Long Travel kit Install...Tie Rod snag!!

DaveTM

So, my nephew is just about wrapping up "the hard" stuff with the Jakes long travel kit......and we come to the tie rod installation (AKA the purple longer aluminum rods) when we "find" my stock tie rods are much smaller in diameter than what Jakes provides. Now, I was out at his place tonight, but frankly, I just could not take the time to measure the tie rod sizes. Anyway, here are a few pics of the issue. I was hoping you guys could provide some direction or advice on this.My "stock" tie rods are to short to work and the Jakes aluminum rods are much larger in diameter. Heeellllllppppp!!!

BGW

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DaveTM

Well......for someone who may come across this post in the future....you know, when I'm long dead and buried by my then long dead and gone dog.......I called the kit seller and yeah.....they included the wrong tie rod's in the kit. The tie rods they included had female connections at both ends and I needed 9\16" male connections at both ends. New one's are being overnighted as I type. Well.....depending upon when you read this.....I guess.

NCPW

Glad you found a solution.

DaveTM

One more update......they sent me the correct size tie rod.....but "Da Guy" said these new one's would have a male threaded ends. Well....they don't. Another phone call today and now they are sending the correct tie rod ends.....that have male threaded end's on 'em. But, OTOH, the company has been great and overnighted the parts at no cost to me.

DaveTM

Well, my nephew got everything together last night.....that would be a Friday night.....and it was a bit late, and then he had to work the next Saturday morning. He sent me a TXT saying something to the effect that the tie rods seemed to be to long.

Well, I went over this am to take a peek, and the tie rods are just fine. What needs done is the caster\camber adjustments along with the upper and lower A-frame adjustments need some "tweeking" (Yes...."tweeking" is the technical term) done in order to bring the Jakes kit into alignment. You can't rush this part of the assembly....even if your girlfriend who is looking to buy a house with you is barking at you to hurry up with "your uncles cart" so you can go look at more houses!!! Besides.....he has to work on Saturday anyway!!! Must be that week of the month.....and that's all I got to say!!

ncrr

watch out if its also a full moon,,,,,,,

DaveTM

NCPW

Looks good Dave

Pretty sure you'll enjoy that on the hunting trails. Let us know how it rides compared to the A-arm you had since you had a lot of miles on that setup.

DaveTM

Well,.....if it could go wrong.....it will go,.....you know. He went to adjust the camber? (caster?) well, one of them with the HIEM (you know.....ball joint thing) and wouldn't you know that a chunk of weld had ran into the tube and snagged up the threaded bolt of the HIEM. So, my nephew is bringing home from his work tools a tap and a die to first, clean up the inside of the A-frame and then just run the die over the bolt to make that work well. It should all be good....but it's just another day's delay.

He told me all of the other adjustments worked out very well.....but you know.....there just has to be one!!! I don't blame Jakes. Hey, in a manufacturing process, you will likely have one sneak by.

DaveTM

Update!!!: Well today I got the caster\camber and toe in\out all adjusted. It just takes a little time and some "tweaking" (which is much different than twerking...or so I'm told ) of the Jakes "A" frame adjustment bolts. Not difficult to do....just a bit time consuming.

The cart steers great on a flat out paved road, and on bumpy terrain the front suspension soaks up those bumps that use to rattle my kidneys to death!!! If you drive a lot on rough terrain, I would highly recommend one of these long travel kits.