Need some help and effort

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by H2 Rocks

Thanks! I like the way they adjust for maximum overloadage of luggage on long trips.

Paragon, what theory.?

The verdict is still out on this.

It's not dramatic but the distance from the bottom of the frame rail to the tie rod on some is less than it is on others. My deduction is that there is something that causes the idler arm to move the centerlink to a higher position than "normal". This causes the tie rod to be up closer to the bottom of the frame rail. When forces are applied as in the toe-in situations, the tie rod is actually hitting the frame rail on some rigs.

On mine, it would have to move a total of 4 inches for this to occur, which is, I doubt, not in spec for the vertical movement of the centerlink. But mine DOES NOT, nor does it exhibit the type of toe-in that others do. And I've noticed that some trucks are more prone to toe-in than others.

Before I think most of us just chalked it up to wheeling, but when I saw Phil's truck put into the toe-in position and he was able to hold it there while I looked at the position of the tie rods and centerlink, it's obvious the tie-rod gets past the proper angle and "pushes" on the centerlink causing it to rotate and flex. This due in part to the bends at the end of the centerlink but also, on some trucks because on the PS the Tie rod angle in reference to the CL to the knuckle is more severe.

I've noticed that the bracket that my idler bolts to is not square to the frame part that it is welded to. The top part is actually pushed a little towards the rear compared to the bottom of it. This would position mine so that the idler arm would be lower and hold the centerlink lower.

Phil and I discussed the possibility of the idler arms being differing angles and/or lengths also. But as soon as I get through doing some things to mine and can get to the dealership, I am going to see if I can find one where the tie rod is "up" and try to compare to mind to see where the difference lies and if this has anything to do with anything.

The tie rods were a major and total weak link, the centerlink is another and needs to be changed, but there are situations such as mine (where I rarely lose alignment after wheeling) that makes me wonder if there is not something else that's contributing that would be a simple fix.

Of course, all of this only really shows on trucks that are wheeled fairly hard and regular.