TheBac
06-10-2007, 09:56 AM
117,000 miles on the truck. My plan all along was to add Cognito's braces (thanks Kat and Pat!) and Super Diesel's tie rod sleeves (awesome product!) just to tighten up the steering, but also so I could "race the truck". Had to get the UPS slogan in there somewhere. :lol: The steering was sloppy, but IMO it was nothing to raise any immediate red flags. It wasnt unsafe by any means. I just figured I may need either the idler or pittman.
That is, I thought that until I get the truck on Eric's lift yesterday.....:eek::eek::eek:
This is what we had to replace:
1 new Idler arm and idler support
1 new pittman arm (what a total B**** to R&R!!!!!!!!)
1 new outer tie rod
Total from Eric's website: $355 :eek: I guess if I amotize the parts cost over another 117,000 miles, its not all that bad, but dang....
Install:
Install went about as well as I can do.
Sleeves are a piece of cake to install. COUNT YOUR TURNS!
Idler was relatively easy for me. 2 bolts and the ball stud.
Pittman was a WHOLE 'nother story. Eric finally came over and gave me a hand, as I was struggling. Lets just not talk about it.....
Some tips I got from Eric on installing the braces: Install both idler and pittman at the same time, as you have to have the center link loose to fit everything. Keep everything loose until all the parts are put together, and then tighten everything in backwards order to the frame from the Heim joints to the brackets to the idler/pittman mounts.
Tack on another $80 (or buying dinner and beers for Glenn a couple times) for the alignment that had to be done afterward, too. This was one thing I really did need to do anyways, as its been two years since I bought the truck.
Didnt have any abnormal tire wear yet, but I had noticed when looking at my truck in the driveway that the tires cambered (?) like this -- \ - \ -- instead of this -- \ - / -- when viewing from the front. I thought I was just seeing things, until Glenn got the truck on the machine and confirmed it. BTW, if you want a first-class alignment from an outstanding Tech, call Eric and get Glenn's phone number in Allendale MI!
No lie -- 30 minutes from drive up to drive off, with me asking questions the whole time. Very very professional, and extremely knowledgable!
Also, I'll say it again -- if you live in the Houston area, DO NOT go to Gay Chevrolet in Dickenson Texas for ANY service work. They have idiots working in their service dept. This truck was serviced there by the previous owner, and I have found more screwed-up service work done by them than I care to admit to. Its cost a lot to fix their errors.
My impressions:
WOW! Tighter, responsive steering. Is this what I'd been missing? You can tell the braces are there, thats for sure. The alignment was spot-on, and the truck doesn't wander at all. Tracks straight and true! Freeway driving was actually fun, as I didnt have to constantly correct, and when making lane changes, the truck responded positively to steering input with no "laggy" feel.
I HIGHLY recommend people install the Cognito kit on their trucks. You definitely get your money's worth out of those braces, both in better steering response and (hopefully) longer steering part life!
That is, I thought that until I get the truck on Eric's lift yesterday.....:eek::eek::eek:
This is what we had to replace:
1 new Idler arm and idler support
1 new pittman arm (what a total B**** to R&R!!!!!!!!)
1 new outer tie rod
Total from Eric's website: $355 :eek: I guess if I amotize the parts cost over another 117,000 miles, its not all that bad, but dang....
Install:
Install went about as well as I can do.
Sleeves are a piece of cake to install. COUNT YOUR TURNS!
Idler was relatively easy for me. 2 bolts and the ball stud.
Pittman was a WHOLE 'nother story. Eric finally came over and gave me a hand, as I was struggling. Lets just not talk about it.....
Some tips I got from Eric on installing the braces: Install both idler and pittman at the same time, as you have to have the center link loose to fit everything. Keep everything loose until all the parts are put together, and then tighten everything in backwards order to the frame from the Heim joints to the brackets to the idler/pittman mounts.
Tack on another $80 (or buying dinner and beers for Glenn a couple times) for the alignment that had to be done afterward, too. This was one thing I really did need to do anyways, as its been two years since I bought the truck.
Didnt have any abnormal tire wear yet, but I had noticed when looking at my truck in the driveway that the tires cambered (?) like this -- \ - \ -- instead of this -- \ - / -- when viewing from the front. I thought I was just seeing things, until Glenn got the truck on the machine and confirmed it. BTW, if you want a first-class alignment from an outstanding Tech, call Eric and get Glenn's phone number in Allendale MI!
No lie -- 30 minutes from drive up to drive off, with me asking questions the whole time. Very very professional, and extremely knowledgable!
Also, I'll say it again -- if you live in the Houston area, DO NOT go to Gay Chevrolet in Dickenson Texas for ANY service work. They have idiots working in their service dept. This truck was serviced there by the previous owner, and I have found more screwed-up service work done by them than I care to admit to. Its cost a lot to fix their errors.
My impressions:
WOW! Tighter, responsive steering. Is this what I'd been missing? You can tell the braces are there, thats for sure. The alignment was spot-on, and the truck doesn't wander at all. Tracks straight and true! Freeway driving was actually fun, as I didnt have to constantly correct, and when making lane changes, the truck responded positively to steering input with no "laggy" feel.
I HIGHLY recommend people install the Cognito kit on their trucks. You definitely get your money's worth out of those braces, both in better steering response and (hopefully) longer steering part life!