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Axle/tire size/steering

TJ1978

TJ1978

I have MANY questions
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ive been browsing around build threads and questions about tire threads. I have 3/4 axles with 37’ tires 4’ lift but no hydro assist or cross over steering. No steering gear box brace either. My fenders are cut as well.

Am I pushing the limits of stock steering running 37’ tires? So to the point, I’m wondering if scaling back to 35’’s might be a better option for drivability for street with off-roading being second. Or ar 37’s fine but do I need to upgrade some steering to handle it more safely?

At what point does having cross over, hydro assist, become necessary?
 
TJ1978 said:
ive been browsing around build threads and questions about tire threads. I have 3/4 axles with 37’ tires 4’ lift but no hydro assist or cross over steering. No steering gear box brace either. My fenders are cut as well.

Am I pushing the limits of stock steering running 37’ tires? So to the point, I’m wondering if scaling back to 35’’s might be a better option for drivability for street with off-roading being second. Or ar 37’s fine but do I need to upgrade some steering to handle it more safely?

At what point does having cross over, hydro assist, become necessary?
Click to expand...
When you lock the front axle, it becomes really obvious that those things make it better
 
So at any point in building a blazer, those should just be a given and purchased when you can?

I was mainly wondering at what point is it absolutely necessary to have steering upgrades? So you’re saying, yes! Right now get them? Hahahahahah

Am I at the limit of stock steering? Would scaling down to 35’s only be a temporary “fix”or am I fine at 37’s... I priced cross over and hydro from ORD.. not anytime soon can I swing that.
 
Bent77 said:
Are ya gonna wheel it?
Click to expand...
Eventually... but probably not as hardcore (like rock crawling and the like) as others here.
I’m guessing with that question the answer is yes, get cross over, hydro etc...
 
It’s really hard to steer in high traction place with a locker

probably recommend in this order

brace
Cross over
Locker
Hydro

more power
Doubler...
 
i have run 235/85/16 to 38x12.50x16.5 tsl swampers all on a k30 and still get away with push/pull steering system . trails / mud / recovery . i do have a bolt in ORD brace on all my trucks tho .

as bent77 said thats a solid game plan for the order of parts .
 
I've rock crawled with 38's and tons on my stock steering. I put the brace in after seeing the frame cracked although I don't know when it cracked. I haven't had any issues with it in the rock or driving around town. ORD advised me against the crossover with their 4" lift since it might have clearance issues and my truck is aimed more towards street than trail. So I saved the money and invested it in their custom leaf springs.
 
I have run 37" tires on D44 front for a long time. No real issues with daily driving or casual weekend wheeling. When you really flex out the front suspension like when rock crawling you run out of articulation with the stock drag link. If you are all crossed up in a rock garden this is a problem. If you are just crossing a ditch in the trail its no big deal. Put a steering brace in and don't put a front locker in until you are ready to spend the money for the upgraded parts. All the parts you listed are great but none of them are needed to have a good time in your truck. Don't get caught up thinking you need all those parts to go wheeling. It happens to us all and the best remedy is to go out and run what you have and enjoy it.
 
You drill how many holes and does the steering box have to come off to install it?
 
TJ1978 said:
You drill how many holes and does the steering box have to come off to install it?
Click to expand...
The steering box can stay on the truck, but I would be ready to loosen the 2 front bolts if you have problems putting the rear ones in with the brace. Then once those are in, install the little brace.
 
HankScorpio said:
I have run 37" tires on D44 front for a long time. No real issues with daily driving or casual weekend wheeling. When you really flex out the front suspension like when rock crawling you run out of articulation with the stock drag link. If you are all crossed up in a rock garden this is a problem. If you are just crossing a ditch in the trail its no big deal. Put a steering brace in and don't put a front locker in until you are ready to spend the money for the upgraded parts. All the parts you listed are great but none of them are needed to have a good time in your truck. Don't get caught up thinking you need all those parts to go wheeling. It happens to us all and the best remedy is to go out and run what you have and enjoy it.
Click to expand...


Yes... thanks for the reminder. I’m here thinking “what else, hmmm?” But I’m good for now. I do want to brace the steering box (which I just ordered). The other steering upgrades are on my list when money permits. Those upgrades are not cheap. Not that I want cheap stuff but they will take longer to save for.

Plus I have no where near the off road experience as most here, so I want to learn as much and be prepared as much as I can when off roading becomes more common for me.
I’m a bit of an over thinker and planner. Hehehe.

Thanks for the reminder.
“Just drive it, bro”
 
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The internet and forums are a dangerous place and can really make you go down rabbit holes with "necessary and required modifications" that really aren't needed for 99.9% of the people browsing the forums. This forum is one of the better ones of steering people properly but the diesel forums and some of the other car forums I'm on will have you chasing thousands of dollars of "required modifications" in order to make your vehicle be better and safer and last longer and blah blah blah. One of those forums is telling people they have to custom mix oil weights to get the appropriate mixture for their engines and another is telling people to immediately install $1000 gauge packages to monitor a stock engine. I chased those rabbits once upon a time. Now I just sit back and drive my vehicles and enjoy them instead of worrying about what the internet says.
 
centexk5 said:
The internet and forums are a dangerous place and can really make you go down rabbit holes with "necessary and required modifications" that really aren't needed for 99.9% of the people browsing the forums. This forum is one of the better ones of steering people properly but the diesel forums and some of the other car forums I'm on will have you chasing thousands of dollars of "required modifications" in order to make your vehicle be better and safer and last longer and blah blah blah. One of those forums is telling people they have to custom mix oil weights to get the appropriate mixture for their engines and another is telling people to immediately install $1000 gauge packages to monitor a stock engine. I chased those rabbits once upon a time. Now I just sit back and drive my vehicles and enjoy them instead of worrying about what the internet says.
Click to expand...

Hahahah. Sounds about right. I’m my own worst enemy. I like to tinker plus I really enjoy learning about this.
So tinkering leads to questions, which leads.... to most unnecessary “upgrades”

But in my case this truck was beat to shit.. so some things I have to do. Thankfully the guys here are full of advise and wisdom in regards to “needs” “wants”

Tackling Tcase leak today. Dm to bent77 for guidance.
 
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