Hey guys... Just wondering what you would think I would need to do to my truck to do 4x4 launches.... I've seen a lot of diesels have tie rod/steering problems. I know I'm not making that kind of torque but I would rather reinforce something before it breaks than try to figure out what happened after it breaks. Here is what I got...
-2500 non HD 2004 Silverado ccsb
-tvs1900
-3" pulley @ about 9psi
-airaid intake
-90mm throttle body/x- link
-ls9 cam and springs
-id725 injectors
-american racing headers 1 7/8 PRI.
-4.56 gears w/285/60/18 tires (31.5")
-tune by black bear 6300rpm shift
- stock trans and converter.

 

Limiting straps on the front end and tie rod sleeves are big helpers. I upgraded to a Cognito idler arm pivot too, really beefy piece. Along with Moog inner and outer tie rods, idler arm and pitman arm.

 

He nailed it. But Id say sleeves and straps for really hard launches is all you need. I'm doing it in a 1500 just fine.

 

Thanks! I'll start checking out some of those products. I wasn't sure if I needed them or not since I'm not a diesel. I don't mind spending a little money on things I need, I just didn't want to blow it if it was totally unnecessary for a gasser. By the way, it has no lift. Although I do have the enjoy keys turned up just a bit.

 

Might want to consider these instead of sleeves. Its what I have on mine basically. Chevy Heavy Duty Tie Rods

 

Those look cool! So you think they would be a problem on something that gets used a little? I still use my truck to pull my bass boat around and sometimes we take a fishing trip where I'll go 1500 miles round trip.. They look strong, I was just wondering because of having no dust boot on them/contamination issues... Do you think they wear good? Thanks, Dave.

 

I mean you may have to replace the joints every 50k or so, but I don't know for certain to me honest. You could make a boot if you really wanted to. Try the sleeves first and if those don't work then try the heims. Price you pay for racetruck status!

 

get idler and pitman braces from Cognito too.

Cognito Pitman Idler Support Kit PISK2008 for Chevy,GMC

 

Nice! These are the kinds of things I need to know!

 

Im in the same boat as you launching in 4wd and didnt want to mess up my steering. I run the cognito braces like posted and Merchants Automotive sleeves. The heim joints are nice but Ive heard of people complaining about them wearing out. There are other heavy duty tie rods that still have grease fittings in them too. But my setup is the cognito braces, entire new moog steering components, and the MA sleeves and Ive have no trouble at all. I do 2.1 60' with a stock stall and an at least 6500 lb truck