Broken Tie Rod...Never Again!

[guruerror]

Good feedback...some Wrangler-dudes that I ran into on the trail (and helped replace my tie rod) said the same thing..."travel with spare parts"

Anyone with experience with Cognito pivot kit/system? And/or the upper control arm replacement?

[TXSUT]

Originally Posted by guruerror

Good feedback...some Wrangler-dudes that I ran into on the trail (and helped replace my tie rod) said the same thing..."travel with spare parts"

Anyone with experience with Cognito pivot kit/system? And/or the upper control arm replacement?

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/search.php

[guruerror]

Originally Posted by TXSUT

http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/search.php

Thanks...that was my first stop.

After that I decided to put my question out there, outlining my specific situation, and solicit feedback specific to me in lieu of relying on info collected from a series of hijacked threads each touching on only a single aspect of my situation.

I bookmarked your link though...

[TXSUT]

Originally Posted by guruerror

Thanks...that was my first stop.

After that I decided to put my question out there, outlining my specific situation, and solicit feedback specific to me in lieu of relying on info collected from a series of hijacked threads each touching on only a single aspect of my situation.

I bookmarked your link though...

I was being a little bit of a smarta$$ by doing that.

You may want to read this thread about the Cognito Pitman/Idler Arm support kit... http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...hlight=cognito I still haven't done anything with my truck to remedy that situation, but it mostly just sits in the garage after buying an F250 earlier this year.

I have Fabtech tierods, and had the Fabtech pitman, which was replaced (free) with a Moog back a couple years ago under the Fabtech pitman recall.

[KT2T]

Originally Posted by TXSUT

...

You may want to read this thread about the Cognito Pitman/Idler Arm support kit... http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...hlight=cognito I still haven't done anything with my truck to remedy that situation, but it mostly just sits in the garage after buying an F250 earlier this year.

...

Wow... thanks a ton for posting a link to that particular thread. I have a shopping list that has a lot of Cognito parts on it, including the PISK2008 (pitman/idler support kit), but now learning of the difficulties that you and others have had with this kit, and Cognito in general, I am left at a crossroads.

My shopping list is (was?):

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

I wasn't planning to buy any spare tie-rods yet since I don't know if, post installation, the tie-rod will then be the weak point that fails. I am fairly inexperienced and compiled that list after much research on this forum and others so I am again thankful to you for posting that link to further my education (and complicate my shopping ).

[HumminNBoatin']

Mike,

Keep in mind that Summit does some REALLY CRAZY **** when he goes wheeling lol. He is one of those guys that is always pushing it too the limit. I would no doubt recommend the HD tie rods. But keep in mind the HD tie rods are still the weekest point of the steering system and they still fail.

In fact at Windrock Glen handed me his set of Fabtech tie rods as the inner ball joints where shot. I needed the Dust/Grease Boots off of them as mine had tears in them. So go ahead with the tie rods and Pitman Idler support kit. It really does correct any problems that may come down the road or trail.

[HumminNBoatin']

I have the fabtechs and still carry a spare. In fact I now have a spare set of fabtechs. Even fabtechs can be broken. Just have to work alot harder to do it. My spare parts crate I carry on my roof contains

1/2 shaft
tie rods
hubs
Idler arm
Idler arm bracket
Pitman Arm
and an assortment of nuts and bolts.

When I switch to Cognito upper control arms I will have spare factory upper control arms as well.

[tomp]

I suggest not going with the Fabtechs as they will not sell individual parts and if you have a failure - you will have to buy an entire new set. Cognito OEM style HD tie rods are made from some factory as the Fabtechs and they sell individual parts for their tie rods.

The fabtechs will bend at the inner joint and will wear out over time. This is why you will want the availability of the individual parts.