Project 4x4 Commuter Mazda

[escort_gts]

http://www.trail-gear.com/ram-assist-rock-assault-front-axle-housing-bracket

What is this bracket going to be used for?

 

[legoms013]

The bracket is for where the driver's side tie rod connects to the passenger side tie rod, or draglink I suppose. Goes right in front of the axle pivot point.

I don't like the idea of heims on a truck that drives mainly on the highway (sometimes 500 mi a week). Plus they aren't really "legal" but thats not my primary concern. So I eliminated 3 heims from the basic stonecrusher setup and that way the parts are more "off the shelf" and wear and tear is less of a problem (TREs will last a dang long time.....heims are exposed joints and won't last as long before needing replacement). For the single heim I am going to run, I'll keep a spare or too, and just keep a good watch on it.

The straps bugged me bad, Ford coulda done better, but instead I had too haha

 

[legoms013]

Bolt:

Handle and a bag of 10 Nylocs (debating whether to return them or use one and sell the rest).

 

[ronclark]

I love your truck.
I wish i had tools to do a few things you have done to mine.

 

[legoms013]

Today's progress:

Still haven't quit for the day, currently reaming out the pitman arm. I hope to get the draglink fabbed up tonight.

 

[legoms013]

Callin it quits. We'll see what I get done tomorrow.

 

[railman]

nice job so far

keep up the good work.....

l8r, John

 

[legoms013]

Got bracket welded on and threaded insert welded too (with plug welds).

Steady progress, 1pm to 5pm. Then after cleaning up and putting all the tools away, and getting ready to roughly set the toe I hit a brick wall.

Seems the heim joint seized up inside the weld in bung. Now I have to cut the bung off and weld another one in. The heim is a throw away too, me trying to get it out ruined the threads. Plus 900+ lbs.ft. isn't something I can achieve as a human being. Sheesh the toe was pretty close too it only needed a little bit of adjustment.

Also I need to find some 3/4" sleeve to make some thin washers out of, so the heim doesn't bind. My mis-alignment spacers I bought won't work.

And there was an interference issue between the bracket/bolt with my skyjacker drop bracket...so I had to bend the draglink to clear it. Why am I the only one with this issue? I have seen a handful of other Stonecrusher setups with a straight draglink.

I dunno if I'll sleep tonight, too many loose ends for my liking lol.

 

[Kyle M.]

I ruined a heim and bung too doing the same thing. I thinking I am going to invest in a set of L and R hand taps to clean the threads out in the future. Just enough to piss you off!

 

[88_Eddie]

well it's lookin good at least

 

[4.0B2]

love it.. if i do go ttb i'll be doing this to.. or something like it.

 

[legoms013]

Thanks guys.

Yeah I'm gonna buy a new bung, jam nut and heim, as well as a tap. The original one is toast. Threads are stripped and its all seized up in the bung.

Will weld the bung with the bolt in, let it completely cool, then chase it with a 3/4-16 tap.

I was on a role too, I should have left it, atleast it was drivable 1.5 hrs ago lol. Now its not...

Anybody know where I can get some sleeve for a 3/4" bolt? <<<<<EDIT. The lightbulb came on, I'll just use some 3/4" ID steel pipe from work. Bingo, done. Gotta love working for a HVAC & plumbing company....

All said and done, it looked pretty slick when it was all together before I took it apart and found the heim seized in there.

Another hiccup I forgot to mention was that the knuckle steering arms must be thicker dimensionally than chevy knuckles, as I can't thread the nut on far enough to get the cotter pins in for the 3 TREs. For the draglink TRE all I have to do is deepen 2 slots on the castle nut with my dremel or air cutoff. For the knuckle TREs I'm going to get new nuts and drill a cotter pin hole all the way through in the correct place.

All minor things yes, but they cause me to not sleep as well haha.

And before anyone asks, no I will not make you one sorry...all you get is the pictures I've posted and information about what I did if you ask. Or just buy the one from Stonecrusher, as that would be quicker and more cost effective. I'm gonna be close to $400 when all said and done (low cost wasn't really a driving force anyway...beefiness and a better draglink TRE was). Less bumpsteer (hopefully) will be a by-product.

 

[legoms013]

Finished it up tonight and went for a test drive. All seems good. Bumpsteer is lesser. But still noticeable when the front passenger side hits a bump (as the passenger side tie-rod or draglink goes up, it pulls on the driver's side tie-rod).

Still need to:
Drill holes in new nuts for cotter pins (dremeled existing castle-nuts temporarily)
Paint


Welded the new bung a little cooler, then ran a 3/4-16 tap through it after letting it cool down. New heim threaded right in with no problem.

Modified castle nut to get me by for a while. Notice the toasted old heim in the background.

 

[88_Eddie]

if i ever get my b2 running again (hopefully sometime this week) i am gonna steal the shit out of your idea. looks awesome man nice work

 

[legoms013]

go right on ahead, its already built on stolen ideas, so i won't be offended