Lift kit killing sway bar end links!!!

[MegaRocks]

My Tuff Country 2" leveling kit on my 04. 5 3500 Cummins is apparently killing (bending) my tie rod end links way over; toward the axle.



What's up with this bogus problem?



Is this why Skyjacker and other "real" kits include longer trailing arms and other parts that Tuff Country and Revtek don't?



Anyone know what's going on? I am running 325/60/18s which are pretty wide and a little less than 34" tall. Could this be the problem? Or too much wheel offset (positive-sticking out?)





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[CIverson]

I've got a skyjacker kit w/ kelderman bags. Anyway the SJ kit uses sway bar drop brackets, and they still kill the end links.



I had the same problem on my 98 and I fixed the same way on the 03 as I did on the last truck.



Buy (2) 1/2 heavy duty heim joints, with cone spacers and jam nuts. Then find (4) 1/2" thread weld in tube inserts aa manufacturing sells some. Then some DOM tube. Cut the tube to length weld the inserts in both ends.



Then drill out the stock end link hole in the axle to 1/2" (it's a tapered hole that starts at 1/2" and tapers down a little).



Then drill out the stock washers and rubber bushings attatching the end link to the sway bar. Run a 1/2" grade 8 bolt down though the sway bar w/ the washers and bushings, into one side of the fab'ed end link and bolt the other end to the axle mount w/ the cone spacers.



I'd take some pics, but my camera is out getting fixed.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I took my swaybar off months ago. With the KORE Race system, I don't feel like it is needed... .

 

[LightmanE300]

MSoiland -what on earth gave you the impression skyjacker was a 'real' kit? LOL !

 

[y-knot]

You guy's are way too complicated..... Your sway bar end links are having a rough time because you lifted the truck and they are in a bind. Just get your self longer end links! Energy Suspension, DayStar and Prothane all make end Link kits in various lengths. Just measure what you have and add the proper amount to the new ones. Not only will you solve the binding problem, but the new links with their better bushings will work and last longer. I have the Day Star end links and love them. While you are at it, do your truck and yourself a favor and order the grease able sway bar bushings, they are 30 or 32 mm, my 3500 has the 32mm bars. Also, relocating the sway bar is a real bad ideal, they only do it in some lift kits because it is a cheap alternative to a good fix. Those wimpy brackets they use are not strong enough to properly hold the sway bar from flexing.

 

[MegaRocks]

Lightman, I only called the Skyjacker kit a "real" kit because it includes more than just the spacers for the lift. It seems that the longer trailing arms are a good idea.



Thanks so much for the info on the end links. I will look into both the link and sway bar bushing parts!