UncleA's 04 SE

relentless044

Silver Slut
Supporting Member
not sure a little x needs a 12k winch, doing a 9.5k on mine, I had one of those smittybilt winches, it did the job but I wasnt impressed.
I dig your custom fab work :cool:
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
I've got the centerlink blues. They don't sell upgraded center links anymore, so now I'm forced to build one myself from my old core.

All you OG 1st gen guys... got any part numbers for bearings I can use for these? Do both the idler arm ball joint AND the pitman arm fixed bolt need to be replaced, or is it just the idler arm ball joint?

Appreciate any input. Sticking with the inferior stock center link is not an option. I'm building this rig to be bombproof.

View attachment 20712
I'm very curious what you find out here. I have an old centerlink that I want to have modified to be bullet proof as well.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
So, I'm a second Gen guy, be patient with me but I have some experience with fabrication.

Do the tapered joints in the OE center link just spin or are they a multi axis joint like the TREs?
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
They're like ball joints
This. It uses ball joints in the OE Centerlink, just like tie rods. That's where the weakness comes from.

The grassroots centerlink gets rid of any flex in the steering by eliminating The ball joint, and replacing it with a bearing.

OP is trying to recreate the grassroots setup himself. And if he can, maybe we can send our centerlinks his way? ;)
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
This. It uses ball joints in the OE Centerlink, just like tie rods. That's where the weakness comes from.

The grassroots centerlink gets rid of any flex in the steering by eliminating The ball joint, and replacing it with a bearing.

OP is trying to recreate the grassroots setup himself. And if he can, maybe we can send our centerlinks his way? ;)
What keeps it stable vertically?
 

reaver

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Caldwell, ID
What keeps it stable vertically?
That's the issue. In the OE setup, nothing, really. The ball joints allow it to flex up and down (rotate). It's connected to the pitman and idler arm.

By replacing the ball joints with bearings, you eliminate the ability for it to rotate up and down.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Bolted up the center link and everything fits fine. Steering is able to go through it's full ROM without any binding. Steering felt nice and tight as far as I can tell with no tie rods and wheels attached. The centerlink now operates on a fixed plane without slop and will no longer rotate from the forces from the tie rods.

I think this setup will work great with one caveat; since the pitman arm bolt is now completely fixed and doesn't move or rotate, I'll have to keep the mating surface lubricated with grease to prevent excessive wear. I'm thinking some agricultural grade ultra heavy duty grease that sticks around for a long time, or drill and tap a hole in the pitman arm end and install a threaded grease fitting for quick and easy service.


View attachment 20894
I bought a case of Lucas Marine grease since it's almost sticky in nature and hold's up well in a salt water environment. We use it on pedal's/lever's and all spool winder's on the workboat's . IMHO
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I love that you fixed the steering without throwing it all in the garbage. It's not a difficult system, but the fact that parts are getting more and more scarce really requires people like you.
 
Didn't realize this place would be moderated by a bunch of busy body crybabies who cannot handle the absolute slightest of bantz

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Anyway, peace out. Not gonna contribute to a place ran by HR managers. Good luck to all.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
We don't talk politics here. We talk trucks. The rules are clear. Your reaction of deleting all your posts over something that was a clear violation of the rules shows that we're not the babies. Best of luck to you.
 
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