Best, strongest, most simple steering linkage.

[MonsterBIlly]

I am limited with time these days, and also, my body hurts from the years of abuse. I recently upgraded from 33s to 37s. Have a rather new from steering linkage in my 75. But after the 37s, I notice more play in my steering wheel.
So I checked and the drivers side rod end has play.

What is a strong steering linkage that will hold up and not wear out too soon. I dont mind some light drilling or welding but I dont have as much ability to wrench as i once had.

 

[jmangi62]

I did the RuffStuff one ton heim linkage. Not too bad to build and install, and I have 35s and they feel like stock 29s. Some of that has to do with the 4X4X2 ps box. Very tight and responsive, no excessive play.

 

[jmangi62]

Another pic

 

[AZ73]

Ruff Stuff with 1 ton GM Tie Rods. Shannon Campbell was kind enough to weld them up for me. ;D I sanded them along the length and clear coated them so they look like stainless steel.

Jmangi, your PD side spring cup looks like it's off by about 20 degrees clockwise looking down.



https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/YLINK.html

 

[needsmoarturbo]

I would go with the 1ton gm stuff. I have the heim style and it is not as durable in my experience, plus the tie rod ends just look cleaner than heims imo.

 

[englewoodcowboy]

Best strongest most simplest is Duffs heim system. It is the only system that’s fits exactly what you are looking for and it is bolt in ready. You only have to drill your tapers out. No welding etc.

 

[jmangi62]

Jmangi, your PD side spring cup looks like it's off by about 20 degrees clockwise looking down.




How do I correct this? ?:?

 

[jmangi62]

Best strongest most simplest is Duffs heim system. It is the only system that’s fits exactly what you are looking for and it is bolt in ready. You only have to drill your tapers out. No welding etc.

Good point, a bit of welding and fitting things up on the RuffStuff kits.

 

[sykanr0ng]

Wild Horses Clydesdale, cartoon superhero strong.

 

[sanndmann3]

Wild Horses Clydesdale, cartoon superhero strong.

Ready to order until I saw the price... :-X
Looking to upgrade my steering this winter also. Searching the forums for guidance...

 

[sykanr0ng]

Ready to order until I saw the price... :-X
Looking to upgrade my steering this winter also. Searching the forums for guidance...

Best, strongest, most simple steering linkage was the question.

Not one word about cheap. ;D

The RuffStuff kit is a reasonable option, for someone with a bit of fabrication skills.

 

[77broncodriver]

I’ve had the stone crusher heim steering on mine for about 8 years and it’s been great. I daily drove it for 5 years and it was always tight and now just use it as a weekend wheeler and has survived with the occasional encounter with a large rock. I believe James Duff bought stone crusher a while back and sells them now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[migs]

I'm happy with the ruffstuff one ton kit, beefy tie rod ends I can get at the auto parts store plus thick wall strong DOM tubing. It went together easy, feels great on the road and can handle the abuse off road.
If you have the means to cut the tubing and weld the threaded ends on then it's a fairly simple job, not to mention being able to set it up on the truck and ensure everything's correct before welding it.
I also used the same DOM tubing and threaded weld in inserts to build a track bar and a steering box sector shaft brace.
Speaking of track bars, make sure it's tight and there's no slop in either end. Any movement in it can lead to the axle shifting side to side causing a feeling of extra play when steering, even a minute amount can have an affect.

Here's a few shots of my steering linkage, I have F150 knuckles and went tie rod over.

 

[AZ73]

Jmangi, your PD side spring cup looks like it's off by about 20 degrees clockwise looking down.




How do I correct this? ?:?

Sorry, never mind. I assumed the end of the spring would fit into the "dip" in the cup, but mine looks the same. Better safe that sorry!

 

[68ford]

If you go the heim joint route, which I recommend, definitely go 7/8. I have heard too many people wearing out 3/4 and especially 5/8. I sold my old steering work 7/8 heims after about 70,000 miles with a lot of high speed desert driving and they were still actually tight. Not just no play, they were still tight.

 

[ransil]

1 ton GM ends but find threaded DOM vs weld in inserts.

http://www.partsmike.com/index.php?crn=240&rn=1419&action=show_detail

https://www.wfoconcepts.com/Products/ViewProduct.aspx?ID=4614,3707

also there is a thread around here somewhere on a machined part in stead of the passenger tie rod with the reamed out hole.

 

[bronconut73]

Damn....so many choices....

Looks like Duff is the heim/sre system to get.
It also puts your drag link at the right spot to match their track bar riser pivot.

WH has a nice set-up too but it's not heim, it includes their adjustable drag link. The tie rod is supposed to be stronger than stock too. I don't believe it matches Rough Stuff in toughness, but it beats it in ease of installation.

 

[jmangi62]

Sorry, never mind. I assumed the end of the spring would fit into the "dip" in the cup, but mine looks the same. Better safe that sorry!

Yes definitely, thanks for the heads up. ;D

 

[Justafordguy]

I have the Extreme Custom Fab 1 ton steering kit. No welding required just ream the knuckles for the larger tie rod ends. Super easy install, only took about an hour.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TIE-ROD-DRAG-LINK-ASSEMBLY-DANA-44-76-77-Ford-Bronco/330456708909 This is the 76 - 77 kit but they have a kit for the older years also.

 

[sykanr0ng]

I have the Extreme Custom Fab 1 ton steering kit. No welding required just ream the knuckles for the larger tie rod ends. Super easy install, only took about an hour.

https://ebay.us/cNpFSD This is the 76 - 77 kit but they have a kit for the older years also.

Your link just opens the main eBay page.