Kryptonite Tie rods!

[Scarsman]

Woohoo! I have my tie rods. I will take pictures and write up my install. I have not done it yet, but I am hoping to get to it tomorrow or Friday.

First, I want to say; I was going back and forth between the Rare Parts and the Kryptonites. So I called DmaxStore and talked to Mike. He is a great guy and was very willing to talk and answer all my questions. After talking with Mike I decided to go with the Kryptonites. They have a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty, compared to 3 years on the Rare Parts. They are also just bigger and beefier than the Rare Parts. They are built by Rare Parts for Dmax.

They were shipped within a day of when I ordered them, and came UPS. I have to say, I was shocked when I opened the box. These are a high quality part, and the quality goes all the way to the packaging. I don't know that I have bought a gun that came packed this well. They are in foam cutouts custom fit to the parts. They even have little cutouts for you to grab them! The only thing that would make it beter is if they came in a little Pelican case!

Once removed from their custom package, I saw that they even go to the trouble of putting a length of clear plastic tubing on the outer end to protect the threads. Like anything could damage it in this box! On the other end there is a plastic cap protecting the inner threads. Both joints are pregreased with Chevron Extreme Pressure II grease.

The instruction sheet is very well written and has large color pictures.

According to my bathroom scale, each tie rod weighs a full 5 pounds. I'll weigh the OE ones when I get them off.

Here are some pictures of them as they came.

The packaging:

[Scarsman]

Here are a few just to show the size of them:





I'll be back with more once I get started on the install.

[twr]

Hi thanks for the pictures, I guess you shouldn't have to worry about bending or braking those tie rods. I think you off road with just your kids sometimes so those are cheap ins. that all will be good.

[Scarsman]

Originally Posted by twr

Hi thanks for the pictures, I guess you shouldn't have to worry about bending or braking those tie rods. I think you off road with just your kids sometimes so those are cheap ins. that all will be good.

Exactly!

[NJ H2]

Nice!
I'm just waiting for my FabCraps to take a powder and I'll be picken up the Kryptos to!
What did you pay?

[Scarsman]

Originally Posted by NJ H2

Nice!
I'm just waiting for my FabCraps to take a powder and I'll be picken up the Kryptos to!
What did you pay?

It was $361.28 shipped. It's not on the site yet, but Mike with Dmax said they will do the Kryptonites and the Cognito support kit as a package for $550 shipped. It should be on the site soon, but if you ask that is what he'll do for you. I really wanted to do that, but I am on a budget and need to pace myself.

[Hellz]

when did they start making them in China?

i only ask because i have some FT HD tierods i bought off a member here.

any way to tell if they are the lower quality ones or the old higher quality ones?

[ROUSHDEMON]

No idea bro... I've just read that in many different forums, I mean I'd still get them over OEM.. but for how much they are RareParts or Kryptonite are a better bang for the buck.

[H2R]

Thanks for your insight on Fabtech. I am not sure how one has been able to tell the differences in materials used on this product thru reading of various opinions. Just think it would be more advantageous to know the "SAE " designate of the materials used to as to establish the chemical makeup and processes used, affecting product integrity that impacts durability/quality.

And thanks transam95 glad you like the lift!

[ROUSHDEMON]

Originally Posted by H2R

Thanks for your insight on Fabtech. I am not sure how one has been able to tell the differences in materials used on this product thru reading of various opinions. Just think it would be more advantageous to know the "SAE " designate of the materials used to as to establish the chemical makeup and processes used, affecting product integrity that impacts durability/quality. And thanks transam95 glad you like the lift!

what's you beef? really? Are you really that hurt that I said that I didn't like Fabtech Tierods? Why the sarcasim? I never said anything about their lift kit, I think the lift kit kicks ass and I think your rig looks damn good, I've told you that before, I just dont think their tierods are worth the money since for almost the same price you can get something way better like this example... NOT A FORUM OPINION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRSjXnvas_8

Give me a fking brake.

[seventwozero]

Originally Posted by H2R

Thanks for your insight on Fabtech. I am not sure how one has been able to tell the differences in materials used on this product thru reading of various opinions. Just think it would be more advantageous to know the "SAE " designate of the materials used to as to establish the chemical makeup and processes used, affecting product integrity that impacts durability/quality.

And thanks transam95 glad you like the lift!

Not to join the flame fest here or anything but to back what Roush is saying the FT/Cognito rods. Timgco, owner of Expedition Hardware has made a post in just about every hummer forum saying he's had a good amount of customers that have broken recently purchased FT/Cognito rods due to weaker materials. He also states that he will no longer sell them to anyone because of it. I'm not sure if he posted his thread here or not, and I'm not going to post a link to another forum but if you like, PM me and I can send you to one.

I thought Tim had a picture somewhere of a broken FT rod but you could clearly see it was made from a 'pot' metal, AFAIK, there is really no way to tell what you have unless you broke them.

Regardless, the Rareparts/Kryptonite rods don't cost that much more than the already spendy FT/Cognito rods and are proven to be better in the video RD posted. Why not spend the extra cash right off the bat and get the better product. Personally, I'd rather replace a broken $65 pitman arm than a broken $200 tie rod (since you can't buy the FT/Cognito rods individually)

[H2R]

I will keep this basic as possible and leave it at that...

1. The vid shows your recommended product over "OEM" I never argued that point of it being stronger than OEM. Just dont think the Steering system has a proper balance to Justify it in this case.
2. I dont care for a lift kit that has to have the diff mounts cut to fit for one. Check with HWG at Hummers gone wild if there is any reservation. He has probally put more lift kits in Hummers than anyone in this forum, hes a man I respect in the business and does it for a living. People have shipped their rigs to him in NJ just to get work done. The recommendations he has made I have used and never had a problem. Things that effect Geometry, Alignment, Articulation, Safety as well as Structural Integrity he understands the technical side of this work.

3. Phil from trail duty wont sell junk parts. He demonstrates what he sells at Trail duty and has an excellent return policy too. He has offered tech advise to wheeling from personal experience backed by posted videos and has had sponsored club.

These guys are all gone from here now for whatever personal reasons and they had a lot to offer to the forum.