Upgrading the steering
 

After reading dozens of posts about the H2 front steering, I am going to upgrade my H2. It only has 20,000 miles and still has the OEM parts. Nothing is wrong. I just want to address some weak points before I have a problem.

What is the difference between the Cognito GM 8-Lug HD Tie Rods ($230) and the Cognito Chevy 8-Lug & Hummer H2 Tie Rod Kit ($360) beside the price. I am not sure which to buy and have yet to see a discussion on the differences.

Do Fabtech tie rods have any advantage over the Cognito's or visa versa?

As long as I'm doing that, I thought I might as well add the Cognito Chevy 8-Lug & Hummer H2 Pitman/Idler System. Others seem to like this product and strongly recommend it.

I am going to add the Rancho Hummer H2 Steering Stabilizer. I'm not sure it is worth doing the shocks at this time.

Should I add the Cognito GM 8-Lug & Hummer H2 HD Sway Bar End Links right away?

Are these parts something a handy guy with a lot of tools but no front end experience (which explains all the questions) is capable of putting on himself? About how many hours?

Am I overlooking anything that really should be done at this time?

I assume I will need to get the front end re-aligned afterward, right?

I'm trying to get a handle of this project and make sure I am not leaving something out or skipping something that would be easier to do while everything is apart. Thanks in advance.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Looks like you have it all worked out, Cognito and Fabtech are pretty much the same, I have cognitos on my rig.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Thanks, splne1. I have continued to dig around and found an excellent pictorial on how to install the GM 8-Lug Pitman and Idler Arm Support Kit on the home page of the Pirate 4x4 site. That, and a few YouTube videos answered a lot of questions.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

LOL, I just got done doing almost the same thing. The following has been installed just last week in my h2.

MOOG pitman and idler arms
Cognito pitman and idler support kit
Rare Parts tie rods
Rancho stabilizer

What a difference that made in the steering. I have 52k on the rig and never had a problem. Like you I did it simply to prevent a problem later. I had planned to install everything on my own, but when I called around to get the alignment a very good 4 wheel drive shop offered to install all of it, and do the alignment for 280 bucks. Totally worth it because they did it in 3 hours and they had run into one problem with binding on the pitman stud after the support kit was installed. They resolved it is a few minutes with parts I would not have had in the driveway. So you may want to call around and get the work done.

I am debating on doing the sway bar links as well. Waiting on my Gobi rack to come first.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Thanks for the info, Quijy.

What was the deciding factor in using Rare Parts tie rods? I was just looking at them and they seem pretty beefy. It's hard to tell by comparing pictures, but they seem to have a bigger diameter than the rods on either Fabtech or Cognito.

Here's a break test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRSjXnvas_8

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

I have seen some posts of the fabtech and cognitio rods breaking. But then again the rare parts rods have not been out long. Or maybe used on the hummers as long as the others. When I took them to my 4x4 shop the guy looked at them and said, I have not seen these in about 25 years. He did say they looked like the design had been improved but basically the same old school design. He was impressed with them when done. I chose them because I figured they were a straighter design. And looked larger diameter than the fab or cog, plus I had some recommendations from others to use them. Overall I am very happy with my front end. I have no worries with possible problems in the future.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

My guess is the spindle end broke and not the rod. But then, I'm no expert on the subject.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Is there a difference between OE and the MOOG's? I was looking at the MOOG's online but couldn't see a physical difference between the two really.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

From what I have read the quality of the MOOGs are better than OEM. They last longer than OEM as well. I had 52k on my stock parts and they did have some wear but not enough to be concerned with.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Main difference in Moog vs OEM is on the Idler arm. It is much thicker arm than the OEM arm, so less flex in the arm. Also, the joints are stronger than OEM on both P&I arms

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

The rare parts tie rods are better than the chinese crap metal used in both the Fabtech and Cognito rods. When fabtech first came out with them, they were great but China changed the type of metal and now they dont last even marginally amoutn of mileage - total junk now!

Rare parts are made in US wqith high quality hardened American steel. All part are also available seperately so you only have to but the parts you need to rebuild them down the road! Try doing this with Fabtech (have to buy entire kit again) or Cognito (will sell them but you have to but them at almost cost of buying the entire kit!) The Cognito heim joint version is decent if you dont live near salt or sand areas but be warned that even mud is gritty in texture and always ends up all over the heim joints

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

So Rare Parts are the ones to go with these days? I just found out my stock ones are starting to get a little play in them, so I will need to replace them soon. I will be upgrading them, and I am researching options right now.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

I am starting to put together a parts list right now for my front end as well. It's good to know about the quality of the Rare Parts, and even more so the decline in quality of the Fabtechs! There is a ton of information around, but nothing that I could point to and say "yup, this is the definitive list of upgrades for the H2 front end", so I am going to try and make such a list with the help of you guys. It may not be applicable to everyone because I also want to level the H2 by raising up the front end a little bit.

So far, I have (Cognito parts listed):

o UCAK100044 (H2 Uni-ball Upper Control Arms)
o UCAK100001 (front end level kit)
o BILSTEIN-BE5-E381-T0 (longer-than-stock shocks for use with o UCAK100001)
o SBELKHD-1000 (end-links for use with UCAK100001)
o PISK2008 (pitman/idler support kit)
o IPAWG8 (Idler Pivot kit)
o TRK100045 (tie rods)

Based on what I have read thus far in this thread, I will dump the TRK100045 tie rods for the Rare Parts (part number anyone?).

Please keep the suggestions coming guys, thanks a ton!

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

I was looking on the rare parts site and have seen their tie rods, they also make their own pitman and idler's among other parts. Does anyone have anything to offer regarding their parts? I wonder if the Cognito support kit would still fit with the rare parts p/i arms.. and if the added cost is worth it? For what its worth, I probably won't be doing extreme rock crawling or anything like that.

edit: since I'll need an alignment after the work is done, I'm trying to do the majority of it at once.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

When I get some time in my schedule this is the combo I am going to go with. The price seems pretty good:

http://dmaxstore.com/index.php?main_...roducts_id=273

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

The price is pretty dang nice, I think from Rare Parts the rods are about $200/ea and the Congnito kit is $200'ish as well. (correct me if I'm wrong) Will you replace your p/i arms with OEM replacements or something else?

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Update, and a question...

o UCAK100044 (Cognito - H2 Uni-ball Upper Control Arms)
o UCAK100001 (Cognito - front end level kit)
o BILSTEIN-BE5-E381-T0 (Cognito - longer-than-stock shocks for use with UCAK100001)
o SBELKHD-1000 (Cognito - end-links for use with UCAK100001)
o PISK2008 (Cognito - pitman/idler support kit)
o IPAWG8 (Cognito - Idler Pivot kit)
o RP28559 (Rare Parts - Xtreme Duty Tie Rods)

Ok, so I found the part number for the Rare Parts tie rods and listed it above, but while looking at the DMAX store I also noticed the DMAX KRYPTONITE Series Tie Rods. The cost is $70 more than the Rare Parts tie rods, but not sure the cost is justified.

Thanks guys, keep the suggestions and ideas coming. Once the list is honed then maybe I/we can do a complete kit deal search.

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Mine are fine for now and I've never heard of them breaking (like the tie rods will). So if it ain't broke . . .

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Great info guys. I have the Fabtechs now. While they have stood the test of offroad durability the inner ball joints are worn and I am on the market for new ones. From what I understand Fabtech uses a nylon bushing on the innter ball joint that wears down.... I just wonder if there is a way to service this? Maybe replace it with a brass bushing???

Re: Upgrading the steering
 

Hey Eric,

I was just reading through your old thread and wanted to ask about the 'green keys'. Are the green keys required when using the Cognito kit? As far as I can tell, the Cognito kit provides new upper control arms and shock mount extender brackets* but doesn't actually raise the front end, is that right? If that's true then either the stock keys need to be turned up, or swapped out with the green keys.

* - I won't use the brackets and will opt for longer shocks instead (BILSTEIN-BE5-E381-T0). :beerchug: