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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: BFM on May 19, 2005, 01:50:41 AM

Title: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: BFM on May 19, 2005, 01:50:41 AM
Geo Tracker, ready for 3" body lift.... but I'm not sure if I need an extension on the steering.  Any advice/ pictures of what you guys are running?  I've read lines about a "slip" type of joint that will allow for the B.L. but I don't know what the "slip" type of joint looks like.  

I pumped to get my build started, but I want to be prepared.  
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: SnoFalls on May 19, 2005, 03:01:38 AM
check out
http://www.zukiworld.com/month_120104/feature_sky_bodylift_install.htm (it's a 2" but ...)

Step 4 talks about the steering shaft. I put a mark on mine (2") to see how much it came out ... I think it pulled out 1/4" or so.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: ed oorklep on May 19, 2005, 03:27:52 AM
I believe they all are "slip"type but you'll need to grind of a little piece. The shaft consists of 2 or 3 pieces which fit into eachother with splines on them. If you grind of the piece that is between the two pieces (a little smaller and connected to the thicker piece), then you can hammer it in and out and make it fit exactly right, next you put a sleeve or something around it and it looks stock, If you want to you can even weld it so It'll never move.
Another method would be just grinding it in 2 pieces and welding a piece of tube into it.
Good luck with your BL! :)
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: SnoFalls on May 19, 2005, 04:27:12 AM
Are you talking about lifting a 99+? (I was thinkin you meant a 89-98 ...)
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: ed oorklep on May 19, 2005, 04:37:17 AM
Yeah good Q SnoFalls  ;D I was thinking about 89-98  ;D
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: the_maplebar on May 19, 2005, 04:57:19 AM
Well, in 99+ they are a Chevy Tracker not a Geo so that is a pretty safe assumption.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: PYRO on October 27, 2005, 08:25:16 AM
So you are saying a 92 Geo Tracker wont need welds on steering rod for a 3" B.L.? Heather's does not say anything about welding on streering shaft.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: chet on October 27, 2005, 09:39:22 AM
on my '91 I had to add some washers and longer bolts to the rag joint end as mine has no slip shaft. The Calmini instructions mentioned adding like 2" but that was WAY off! It was more like 1/4-1/2"
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: BFM on October 27, 2005, 09:47:41 AM
Yes, yes, yes.   Make your own spacer for the joint.  How about some pictures of some steering shaft extensions.  Even the manufactures won't show you a picture of their product, they only ask you what type of shaft you have.

Pictures...pictures...pictures.  I don't want to have my shaft come apart driving down the road.  Please help me do it right the first time.

BTW I have what Masterkit1 calls the Large Absorber style shaft.
 
This steering question is the only thing keeping me from installing my homemade kit, I have everything else sorted.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: toolman21 on October 27, 2005, 12:49:33 PM
Well when I did mine the steering slip was actually enough that it was still in there pretty good, but I did set a small section of metal over the slip and weld it in place just in case....made me feel better about it anyway.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: PYRO on October 27, 2005, 01:52:34 PM
on my '91 I had to add some washers and longer bolts to the rag joint end as mine has no slip shaft. The Calmini instructions mentioned adding like 2" but that was WAY off! It was more like 1/4-1/2"

Chet, was it a 3" B.L.? or a 2",,, I made my set of 3" box tube from Heather´s article, mine is a 2 door and the steering shaft question is the only thing holding me up to get dirty and lift my track.
Thanks
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: 94track on October 27, 2005, 05:29:01 PM
when I did my bl, 3",  on my old 94, I did have to make an extension, I believe it was just a little under 2"(I took off rag joint, and measured between and my measurement was different from calminis i remember.  Simple to make, 10 min. most. (with a mig ).  A little hint, use the metal plate that is on the rag joint for a "template" when you drill the steel. I wish I had a pic to show, but it is simple. just remember to deduct the thickness of the flat steel when you cut the round bar.  I used 1/4" thick flat steel (i forget length and width, for width I just double the size of the fastener that i am drilling for, ex. 1/2" bolt i use 1" wide) round bar was 9/16".  I know this is a little confusing, but any questions feel free to ask, i tried my best (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v521/94track/extension.jpg)
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: SiKiD_01 on October 27, 2005, 09:31:49 PM
here is the steering shaft spacer i needed for my 3" BL to be legal.

made out of 4140 HT steel, and machined on a lathe. the steering shaft i used was out of a 94 model vitara, and is about 1" shorter than the one i have on my 89 model. my original shaft did not have a rag joint of any sort on it, thats why i had to get the one with a rag joint.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/sikid_01/DSC08827.jpg)
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: ed oorklep on October 27, 2005, 11:44:42 PM
Wow SiKiD that looks professional  ;D
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: Rhinoman on October 28, 2005, 04:41:18 AM
on my '91 I had to add some washers and longer bolts to the rag joint end as mine has no slip shaft. The Calmini instructions mentioned adding like 2" but that was WAY off! It was more like 1/4-1/2"

I had the same experience.
Title: Re: Any pic's of steering extensions?
Post by: PYRO on October 28, 2005, 07:46:41 AM
on my '91 I had to add some washers and longer bolts to the rag joint end as mine has no slip shaft. The Calmini instructions mentioned adding like 2" but that was WAY off! It was more like 1/4-1/2"

I had the same experience.

Those are good news, seems like I'll be using washers and longer Bolts on my 3" BL since mine has  rag joint (plastic pieces right??). I'll try to upload pics from my weekend project.
Thanks All.