Another front end story...

[JRWid]

2 runs ago, at Last Chance Canyon, my driver side tie rod decided to loosen up on me and we had to do a quick realignment on the trail (big thanks to the So CA group who showed me how easy it was). Back it town, I took it to Firestone for the lifetime alignment and I thought all was well. Couple weeks later we head out to Cleghorn/2n17x and everything seems fine. Fast forward to last weekend, I get in the truck and steering wheel is cockeyed 20 degrees and it squeels like a little schoolgirl rounding corners. Off to see Firestone again (love that lifetime alignment!) and turns out my idler and pitman arm are shot - could see the center link had inches of play. Amazing how quickly those parts deteriorated. Anyway, a few $100 bills later and its driving like its new again.

I did a little searching and see that apparently this is quite a common problem among the H2 and GMs. I see a couple of good write-ups on the Cognito Idler and Pitman arm support kit. Any other thoughts out there on this set-up?

Internet wisdon seems to think that we are lucky to get 5000 miles before failure on these stock parts. I've put 15,000 hard and fun miles, thanks again to this community :cheers:, just wondering if I should add the Cognito support.

 

[06 H3]

Zach should have some good input, I believe he has em. Luckily the damage wasn't too bad.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[MuDnYrI]

Any other thoughts out there on this set-up?
just wondering if I should add the Cognito support.

I have that set up + the Kryptonite T Rods and Kryptonite Center Link and I would suggest getting em. As a matter of fact I hereby am ordering you to get em!
Thank you!! :wink:

 

[Trekker]

I have that set up + the Kryptonite T Rods and Kryptonite Center Link and I would suggest getting em. As a matter of fact I hereby am ordering you to get em!
Thank you!! :wink:

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on the Kryptonite T rods and center link. Perhaps I should look at the Pitman and idler arm setup as well.

 

[Zach]

I am running the Cognito pitman/idler support. And would strongly suggest this as a future mod. I replaced my idler and pitman arm around 60k and added the support then. Now at 140k and no issues. I am only running the rare parts tie rods now. The Kryptonite center link is an option possibly down the road but haven't had any issues with it yet. Running 37's and in your case 38's put a lot more stress on pressure on the front end. Another thing you want to keep an eye on is your front hubs. I have replaced mine twice so far

 

[JRWid]

Alright, sounds like a worthy upgrade.

What's the warning signs witht frint hubs???

 

[Timgco]

Moog idler/ pitman replacements
Cognito support kit
Krypto Center Link and TieRods
RCV's

Than you're pretty much set for the front end.

I think TomP has this setup with all of the above.

 

[Zach]

What's the warning signs witht frint hubs???

The easiest way to check the front hubs for play is to jack up the front end then grab the tire to see if you have any movement from side to side or up and down. If you have any play there is a possibilty you have a bad hub. The last time mine went out, when i would run through water. I would get a grinding noise which would go away shortly after. Apparently, I had water intrusion inside the hub which casued it to grenade the bearings inside the hub. Here is a picture of my last one. I have only seen this once and of course it had to be my truck

 

[Big2dabank]

I have that set up + the Kryptonite T Rods and Kryptonite Center Link and I would suggest getting em. As a matter of fact I hereby am ordering you to get em!
Thank you!! :wink:

I have the same setup on my truck and agree it is worth the money. As far as hubs, I have only replaced mine once on each side.

 

[JRWid]

I put the Fabtech tie rods on in 2008 at same time as tires and lift. I know some question the quality of the Fabtech parts, but mine seem to be solid - with roughly 15000 miles all on the 38s. I think I'm going to go with both Cognito parts, the Idler/pitman support arms and the idler pivot assembly, just to be safe. The play and slop on the center link before the arms were replaced was incredible....

 

[Zach]

You should be good with the tie rods. The quality has gone down in the last couple of years. The ones I bought were junk, but that was 2010.

 

[Fish]

When I recently upgraded to 37's they checked my pitman and idler while they were in there and mine also had inches of play in it so I replaced them. That was around 40k miles. They ( 4 wheel parts ) recomended the support kit but I blew my $$ on the tires and rims, its definelty still on my list. I need to check my front hubs too...

( and I still need to borrow your trailer John :wink: )

 

[JRWid]

( and I still need to borrow your trailer John :wink: )

anytime, just give me a call when you need it

 

[autumn walker]

As far as this parts list is concerned, is this what we are talking about for the tie rods and RCV?

http://dmaxstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_30&products_id=479
https://www.rcvperformance.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=38&products_id=87

Would the RCV replace the factory hubs or are they still a concern?

Any other links / sources for the parts. Those are pretty expensive.

 

[Big2dabank]

I just use autozone half shafts as trail spares. I am of the opinion you could grenade your diff with those RCV shafts. I'd rather spend 15 mins replacing an oem half shaft than deal with a grenaded front diff by using shafts that don't break.