I have a socket set and a little mechanical expierence.:eek:

Can i install these? I took them to a local shop and they said that they want $150 to install them and have to also do a 70 dollar alighment.
FCensored k that! can i do it my self? and how? thanks:help:

these SD tie rod sleeves look strong :ro)

yes you can, it is an easy job, no allinment if done correctly, just make sure to mark up a thread so you can go to the right spot after, follow his instructions, much easyier than you think, give it a try

Unless they are $150/hr for labor, and your alignment is bad already, you are being scammed.

It takes longer to jack the truck up, set up jack stands, and take the tires off than to install the sleeves.

That is my next mod.....

Do the Cognito braces while you have it up in the air. Might save you $300 in the long run if you race or off-road.

We did mine and a buddys truck in 45 minutes.

Do the Cognito braces while you have it up in the air. Might save you $300 in the long run if you race or off-road.

Is that what you where showing us at your house the other day?

What exactly are Cognito braces??? I need to get some SD tie rod sleeves soon...

---Ben

The centerlink SD sales acomplishes what the cognito kit does and more. Do it and the sleeves. I did it, and I am a moron. Just stick after it -- it's gonna take some time.

can someone give me step by step instructions, my Sleeves didnt come with any instructions. They are very beefy though

Iv got a set that I am going to put on this weekend, I am going to jack the truck up, and jamb the tie rod up against the top joint , mark the tie rod and end along the length for referance, and lossen the upper nut at the knuckle,put a slight paint mark on the threads for later referance, then count how many turns you back off the end joint, be very diligent about accuracy, and do not let the rod spin use a wrench to stop it , install the sleeve on the tie rod and turn it past the paint mark, put the end back on the exact turns you took it off, make sure you oriantate the original mark along the tie rod and tie rod end so they lign up where it originally was, snug the sleeve up to the end ,holding a wrench on the tie rod DO NOT TIGHTEN ALL THE WAY, put the knuckle bolt back together and tighten, know do a final adjustment with your hash marks and the tie rods jambed back up as when you started , tighten the sleeve against the end holding both, the end with a wrench and the tie rod with a wrench keeping the marks aligned

Iv got a set that I am going to put on this weekend, I am going to jack the truck up, and jamb the tie rod up against the top joint , mark the tie rod and end along the length for referance, and lossen the upper nut at the knuckle,put a slight paint mark on the threads for later referance, then count how many turns you back off the end joint, be very diligent about accuracy, and do not let the rod spin use a wrench to stop it , install the sleeve on the tie rod and turn it past the paint mark, put the end back on the exact turns you took it off, make sure you oriantate the original mark along the tie rod and tie rod end so they lign up where it originally was, snug the sleeve up to the end ,holding a wrench on the tie rod DO NOT TIGHTEN ALL THE WAY, put the knuckle bolt back together and tighten, know do a final adjustment with your hash marks and the tie rods jambed back up as when you started , tighten the sleeve against the end holding both, the end with a wrench and the tie rod with a wrench keeping the marks aligned

did mine almost exactly like this except one thing....i too marked my tie rods with paint and was not dilligent about counting turns. once the sleeves were on i noticed that theyd virtually erased my paint marks and i had a time and a half trying to get it realigned correctly. a buddy of mine at les schwab hooked it up and made everything happy though. my reccomendation:
instead of paint or chalk, use a hacksaw and with one or two passes, just slightly score the rod between threads, this is sure to last and wont rub off like the paint or chalk

I used a hacksaw blade and made a slight scratch on the thread to mark them. This was per Superdiesel's instructions I got about a year ago.

What exactly are Cognito braces???
---Ben

:iamwithst

I got the sleeves, now i want to beef up the front end. Does the Cognito leveling kit come with the Cognito braces? Do the Cognito braces make the turning radius larger like the SD center link does? Does Kennedy's kit compare to these? How does this stuff work?:help: I don't know much about the IFS and how it works, but need to learn!!

--Bob

I dont think that the cognito braces make the turning radius any bigger, they are the same as the kennedy braces.

Anyone know if the SD center link would be a better option than the cognito braces?

Is that what you where showing us at your house the other day?

Yup.

They reduce centerlink rotation by grabbing the Pittman and Idler arm ball joint pins. Centerlink rotation is what wears out the Pittman and Idler arms, and causes toe-in when dragracing or sledpulling.

I need your guys help... Ive had my T-Bars cranked and running 285's for probably 6 months and have put maybe 10k on this setup. Havent really dont any offroading or sledpulling. Is my stock steering system okay?

Iv got a set that I am going to put on this weekend, I am going to jack the truck up, and jamb the tie rod up against the top joint , mark the tie rod and end along the length for referance, and lossen the upper nut at the knuckle,put a slight paint mark on the threads for later referance, then count how many turns you back off the end joint, be very diligent about accuracy, and do not let the rod spin use a wrench to stop it , install the sleeve on the tie rod and turn it past the paint mark, put the end back on the exact turns you took it off, make sure you oriantate the original mark along the tie rod and tie rod end so they lign up where it originally was, snug the sleeve up to the end ,holding a wrench on the tie rod DO NOT TIGHTEN ALL THE WAY, put the knuckle bolt back together and tighten, know do a final adjustment with your hash marks and the tie rods jambed back up as when you started , tighten the sleeve against the end holding both, the end with a wrench and the tie rod with a wrench keeping the marks aligned

Is the stock jam nut still utilized? Or does it go in the spare parts droor in the tool box when finished? I would like to see some pics of SD's installed, I saw a pic of tomacs but his were homemade, he still had the jam nut on his.

Here are a couple pics of mine. IRCC the directions said you could leave off the nuts, but I reinstalled them anyway.

Thanks TurboTug

Not sure why he said to remove the front tires. I left my truck on the ground and took off the tie-rods with no problem. Maby its because I have cranked green keys?

Are there any specialty tools that are required to do the sleeve install? I heard that you need some type of tool to remove the tie-rod end.

comes off with a big socket. Taking the tires off gives you a bit more room. Its an easy install

Thanks Philip, I'll have to check it out tonight.

Philip, I looked last night, and I don't really understand what you mean by big socket. I know the nut on top must be removed, but I can't get the end to come out of the steering knuckle. What's the best way to remove it? It seemed like it needed pressed out or something? I'm probably just retarded and am missing something.:banghead:

Whack it with a hammer;) be careful not to beat the ever living piss outa it and mushroom things so you cant get the nut back on. Mine didnt take too much "convincing" your results may very and require furthur "finessing"

Well, I tried giving it a few "little taps" that didn't budge it. I'll try to be more persuasive tonight. I just didn't want to F anything up. I'm taking no prisoners this time! :joke:

Would it help keep it from mushrooming with a piece of brass over it?

Try whacking the nut first, just keep a watchfull eye and if it starts to get boogered switch to plan B. Get a bigger hammer! lol jk

there are other methods but you should be fine with just whacking it a few times.

Will do, my tie-rods better watch the Censored out, its go time.:ninja: :horsey:
Thanks Philip.

Wack on the front of knuckle itsef not the nut or the ball joint threads. It might take a few serious wacks but it will vibrate out.

Each of mine only took one good hit. I would not be to afraid of F'ing it up, they are pretty stout! If messing up the threads scares you don't remove the nut comletely, just loosen it a couple of turns. This will let you tell when the joint is loose, and if you mushroom the end the bad part can be cut off. Love taps anywhere (joint or knuckle) will not get the job done, JUST HIT IT!!

Thanks everyone. Didn't get a chance to try install last night. Hopefully tonight.

I whacked it once with the 3lb sledge. No problem.

Just as I was cleaning up my Yamaha Rhino, ATV thing, I noticed that it had bigger diameter Tie Rod Sleeves then my HD turning 37's. I better look into them sleeves lol

Havent gotten there yet, but I need to decide if these are right for me or if i need to look at the Heim joint bulletproof setup? What do you guys think? Will the sleeves be stout enough for 37s and some towing??