2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Started repairing loose steering with Luke's Links (5 repair kits)

[KRStone]

So, the Luke's Link's trackbar/tie-rod repair kits came in. I got to work under the truck tonight. Got the drag link off the pitman arm, got the tie rod off both steering knuckles. Will get trackbar off tomorrow.



Bungered up some threads on one stud that was in the pitman arm... wondering if I can cut the last 2mm off with a grinder and clean up the threads with a file and make it work?



Hope I didn't ruin the steering box or the ball joints by beating on the stuff with a hammer.



I'm 20% into the job... . any words of inspiration or confidence?



Oh, and my steering stabilizer was totally shot; it's a NAPA unit 2. 5 years old.



KRS

 

[rluft]

Craftsman makes a die set for cleaning up threads, I'm sure there are other tools that will clean them up. I always leave the nut on to protect the threads.

Getting the buggers loose is 80% off the job, your nearly done!

Take your time when grinding off the top of the tierods and take just what is needed to get the cap loose, I used an angle grinder.

Lukes Link's are big and beefy and you may have some interference, grinding a little material off won't weaken the unit. I had the trackbar link making contact with the differential cover so I ground just a little off and no more contact.

 

[chrishenderson1970]

the right sized pickle fork makes all the difference.

 

[KRStone]

When removing some of the tie rods I used a hammer; should have left the nut on.



Fixed a few of them with a file. Ruined a castle nut. Napa had graded nuts in the right size, bought two, I'll double-nut it.



Got all joints repaired with the kits.



Reinstalled track bar.



Now waiting for the sun to go down a little so I can reinstall the rest.



Used air hammer with chisel, worked great except when it didn't



Used a 4 lb hammer when extra force required.



The actual Luke's install is very very very easy.



Breaking down the old tie rod joints was very easy with a handheld grinder, vice, and hammer.



Didn't have a way to get the trackbar axle bracket metal sleeve out; so I didn't install the new trackbar bushing.



KRS

 

[KRStone]

Got it buttoned back up.



Installed DSS that I bought July 2010. Dropped a 1/2" drive rachet and socket right on my face, broke my tooth... .

 

[DLangford]

Be careful with the Lukes link fix of the track bar. After installing mine according to the directions as to torque, etc, it loosened up on me twice over the next 18 months, causing two more death wobble situations. BTW I drive my truck infrequently, so I did not rack up many miles in that time.
I finally bit the bullet and pulled it off and installed the retrofit kit for the new style track bar (like you see in Geno's garage catalog). Now it is rock solid.
I believe the Lukes link for the track bar is an inexpensive band aid... be sure to check it for signs of loosening periodically to avoid more problems.

 

[JMcCoy]

Sorry to hear about your tooth. I have come close many times the same way. Hopefully they can patch you together . Sorry I couldn't resist. Before changing my whole front end setup, I had Luke's Links on all my joints. They are excellent. I still have one on my drag link. I had them on for over 100,000 miles without one death wobble. I later went to the 3rd gen track bar, which is the best fix. Good luck.

 

[AABEN]

You all might use a dead blow hammer 4lb does a very good job.

 

[Hammer]

Luke's Link=A Band-Aid that will need redone again soon.



The Luke's Link was one of my absolute worst purchases ever made and I would never do it again or ever recommend it to anyone. Your far better off to replace the needed parts the right way or step up to a better aftermarket steering(like Bulletproof's) than to place band-aids where critical steering components are. After having one that was placed on my trac bar some years ago fail while driving it I would never do it again... ... ... . Andy

 

[WilsonF]

My Luke's Link has been on my truck four years now not a bit of problems.

Floyd

 

[LandShark]

Luke's Link on my track bar for over 120,000 miles. Still as tight as the day I installed it. A good product with excellent tech support.

 

[klcammie]

I like my lukes links. Replaced all 5 was an easy job and a great product. Someday when I get rich I might replace with new stuff and then again maybe not. Be sure to get an alinement after you finish. My toe in was off by an inch.

 

[KRStone]

I'm feeling a binding when going around corners, thinking it's my toe as well.

 

[DLangford]

It seems people either love the Lukes Link or hate it.
For those of you have installed the Luke's link, and have put a lot of miles on it, did you experience a death wobble situation before you installed it?
Reason I ask is that some people have never had death wobble but felt their steering was loose, so I don't know if the Lukes link really cured things or not.
All I can say is that I installed mine exactly according to directions and I had 2 death wobble experiences after it loosened up on me, without being many miles.
Since I converted to a more permanent solution, I have had 0 death wobble.

 

[JMcCoy]

Since you changed all your joints, your steering will be very tight for a while. Make sure they stay well lubed. If I remember correctly, it took about a month before I could let the steering wheel go, exiting a turn, and have it return to straight.



You need to maintain the joints. I would inspect them every oil chance. I only adjusted/shimmed them every 30,000 miles. Every 15 thousand miles probably would have been better. If you shim it and torque it down properly, you will have no problems.