Me Vs. BDS kit

mrminnis · 05-19-2008, 08:57 PM

Day one.

it is really nice only have 35k on the jeep and taking all this stuff apart. everything came off nice and easy. we got the old coils and shocks off. The sway bar links are removed, new bumpstops, brakelines and coils put on. We then relaized we forgot to pick up the 2 boxes of control arms that were at the shop. pretty good considering we did not have any beer. no extra trips to the parts store.I have pics but will upload them later.

me 1 lift kit 0

Day 2

put together the control arms (greased the piss of of them). Installed a retrackable extenstion cord in the shop. spend the next 3.5 hours installing the front lower control arms. IT SUCKED!!

tried to remove the pitman arm. we need a puller and some new cotter pins parts store is closed.(oh yea NO ONE works on there car past 8 PM during the week.

) guess I'll call it a night

me 1 lift kit 1

Overall the kit hardware is high quality. directions read weird but that is normal. haveing the extra "toys" makes it more time consuming.looking at the suspension I am glad I purchased the extra stuff becuase it will work together better. I just winder if would have been worthwhile to add the upper control arms while i was at it.

**bman9089** · 05-19-2008, 09:07 PM

well, try not to let it bother you too much, and enjoy the challenge. When you drop that jack off the pumpkin and see your jeep stand on it's own feet again, it'll all be woth it.

mrminnis · 05-20-2008, 09:19 PM

Day three:

Rented a puller from the parts store for 150 bucks

. go the pitman arm off and new one on. everything else is back one and ready to rock. one last thing is i neeed a 1/2 drill bit to install the adjustable trackbar. (the lower hole needs to be bigger)

jeep is on the ground looks good IMO

BlackBellamy · 05-20-2008, 09:56 PM

ok just making sure i'm reading this right

it's a pitman arm puller, right?

like this?

cause you get one for fifteen bucks

when you say 'rented' you mean they wanted $150 for a deposit that you get back, not the rental fee, right?

(still outrageous if only a deposit - my local shop will let you borrow them with ID, or nothing if they know you)

VTECZILLA · 05-21-2008, 12:26 PM

Buy one for $20.00 from Sears them return it when done

PJL · 05-21-2008, 02:21 PM

When I did my pitman arm while replacing my power steering box, it took a blowtorch, a BFH, and the 5k lbs., 3 jaw puller from Auto Zone. I rented a pitman arm puller from them and broke 3 of them (they're made out of cheap metal and break right at the top where those tabs turn in) before trying the 5k lbs. puller. Renting them is the only way to go, IMO.

**bman9089** · 05-21-2008, 04:40 PM

why are you replacing the pitman arm?

mrminnis · 05-21-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackBellamy

ok just making sure i'm reading this right

it's a pitman arm puller, right?

like this?

cause you get one for fifteen bucks

when you say 'rented' you mean they wanted $150 for a deposit that you get back, not the rental fee, right?

(still outrageous if only a deposit - my local shop will let you borrow them with ID, or nothing if they know you)

They did not rent just the pitman arm, they rented a suspension service kit. it had two pickel forks (i already had those), inner tie rod removal tool (would have been nice to have known there was such an animal when i replaced them on my tempo

) and the pitman arm puller.

By rent i mean when i turned it back in i got my money back. To buy one here is like 30 bucks. I figured it wasn't worth it and spent $11 on some bud light.

I am replacing the pitman arm becuase it came with the kit and said to in the destructions.

I thought it was weird too but who i am to judge.

I don't think i'll get to work on it again untill tommarow night because my helper (14 month old son) doesn't have someone to play with him while i work on the rear end.

My rear track bar came in today so i was happy.

**bman9089** · 05-21-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrminnis

I am replacing the pitman arm becuase it came with the kit and said to in the destructions.

I thought it was weird too but who i am to judge.

You don't need it. It will cause bump steer if you install it. I still don't understand why manufacturers are still including them with lifts, because you have to have at least 5" of lift to consider using them. Ask other people around the board if they're using them. I don't with my lift, and I know other people with 3" and 4" lifts haven't changed their stock pitman arm.

BiGEN · 05-21-2008, 08:46 PM

my buddy on his tj rubicon changed his pitman arm when he put on his 4inch lift... and i put a new one on on my yj with 4inch lift.. all they do is lower it to recorrect it... so its not at a 90 degree angle.. i would recommend it.. but what do i know.. i dont own a tj

ratster · 05-21-2008, 09:21 PM

Which BDS lift are you installing?

KKiowaTJ · 05-21-2008, 10:46 PM

Do not install the drop pitman arm, It will cause nothing but bump steer and wobble. You only need it on a TJ over 4" lifts. I can cause other damage if it shakes too bad and could cause an accident for you if you are on the highway and it starts to wobble or you hit a bump. Other than that sounds like its goin good, End result will be sweet. Good luck

**Death_Valley_TJ** · 05-22-2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrminnis

I am replacing the pitman arm becuase it came with the kit and said to in the destructions.

I thought it was weird too but who i am to judge.

It's not always a matter of how much lift you have. If your kit has a drop bracket for the track bar then a drop pitman arm is ok. The track bar and drag link should be parallel when at normal ride hight. If not, you can have bump steer.

mrminnis · 05-22-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratster

Which BDS lift are you installing?

I am installing the 3 inch bds kits. I added brakelines, lower control arms and front and rear adjustable track bars. The shop owner specificly gave me the pitman arm and said " I think this is in the parts kit but here is one in case it is not. If it is please bring this one back when your rear trackbar comes in".

**bman9089** · 05-22-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrminnis

I am installing the 3 inch bds kits. I added brakelines, lower control arms and front and rear adjustable track bars. The shop owner specificly gave me the pitman arm and said " I think this is in the parts kit but here is one in case it is not. If it is please bring this one back when your rear trackbar comes in".

i guess the guy has never worked with wrangler suspensions?

give it back to him.