Top quality parts

[RIPPEDK5]

so im sinking money in 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71

So I would like your thoughts on the best products for things like bushings (sway- bar links- bushings)

The most heavy duty ball joint for chevy IFS

Tie rods, Idler arm, pitman, arms, etc...that are worth the money and are street legal (i dont think heim joints are legal in mass)

Best quality Wheel hub bearing unit..

Best disc brake conversion w/ E-brake for a rear (1986 rear 10 bolt--yeah i know long story)

 

[sweetk30]

http://www.cognitomotorsports.com/products/

seen lots of guys use this stuff. thay do help with play in steering .

and as for wheel bearings timkin or national or gm units if you ask me.

but quick way to kill 50% of the life out of a new wheel bearing unit in any aplication is using a impact gun to install the axle shaft nut. and there IS A SPEC for the tourqe on the nut.

you use a impact gun and or also over tourqe the nut you damage the bearing surfaces and cut the life in half. the spec for your truck is 177ft-lb .

just tryed to install some ball joints for a guy he supplyed the b/j's and thay were some off brand china junk from advanced auto . got 1 set installed on left and went to tighten down upper b/j castle nut by hand and then snug up and align cotter pin hole with 1/2" craftsman ratchet and socket and RIPPED the threads clean off the shaft for the ball joint. this scared the hell out of me i have never seen this in many years as a auto tech . quickly removed them and reboxed up all 4 and took back to the storefor money back . then stoped in town at napa and got there econ brand ( yes not usa or moog ) as custom was on budget and needed done asap and was drop off at my shop. installed these and 100% perfect no problems. and all 4 are greasable .

dont forget the gm uppers on the ifs can be directional for range of motion on some b/j replacements . if not installed correctly you will snap a upper off when you cycle the suspension against the built in stops.

 

[RIPPEDK5]

I know theyve come out with ball joints for dodges and stuff that are upgrades and nearly bullet proof....

Have they made an upgrade for the ball joints for Chevy?


that is scary, that was some cheap sh*t if they broke with your ratchet

 

[brian wafer]

here my experiance with ball joints. i live in a saw mill town ,all foremans and forestry workers. some company trucks beat too ****.that do buisness with my shop. i mainly install napa parts, on one truck would change upper ball joint every 2 oil change about 9000 miles.tryed a few napa lifttime warrenty.then a cheap napa, with almost the same result. after that got an ac delco, turns out its the same as a lift time warrenty napa. exact same marking and with inboard scribe on it. original gm came with control arm customer said too expensive others were all warrenty too some extend,(and he like the word warrenty)!!!then i call a former friend and carquest employ he offer moogs,got a credit from napa an install moogs they were the better ones in my case . would replace once too twice a year. that truck was sold to another customer warrenty fell , and i install a cheap napa still tight 2 years now but truck is run a lot easyer. same control arm must of had dozens off balljoints install in it ,still tight press fit.

 

[RIPPEDK5]

My ball joints are original to the truck with 135,000 miles on them. and are just barely starting to show some wear; this is probably because they get regular maintenance / no get abused off road or heavy hauling/ work loads

Cant really use the cognito tie rods; Heim or uniball joints are not legal for road use in massachusetts...

with that said i looked at CST performance and they have a HD tie rod,, though seems pretty steep on price($370+tax+shipping) (new inner and outer tie rod are just under $100 at parts store) .. and looking at that tie rod, looks like the weak point is right after the boot; looks the same size as stock??

Ive replaced the tie rods and idler arm 2-3 times already since ive owned the truck.

 

[sweetk30]

funny uniball not legal. same basic design of a inner tie rod end on rack/pinion steering AND chevy 99-up ifs trucks .

 

[RIPPEDK5]

In massahusetts you have a real hard time with inspections and altered suspensions.

it might be the same design sort of say, but drilling out knuckles and heim joints that are open to the elements and abused everyday and not just in the woods or track..just in personal experience (other people may be different); everytime there is a question or challenge against that type of steering, the RMV always tells you/ them to fail it cause its altered...

But if it had a long life in salt,sand, snow and mud (I do live in New England) I would love to run them, but I was told they dont hold up well in constant harsh environments like road salt mixed with sand and snow

and p.s I dont have rack and pinion steering...though it may be steering box and been around for ages, it feels just as flimsy lol