubaman99) Member Username: Scubaman99 Post Number: 133 Registered: 06-2002 |
not to get off the subject... Hey Shane! i think the trail we took was called "the Alleghany trail". you'd have to ask MikeM as he put this trip together. here are some links to pics: http://www.mcune.com/gallery/alleghany_03-21-04 http://www.reneeanddolan.net/gallery/2004alleghenytrail On Subject... Sergei, so if im understanding you correctly... you got the HD tie rods from DAP and the relocation kit from Rovertym. how do you like them?!?!??! have they preformed well? do you wish you got some other combo? do you mind giving me a ball park on what they cost and were you able to install everything your self or did you have to have a shop install them? thx KEN | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Senior Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 399 Registered: 08-2003 |
Ken, its very easy mod. hardest part is to get old tie rods off. And to get things at least semi-aligned properly (i am still planning to go to local shop to do final alignment). You right, i god HD tie rod set from DAP-Inc for 195$ and relocation kit from Rovertym for 75$. Thing is - Rovertym stuff is designed for heavy duty rods, overwise clamp will just slide about Then John Lee from EE got me OME dampener (well actually most of events were in parallel, but anyway). Rovertym got their own HD tie rods, but i had to replace my old tie rod ends, so thats why i went with DAP - got meself greasable tie rod ends with those HD rods. Whole setup works VERY good so far. Steering feels a bit more stiff than before, but nothing scary - just enough to convince me wife to not drive Disco . I havent been on serious rocks yet (most of trails around Durango snowed yet), but those rods looks BEEFY (they are about 1.5 more thick). One mod i added is to paint them - just to be different and get any potential corrosion issues off me back. Another interesting effect of relocation - due fact that dampener is not completely horizontal now, it adds some damping effect for cleaving movements of truck (i.e when you make sudden stops and alike). |
