Fitting 35’s with minimal trimming NOW ADDING LONG TRAVEL AND 934 CV’s

Brand new Milwaukee bit wouldn’t even scratch it. Not sure if it’s hardened or what or if the bit is just shit. But we’ve been in the campus machine shop a bit lately for my senior project so I’ll have one of the shop managers use one of the mills or something to bore it out for me one day this week.

 

So what exactly is that?

 

Pictured is their slide rack kit, heimed tie rods, spindle gussets and steering double shear gussets

 

That’s a new one to me, does it go with the oem steering rack to make it stronger or something?

 

Yes like this.

 

I went through 3 reamers to get it done. This is the one that worked: Accusize Industrial Tools H.S.S. Spiral Flute Aligning Reamer, 5/8'' Cutting Diameter, 1/2'' Shank Diameter, 0522-0058

$44 Accusize Industrial Tools H.S.S. Spiral Flute Aligning Reamer, 5/8'' Cutting Diameter, 1/2'' Shank Diameter, 0522-0058

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0771SH4P6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Lz7IFbSDY2VFX

 

Good to know if I can’t get it done at the machine shop.

 

Not sure if the material was that hard before welding the spindle gussets, but it was hard as hell after. Really took a lot of time and effort to get through. Hopefully you can get it knocked out on a mill.

 

Hmmm I wonder how this setup is as opposed to the solo motors tundra rack swap

 

The tundra rack is tried and true, but so are adding slide racks/ rack savers as I first heard them called. This basically doubles the shaft size of the rack as well as puts it in double shear which the tundra rack doesn’t. As far as I know, this does a better job of minimizing changes in bump steer but I’m not 100% sure of that, and for a primarily off road truck I don’t see a smidge or bump steer as a major issue. Maybe @81Trekker can chime in with his thoughts about the comparison?

Big thing for me on this was an easier install. Since this mocks up off the stock rack, I assume there’s less critical measurements required for the necessary cutting for clearance. Vs the tundra rack which you need to cut out the stock mounting points and measure/ mock up the new ones with far more precision.

 

Weird, I just drilled through mine with a 5/8" drill bit I had and it took about 15 seconds per side on oe spindles!

Took some pictures today. Got everything cut off and cleaned up, got the LCA kit fitted up ready to weld, and notched for the 934's. Also got the spindle gussets tacked up.

Unfortunately I had to do a bunch of work stuff today which ate up most of my day. Just got home now. Appreciate my friends who helped out with most of the grinding while I had to take care of work things! Big ups to @81Trekker for doing all of that grinding solo on so many trucks.

I'm not a super good welder at the best of times, but I discovered that my rear cross member is literally paper thin and I can't weld to it without blowing through, so I will have to make some plates to plate that in where there are big holes now. Nothing is ever easy.

What's the inside scoop on pulling the outer CVs? I cannot figure out an easy way to do it.

 

I always drill the spindle first with a 5/8 reamer and it goes through in about 5 seconds. It’s much more difficult after welding as it hardens the material

 

I pull the outer CV’s apart by cutting the axle as close to the outer star as possible. Once you do that you can rotate the star and pull the balls/star/cage apart. With everything apart I put the star/cut axle in the lathe and drill out the axle from the backside until you hit the inner clip... this allows everything to come apart.

 

probably the type of bit I was using. I definitely tried prior to welding but gave up. The guys in the machine shop should have something better than what I have at home.

 

You need a reamer not a drill bit

 

Okay! Well I will get the cage and balls pulled out, and see what I can do. I don't have a metal lathe unfortunately, and my press is only 5T. Thanks!

Drill bit worked fine for me, going in from the big side of the taper, but maybe I just got lucky.

 

10-20 solid hits with a brass hammer with the axle shaft in a vice and they popped right off!!!

 

All I see are some good cores

 

Ooo I like that hammer.

 

They are the best and big brass punches too