'71 Blazer, 2" lift, steering component questions

[Joe Blaze]

My Tuff Country 2 inch Lift Kit is on its way for my '71 Blazer. I will be running 32x11.5 Cooper Discoverer STTs on it. Can anyone advise if I need to get a dropped Pitman arm, or an adjustable drag link, etc...?

This is what I have on there now, i dont know if it is dropped or not.

Since I have the solid, non-adjustable drag link, do I need to get one of these?
http://www.jackit.com/store/supercart.cgi?s=jac_1001

And would any of the other crap on this page be necessary/useful for me?


thanks.

 

[K85 Octane]

wow, never knew there was a solid draglink. Kinda dumb IMO but o well.

Yes, you need an adjustable one. I would put the kit on and then see if you need a drop. I would think no, it wont be that bad. You don't want the draglink going UP from the pitman arm, so going down some is always ok.

 

[Joe Blaze]

wow, never knew there was a solid draglink. Kinda dumb IMO but o well.

Yes, you need an adjustable one. I would put the kit on and then see if you need a drop. I would think no, it wont be that bad. You don't want the draglink going UP from the pitman arm, so going down some is always ok.

So should i order an adjustable link with the kit, or wait until the kit is installed to see if i need one?

 

[scottishdave]

If it was me, I would get an adjustable one right now. One...I have never seen a solid one like that and two, regardless...An old truck like ours, the Drag link ends and Tie rod ends are one of the first things that i would replace. Especialy if i were putting on a lift.

So yeah, My opinion would be to get the adjustable one, and i wouldnt worry about a pitman arm for your 2" lift. And since the ends on your drag link will be new, it wouldnt be a bad idea to replace the tie-rod ends either.

What shocks are you going to be runnning?

Oh, and why not 33x12.50's?

 

[Joe Blaze]

If it was me, I would get an adjustable one right now. One...I have never seen a solid one like that and two, regardless...An old truck like ours, the Drag link ends and Tie rod ends are one of the first things that i would replace. Especialy if i were putting on a lift.

So yeah, My opinion would be to get the adjustable one, and i wouldnt worry about a pitman arm for your 2" lift. And since the ends on your drag link will be new, it wouldnt be a bad idea to replace the tie-rod ends either.

What shocks are you going to be runnning?

Oh, and why not 33x12.50's?

I am trying to be somewhat economical, since i have those 32x11.5 tires on my Jeep Wrangler, i will have my guy swap the rims and use them on the Blazer.

For shocks, I ordered one of the two types of shocks available with this kit. I forget which ones I got.

Who would have the best online deal on tie rod ends?

 

[scottishdave]

an autoparts store should have em.

 

[Joe Blaze]

I will be getting an adjustable draglink like this one, but from LMC, (along with new tie rod ends):

 

[K85 Octane]

sounds good

if you don't have adjustment, our steering wheel and steering would be all fudged up after the lift.

 

[AJs72K5]

Unless you're doing full restore, Napa can get you the same parts for the draglink, if not better.

 

[scottishdave]

Dont want to hi-jack but its relevant i think.

At some autoparts websites, the Drag link ends are called inner tie-rod ends, while the Tie-rod ends are called outer tie-rod ends. Some websites list them all as drag link ends or tie rod ends, and LMC lists them both seperate as i am always used to hearing them called, i.e. drag link ends and tie rod ends....


Anyone notice this, or able to clear up exactly what to order or call the certain parts?

 

[Joe Blaze]

Dont want to hi-jack but its relevant i think.

At some autoparts websites, the Drag link ends are called inner tie-rod ends, while the Tie-rod ends are called outer tie-rod ends. Some websites list them all as drag link ends or tie rod ends, and LMC lists them both seperate as i am always used to hearing them called, i.e. drag link ends and tie rod ends....


Anyone notice this, or able to clear up exactly what to order or call the certain parts?

Here is the page from LMC, if you click on it twice, you can read it better. I ordered parts # 1 through #5 today. My local guy said the three drag link parts were available, and pretty standard used for many model years, but the tie rod ends (#1 & #2 in diagram below) were not available anymore.