So my d-max ate its steering box

[InDaShop]

Yep, it finally lunched it yesterday.

After years of abuse and slop my Duramax finally killed the steering box. Anyone who knows me knows that my truck eats steering components like a fat kid eats donuts. Tierods, Pitmans, Idlers, and finally the box.
About 2 years ago in Kansas I had a loose issue with it and lots of slop in the wheel so I tightened the preload on it and fixed it right up.......well fixed it for 2 more years. Its routinely gotten worse and finally I had about 6 inches of play in the wheel. I was used to it, but it made me look like a drunk behind the wheel, even though I was sober. Literally, line to line, and sometimes over.
A few weeks ago the wife drove it and literally came right back and was like "i'm not driving that death trap."
Yesterday, I was almost home and I was all over the road. So I called it done.

Its sitting in the driveway waiting for me to get home and put a new box on it.
Guess how much a new one from the dealer is? $499 + tax.

Oh heres a super old pic with the Blacksheep on it before we rolled to Cass.

Anywho, this will be the last lifted IFS truck I ever own.

 

[P]

Dood that sucks, but really.... Im glad your fixing it before YOU DIE or kill someone.

 

[Bones]

Love that truck! Would hate to maintain it though if it's that bad. I would have to agree, no more lifted IFS trucks for ya, especially a heavy ass diesel.

I'd go full hydro

 

[Cole]

I know how you feel, It wont be long before I have to replace everything in the front of mine.
This hasn't helped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrgToLQg7lI

 

[InDaShop]

What you no like driving with a handicap? A little bit of a challenge?

Truth is I should have replaced it 2 years ago, but I didn't have the dough to spend on it then, so bandaided it and went on. Now its been needing it, but I just dropped my nuts on a buggy.

Fuggin' money going out the do' like the house is on fire.

 

[BamaTJ]

Join the club, gotta put a radiator in mine

 

[InDaShop]

I know how you feel, It wont be long before I have to replace everything in the front of mine.
This hasn't helped.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrgToLQg7lI

Is that you breaking you TRE?

I did snap one when I was driving on the beach in South Padre years ago.
Long read but the chronicles are here.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249649

The TRE's are week as ****.
I think I'm going to upgrade them to the Cognito heim kit that they've got out now.

The Cognito tie rod adjuster tubes are made from 1" diameter DOM steel tubing. These replace the factory adjusters which neck down to about ½" at the threads. The factory unit is notorious for bending where the threads meet the outer tie rod. Another weak spot on the factory assembly is the inner ball and socket, which is also replaced with the Cognito unit. We use rod ends that have a ¾" shank and body, but with a 5/8" hole for the mounting points. The rod ends are Teflon lined.
$360

Then upgrade the idler pivot for $200

I think you can certainly beef the IFS steering these days, but the Cognito stuff is all very very new and recent.

 

[Cole]

I currently have the Cognito Braces, and Tie Rod sleeves. The next thing I do is put a HP 60 with some 12" coilovers.

 

[InDaShop]

Holy Crap, two nights later and my **** is TIGHTER than some Virg'ina.

I dont think my truck steered this tight from the factory. It's actually weird as hell, but super nice.