2006 K2500HD front end woes

[tanman_2006]

So a year ago I fully rebuilt everything but ball joints in my 06 and added braces and sleeves from the duramax store. I used ac delco pitman, and Moog idler and tie rods. I have had issues ever since I installed the center brace. I snapped the idler arm snout off, broke the bolts that hold the idler bracket to the frame, and lost the nut off of the idler. I solved the last issue by using a regular but and tack welding it on.

Well Monday I took it to a shop for the works. Upper control arms (also dmax store kryptonite package), new lower ball joints, new lower bushings, sway bar links, bump stops, and idler, idler bracket and bolts. Tie rods and pitman were serviceable.

In the end it took a full 3 days of work, idler bracket bolts torched, idler but torched (expected from tack weld), tie rods rusted in sleeves and tie rods ruined trying to adjust tow. Couldn't get cotter pin in the idler due to bracket thickness. Royal pain in the @$$!

Anyone ever experience this?

 

[btfarm]

Stay the hell away from the idler brace crap. They are fine for pulling and drags but they put a bind on the system and are dangerous to anyone spending time in rough off road conditions... Like you.
I would think upgraded outer tie rods would be an advantage and a set of the top quality idler and bracket are a good choice. I'm due for an idler and bracket set myself soon with a new set of tires.

 

[tanman_2006]

I bent one center link on an off road pull w/ 14 bales of hay strapped on (hence the reason for first rebuild). I learned a lesson but still thought I should brace for the next hold my beer and watch this moment. Lol

I believe you are right on things getting in a bind.

I've read and heard a little bit about beefed up center links, also heard they don't turn worth a darn.

Where do I get these beefed up tie rods?

 

[C20ELEPHANT]

Tanman, you mention a center brace in your post, is that the centerlink you're referring to and if so what type brace was it.? I have been reading a number of post over the last year about front end parts and stiffening up the center link does not look like a good idea for a daily driver.


I have 50,000 on my 2x4 and have been looking at my options for when the time comes. The items I looked at were the RareParts Pitman Arm, idler arm, idler shaft (looks identical to the supersteer) and maybe an additional brace for the idler shaft. They are on the pricey side and may eliminate some of the donkey dance unstableness I have on the freeway, could be the rebound on shocks also...

RareParts has some beefy tie rods...

 

[tanman_2006]

The center brace ties the idler and pitman arms together while bracing against the front diff to help with front end flex on a hard 4x4 pull, mostly used in racing for 4x4 boosted launches.

On a 2wd highway truck I honestly wouldn't worry about bracing.

I will check out rare parts.

 

[btfarm]

I think I saw oversize or alloy tie rods at either DMax store or Dirty Hooker (All Seasons)

 

[tanman_2006]

Come to think of it my braces might be from DHD

 

[tanman_2006]

And to top it off my left front wheel bearing just set the abs light, seems tight still. Might clean the plug but it has kryptonite lifetime warranty too

 

[btfarm]

That's usually crap on the sensor pickup IIRC

 

[tanman_2006]

Yeah but they have a lifetime warranty and my luck is that the bearing would fail shortly after and my warranty would be void from tampering with it