OK, had the lift done on Wednesday and have been working out the kinks. We went with the 6" Fabtech lift with the steering kit. If the guys at Fabtech aren't BS'n me it's one of three steering kits installed so far. They have one and there is one other besides mine. It added new Tierod ends (sp) which are about 3x bigger than the old ones, new pitman arm and the steering stabilizer. It's pretty tight so we're working out getting it to loosen up. The ride quality has not changed and I think is even better. The height is not an issue. If you're running stock tires than I think the height would be a little too dramatic. It doesn't make usability difficult so Stacy I think you should do it! Visibility is great! I can see over everyone again! The only issue we're dealing with now is the steering kit. The parts in the kit are so much beefier that steering has become too responsive! It's actually a little bit scary at freeway speed. Schwab Corporate has actually sent a rep to Fabtach to talk to them about fine tuning the steering to get it resolved.
All in all I love it and the guys at Schwab have been fantastic! Now I think I may need to get a little bigger tire.


Before, next to our Ford (38's w/9" lift) for comparison.

OK, had the lift done on Wednesday and have been working out the kinks. We went with the 6" Fabtech lift with the steering kit. If the guys at Fabtech aren't BS'n me it's one of three steering kits installed so far. They have one and there is one other besides mine. It added new Tierod ends (sp) which are about 3x bigger than the old ones, new pitman arm and the steering stabilizer. It's pretty tight so we're working out getting it to loosen up. The ride quality has not changed and I think is even better. The height is not an issue. If you're running stock tires than I think the height would be a little too dramatic. It doesn't make usability difficult so Stacy I think you should do it! Visibility is great! I can see over everyone again! The only issue we're dealing with now is the steering kit. The parts in the kit are so much beefier that steering has become too responsive! It's actually a little bit scary at freeway speed. Schwab Corporate has actually sent a rep to Fabtach to talk to them about fine tuning the steering to get it resolved.
All in all I love it and the guys at Schwab have been fantastic! Now I think I may need to get a little bigger tire.


Before, next to our Ford (38's w/9" lift) for comparison.

After .

.

another view

Another

Another.

Last one. I'll post more of the underside later.

Here's the old tierods as compared to the new. The steering kit is a phenomenal upgrade in beefing up the front end, however I don't recommend installation until they have resolved the issues we're having with the steering.

Wow -- what an upgrade! Looks great!

Looks great. What size tire/wheel are you running right now?

Doc, I'm running 37x13.50x20 Toyo MT's. I think that I could go to 38's pretty easily and probably will at some point. My husband is pushing for 40's, but he's going to have to push pretty hard to get me there. I think that would just be too tall for me to be comfortable with on my day to day driving. I would like a Gobi so maybe we can compromise somehow

Very Nice!!! I will be getting the Fabtech HD steering kit next week as well. From what I read on this board, the extra sensitivity from the steering is normal after getting this kit. And I think most ppl actually likes it after few days of driving/getting used to it?

Too bad my wife won't let me lift our H2 so I will only be getting some Ranchos to replace the stock shocks

Btw, I would cover/photoshop those plate #'s, too many trolls, too many weirdos in this world, you'd never know

Thanks Wilfred, forgot to do that.

Christa:

Tell your husband that 40's won't fit because they do not fit.

Need to go higher for 40's for sure!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HummersGoneWild:
Christa:

Tell your husband that 40's won't fit because they do not fit.

Need to go higher for 40's for sure! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

They would fit, but they would definately rub. He would actually like more lift and 40's! I don't though. I'm happy right where they are.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wilfred:
Very Nice!!! I will be getting the Fabtech HD steering kit next week as well. From what I read on this board, the extra sensitivity from the steering is normal after getting this kit. And I think most ppl actually likes it after few days of driving/getting used to it? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Wilfred, let me know how your kit works out for you. I don't think our problem with the steering has anything to do with just getting used to it. We've lifted vehicles before and we've dealt with that. This is much more extreme. Even the guys who did the install said it's not normal. It darts pretty severly from side to side with the tiniest movement of the wheel. It was doing it on it's own at first. Felt as if you had an extremely over-loaded trailer fishtailing behind you jerking the truck around. They've toned that down somewhat by changing the toe, but it's still not right. It's better, but at higher speeds it's still pretty scary!
Let me know how yours turns out, i'm curious as to how yours will feel.
My husbands theory is that the original shock on the stabilizer was 16" long. The new shock, which is much larger in diameter, is 22" in length with only 2 1/2 inches of shaft exposed. So it seems to him that instead of having of a dampening effect, it's created almost a solid bar for a steering stabilizer. Does that make sense? If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate the input.

Ok, will do, I am scheduled to get everything installed next Friday. Keep in mind mine is not lifted and won't be afterward

Also, I assumed you guys did an alignment, right? Maybe it needs more toe-in?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wilfred:
Ok, will do, I am scheduled to get everything installed next Friday. Keep in mind mine is not lifted and won't be afterward

Also, I assumed you guys did an alignment, right? Maybe it needs more toe-in? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes they did an alignment and toed-in as much as they could without causing wear on the tires. That actually helped but not enough.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wilfred:
Ok, will do, I am scheduled to get everything installed next Friday. Keep in mind mine is not lifted and won't be afterward

Also, I assumed you guys did an alignment, right? Maybe it needs more toe-in? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I had mine done a couple of weeks ago. I got the kit from forum member PhilD:
http://www.trailduty.com/products/fabtech/index.html

Look for an increase in turning radius. Not much, but some.

I should have said rub--you are more precise and accurate.

Interesting theory on the shocks--I will think about that one--the 6" Fabtech should not be scary.
Something is wrong and I am having a similiar problem right now on a 12" lift.

Christa, Good looking H2, I have the same lift kit on a 2004 H2, did not have any steering problems, but still have a rather loud thump in the rear axle when taking turns, hopefully it should be ironed out today. Im waiting for my 38"x15.5X20 Nitto's on 20" lexani VP's that will get here one day or another. Make sure you get the lift kit re-tightened after a week of use or so.

Very nice I hope you get all the bugs worked out of it,it looks really good.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HummersGoneWild:
I should have said rub--you are more precise and accurate.

Interesting theory on the shocks--I will think about that one--the 6" Fabtech should not be scary.
Something is wrong and I am having a similiar problem right now on a 12" lift. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Let me know if you figure anything out on your 12". I'm planning on heading to the ocean by myself to do nothing but sleep for a couple days before school starts but there is no way I can hurl this thing down the freeway the way it is!

Looks beautiful. I love the Hummer in white. I don't see many white ones around here at all. You have a beautiful piece of property as well.

C---I will be checking with my shock manufacturer this week but probably not before you leave--I will keep you posted.

Were the shock you put on from Fabtech? If so it should not be the problem????

I have mine custom made and need to make sure their specs matched my specs.

Looks awesome! Now I know which one to look for when I drive North.

40's, no rub... (fabtech 6"; 40x13.5; 5"backspace) I haven't done any serious off-road yet, but there is no rub and the turning radius is great. I love it. I got the dual steering stabilizer. I'll get the fabtech tie rods later when I do some serious off-road.

Yes they DO rub and don't tell my husband otherwise!!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by HummersGoneWild:
C---I will be checking with my shock manufacturer this week but probably not before you leave--I will keep you posted.

Were the shock you put on from Fabtech? If so it should not be the problem????

I have mine custom made and need to make sure their specs matched my specs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you talking about the steering stab shock? If you are then yes it's Fabtech and came with the kit. I probably won't be able to head to the ocean till late next week or the week after so I'll be around. Thanks for keeping me posted!

Christa,

Truck looks AWESOME!

Thanks for elaborating so much on the Fabetch front end kit issues. This kinda throws a "kink" in my previous thoughts about the kit, which I had installed recently (no lift kit). I have been experiencing some scary moments at highway speeds, where the truck seems to track "on its own" but I thought it was due to the tires (37x13.5x18 NItto Mud Grapplers) being so gnarly and aggressive. Maybe that was an incorrect line of thinking?

-Pete

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
Pete, The steering kit should not make the vehicle "track" any differently and certainly should not cause the vehicle to pick it's own track. If it allowed that much free play, the tires would be wearing real bad and something would be seriously wrong. Aggressive tires will however pick their own track.

Even when I was running 37 SSR's without the kit, my H2 would defibnitely have a mind of it's own on the freeway and pick it's own track. A Rancho steering stab helped a lot with this, hence the reason I suspect a double steering stab on a lifted H2 with the steering kit would help. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Phil, I was anxiously awaiting your reply. THANKS!!!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXSUT:
Christa,

Truck looks AWESOME!

Thanks for elaborating so much on the Fabetch front end kit issues. This kinda throws a "kink" in my previous thoughts about the kit, which I had installed recently (no lift kit). I have been experiencing some scary moments at highway speeds, where the truck seems to track "on its own" but I thought it was due to the tires (37x13.5x18 NItto Mud Grapplers) being so gnarly and aggressive. Maybe that was an incorrect line of thinking?

-Pete </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pete, how long have you had your kit? Have you noticed it getting better with time?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by PhilD:
Christa, The fabtech steering kit does indeed make the steering more sensitive, but it should not be scary, although it does take some getting used to. I suspect a double steering stab would help a lot on a lifted H2 with the steering kit.

I only have single shocks up front on mine and think some much firmer shocks would be better too. I don't know how much better the doubles are, but maybe some firmer shocks up front will also help.

Pete, The steering kit should not make the vehicle "track" any differently and certainly should not cause the vehicle to pick it's own track. If it allowed that much free play, the tires would be wearing real bad and something would be seriously wrong. Aggressive tires will however pick their own track.

Even when I was running 37 SSR's without the kit, my H2 would defibnitely have a mind of it's own on the freeway and pick it's own track. A Rancho steering stab helped a lot with this, hence the reason I suspect a double steering stab on a lifted H2 with the steering kit would help. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Phil for the post. We're not experiencing any tracking problems. It did that a little before this, nothing major and just normal due tire size. Now it will literally dart to one side or another and any correction made on the steering wheel will make it dart to the other side. Even just a half inch or an inch in movement on the steering wheel will send it off. It gets pretty severe and you start to wonder if it's going to flip itself. Driving around at about 30 to 40 or so it's not to bad but still noticable. We're taking it in to have the stabilizer removed to see if that changes anything. We're also going talk to them about the poss of adding another steering stab and see if that makes a difference too. Thanks for the idea. If we can isolate the problem than we can fix it. I hope!

Thank you very much Phil. I will keep you posted! You've definately given me a direction to go in. I appreciate it!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Christa:

Pete, how long have you had your kit? Have you noticed it getting better with time? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've had it now for about 3 weeks, but haven't been driving on the highway much at all lately. However, I did spend the day on Saturday running through rice fields and over levees with an overloaded trailer in tow while setting up duck blinds, and the H2 handled it with ease.

I'm anxious to hear how things turn out with your truck and will look into that double-stabilizer setup in the meantime. The main thing that makes me nervous about the sensitive steering is if/when my wife has occasion to run it on the highway. She's not used to driving such vehicles.

Thanks!