Upgrading the steering

[splne1]

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

[VegasGuy]

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.

[Quijy]

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.

[VegasGuy]

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

[Quijy]

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.

[VegasGuy]

Originally Posted by Quijy

I have seen some posts of the fabtech and cognitio rods breaking.

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

[seventwozero]

Originally Posted by Quijy

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

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.

[Quijy]

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.

[tomp]

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

[tomp]

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