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Disappearing boost

Installed tow mirrors & now them & radio won’t work

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I need some help with front suspension and steering. The truck has a leveling kit, maybe 2 inches, and I want it gone. The problem I’m having is not knowing which parts are non-stock. .
I can see the spring spacer and shock, obviously. The lower control arms are aftermarket, but I don’t know if they are longer than stock. The uppers are OE style.

Also, the Pitman arm looks offset to me, but I don’t know what the original looked like. Wish I had a known unmolested truck here to compare with.
 
I'd guess the aftermarket lower arms are longer, but OEM style replacements are cheap. I doubt they used a drop pitman arm because it's not needed with a leveling kit. The stock arm does look like it has a "drop" in it.
 
Ah, Makes sense = new bed and such. You are way to close to “The Danger Zone” (Geno’s), I’d have a bad time with my wife (well worse than usual....) if we lived anywhere near Geno’s.;)
 
I'd guess the aftermarket lower arms are longer, but OEM style replacements are cheap. I doubt they used a drop pitman arm because it's not needed with a leveling kit. The stock arm does look like it has a "drop" in it.

Thanks. I tried to remove the lift today, but was unsuccessful. I’m missing the 3-bolt ring thingy that goes in the top spring perch to hold the shock tower. I was also pretty scared when I realized that my Horrible Fright spring compressor was bending under the strain. I just put it all beck together with the new Bilstein 5100s I got yesterday. Also, while replacing the swaybar end links I noticed some screwy alignment issues. I think that the lift combined with a stock-length track bar has the axle shifted left a bit.


So... do you guys recommend Moog replacement control arms and steering parts? Looks like I’ll be replacing everything. Is there a compelling reason to do the later model “T style” steering mod with a stock height truck? It actually drives pretty well up to 70. ( that’s about all those 4.10s want to do!)
What about urethane bushings? I’ve had really good service from Energy Suspension parts in the past. Should I just get aftermarket control arms to start?
Looking for suggestions on what and where to buy. I see everything from ebay asian junk to Carli, looking for the middle ground. No bling, just function.
 
The 3 bolt rings can be purchased new. On second thought you may be able to go to your local 4x4 shop and grab some take offs for free.

Yes, the axle will be shifted slightly with a lift and stock length track bar. If you're shooting to put it all back to stock with a stock size tire I'd just go with the Moog lower arms. Whatever you decide, remove the lift when you are replacing the arms. If you disconnect the sway bar and track bar (at the axle end) you can get enough axle droop to get the springs out to remove the spacer without a compressor. Replace one arm at a time (trust me on that one). There was a change in bolt sizes on the arms, the later 2nd gens used larger bolts so make sure you get the correct size. I don't remember what year the change was made, I drilled mine out to use the larger bolts.

I ran both the T and Y style on my 97. I switched to the T mostly because the original linkage had worn out. I was hoping for a little better tire wear since there isn't any toe change as the suspension cycles with the T setup but there was no noticeable difference in tire wear or handling. It is a heavy duty setup though. My T setup was all Moog parts and was fine, bought all of it through Rockauto.

A 3K GSK will fix your 70 mph problem. :D
 
Bam, you took the bed off to get at the fuel tank top? Guess if you have the equipment/manpower and a place to do it in that'd make it easier than laying under and dropping the tank, for sure! Did you install a draw straw or just a new module?


It's an easy job. Just unhook everything and slide the bed back enough to get to the tank.
 
I mainly want it stock so that I can haul my camper and a car or boat trailer without it taildragging. Camper weighs 1600 empty. I’m running 285/75/16 Toyos now. They may rub some at stock height, we’ll see. Had them on my 2wd and they rubbed the rear of the fender liner. Who knows, I may compromise with a smaller lift.
I’ll probably just buy new original style steering parts and go from there. It’s just soo hard to find quality parts locally. It’s either chinese autozone junk or dealer. Feels like you’re forced to order online.

As far as the 70mph at 2500rpms- that’s just where it felt happy. I already have A 4k gsk installed along with the other goodies, just don’t want to cruise 2000 miles with it wound that tight.

Thanks for the help!
 
I converted to 3rd gen track bar, went with adjustable one so the axel could be properly centered. Also replaced control arms, went with tubular ones from Top Gunz Customs. At the time I purchased they were just over $200, but a quick check of the website has them @ $323 for the non-adjustable and the price goes up for single adj and then more so for the double adj. I also have the leveling pucks (steel) and although not needed for tire clearance (305/70/16) I got them to just level the front end out.
 
I converted to 3rd gen track bar, went with adjustable one so the axel could be properly centered. Also replaced control arms, went with tubular ones from Top Gunz Customs. At the time I purchased they were just over $200, but a quick check of the website has them @ $323 for the non-adjustable and the price goes up for single adj and then more so for the double adj. I also have the leveling pucks (steel) and although not needed for tire clearance (305/70/16) I got them to just level the front end out.
Mine’s level,but what do you do when you want to haul a load? I looked at the Top Gunz bars, are they good stuff? Like the fact they’re from Tennessee
 
I've had 2 sets on my 1 truck. Explanation as to 2 sets. When the bushings started to wear, probably 4 - 5 years or so, (which surprised the heck out of me since they were Energy Suspension and I used red-n-tacky on them every 3 or 4 months) I contacted Top Gunz for replacement bushings providing original part number for the control arms. Paid whatever and when they arrived they totally were different size and wouldn't fit. Called Top Gunz and was told "oh you must have the old style arms". Needing to get my truck back on the road I purchased a whole new set of arms (keep in mind at that time they were only $209 +/-). When the arms arrived they looked the same to me as my 1st set. Upon closer inspection the bushings were indeed different sizes. I installed them and went on my way. I have to say installing tubular control arms instead of replacing with stock units is one of the best BOMBs I've done. That was about 5 years or so ago. I do it again in a heart beat. If they had the adjustable upper and lower arms back when I ordered mine I'd have gone with them for more adjustability. I recouped some of the cost for the new arms upon return of the new bushings that didn't fit the original arms. I figure when I'm ready to set up the 4 link on the Duster I'll use the old arms, we'll see how that goes whenever that comes around. Next time the bushings start to go I'll contact Energy Suspension and get replacements.

All in all I'd say they're good stuff and by the looks of what's on the website they've come a long way since I purchased my first set.

As far as the leveling pucks when you want to haul a load. Depends on the load, not being a wise arse. Example: when I hauled my daughter's 02 Sable on a two axle car carrier (U-Haul), loaded with her stuff both in her car, my bed and back seat from Philly area to Seattle area, about half way at a fuel stop someone said "your truck looks a little tongue heavy". I looked and said yea it does, but it's no where near the upper set of leafs (it's an 8800 gvw 2500) and goes down the road solid, straight, tracks true and stops straight. I'm a bit insane at times and one of my more insane moments was during this trip, my daughter was sleeping and I could see for miles in front and to each side of me, sky was clear and all conditions were ideal. From my standard cruising speed of 75 (speed limit 70, I think in some places it was higher but not certain) I tapped the cruise increase button (2 mph each tap) drove a ¼ mile, tap again, etc. until it wouldn't further increase speed at 91 mph (per GPS). It was far from the smartest thing I'd ever done, but it drove like it loved it. I didn't maintain that speed long, reasoning potentials, so I returned to my normal 75. So for the leveling pucks and my situation - they didn't affect my load, which I figured to be: Car (3500#) load in car (300#), trailer (2200#) and another 500# in the bed and cab put total load around 6500#. Yeah, I'm nuts and fortunate too.
 
Sounds like something I would try!
i’m not worried about being able to pull the weight, just that the camper and all our junk actually on the back axle will be in the 2500# range, along with the tongue weight of the trailer being 450-500. I’d like to keep the steer axle planted. Mine’s also the 8800 GVW, what do y’all think about putting bags on the rear axle instead of dropping the front?

Noobie question: What’s a BOMB? Gotta be an acronym, I’ve seen it here and there
 
Pretty good "HAMB" never heard that one before - LMAO. Thanks. As for air bags on rear, not a bad idea but there's the expense to consider. Have you loaded camper on the truck, loaded the camper and placed the trailer on to see where you're at? If not, on level ground (if you have one at home is best) measure from ground to center of each wheel arch, load everything on/up/to it then remeasure. My guess is the front won't drop much if at all, in fact it might raise a ¼"??? I think the key would be your eye on it before and after (take side pictures) and if you feel comfortable with it loaded take it around the neighborhood, then out on the open road perhaps during a non-busy traffic time to see what you think.

BTW:
Sounds like something I would try!
I appreciate that I'm not the only "Whack-o" out there.;)o_O
 
Plenty wackiness here. The trip I’m prepping for is Tennessee Gambler 500 in my supercharged 4wd Civic station wagon


I think I’ll have the use of a lift to work on the front end as soon as I get the parts rounded up. That will save the death-defying spring antics.
The holdup to loading it at the moment is my swampy yard. It has rained here seemingly nonstop for a month. I doubt that I could get the camper up out of the yard onto the driveway to try it.
 
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Me too = both the sticker and the tiny dick. Like Howard Stern said "I'm hung like a raisin"
Bam, that's a pretty neat little machine you go there! Never seen anything like it :D
 
The sticker was on a magnet and was one of several that got passed around all weekend, can’t say it’s inaccurate! That car was a toy I built back in 2011-12 as a poke at all the kids that were lowering 4wd wagons. Kind of a fetish car, I’ve owned 17 total. I finally remembered to download a resizing app last night waiting for the ball to drop, guess I owe some photos in here!
 
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