Bump Steer Correction Kit Installed

[DMS Motorsport]

Its always a challenge deviating form best practices on installations. But I must be practical. There are many poeple in the LX community that are Do it yourselfers. So Introducing other alternatives can present good and bad.

As a Pedders trainer, I have extremely high expectations of the trainees. Thru the entire process i am teaching/asking feedback. So by the time I am done, they have a great understanding of what is happening.

When it comes to assisting guys in doing their own repairs, it is a challenged: especially with the LX installs. some of the install is no big deal, but soem fo the bushes and procedures are very challenging.
The steering gear bush, however, is about as simple of a bush replacememn as hey come. yes, did I skip some procedures? Yes. Safety glasses, grade 8 bolts, etc, etc. but there needs to be some common sense that must be applied to all repairs. But suspension stuff is not like installing headers. Screwing up can cause an accident/injury. So I guess you must be confident in your processes

mike
dms

[tlrche]

Its always a challenge deviating form best practices on installations. But I must be practical. There are many poeple in the LX community that are Do it yourselfers. So Introducing other alternatives can present good and bad.

As a Pedders trainer, I have extremely high expectations of the trainees. Thru the entire process i am teaching/asking feedback. So by the time I am done, they have a great understanding of what is happening.

When it comes to assisting guys in doing their own repairs, it is a challenged: especially with the LX installs. some of the install is no big deal, but soem fo the bushes and procedures are very challenging.
The steering gear bush, however, is about as simple of a bush replacememn as hey come. yes, did I skip some procedures? Yes. Safety glasses, grade 8 bolts, etc, etc. but there needs to be some common sense that must be applied to all repairs. But suspension stuff is not like installing headers. Screwing up can cause an accident/injury. So I guess you must be confident in your processes

mike
dms

^^^^ so do i use the bolts that are used in the oem ones? when i install the pedders?

[Bud]

Any luck finding an authorized installer in San Diego?

[DMS Motorsport]

Any luck finding an authorized installer in San Diego?

I will be home for a couple of weeks. Wil the shop you recommended has not responded to any of the emails I send. So when I am feeling better, i will call them directly

thanks for the support

mike
dms

[JusticePete]

Its always a challenge deviating form best practices on installations. But I must be practical. There are many poeple in the LX community that are Do it yourselfers. So Introducing other alternatives can present good and bad.

As a Pedders trainer, I have extremely high expectations of the trainees. Thru the entire process i am teaching/asking feedback. So by the time I am done, they have a great understanding of what is happening.

When it comes to assisting guys in doing their own repairs, it is a challenged: especially with the LX installs. some of the install is no big deal, but soem fo the bushes and procedures are very challenging.
The steering gear bush, however, is about as simple of a bush replacememn as hey come. yes, did I skip some procedures? Yes. Safety glasses, grade 8 bolts, etc, etc. but there needs to be some common sense that must be applied to all repairs. But suspension stuff is not like installing headers. Screwing up can cause an accident/injury. So I guess you must be confident in your processes

mike
dms

There is no one, seriously no one, BETTER than Mike.

[DMS Motorsport]

^^^^ so do i use the bolts that are used in the oem ones? when i install the pedders?

to use the alternative method, you are going to need a much longer bolt than the mounting bolt. You will reuse the mounting bolts with the bushes, but not use them for the removal process. The length of the removal bolts will depend on what your setup is

mike
dms

[Bud]

I will be home for a couple of weeks. Wil the shop you recommended has not responded to any of the emails I send. So when I am feeling better, i will call them directly

thanks for the support

mike
dms

I'm heading to Thailand for three weeks on Tuesday. I'll do some more legwork when I get back. I spoke with them again a couple weeks ago and they seemed receptive to speaking with you! Sorry for the thread jack.

I can't wait to at a minimum do the bump steer correction, and hopefully a complete bush replacement!

[tlrche]

to use the alternative method,

whats my option? you mean removing them oem bushings? I was gonna rent a bushing removal thingie

you are going to need a much longer bolt than the mounting bolt. You will reuse the mounting bolts with the bushes, but not use them for the removal process. The length of the removal bolts will depend on what your setup is

set up? <--- you mean how the car is lowered?

sorry for all the questions, i want to be perpared before i get into somthing.

mike
dms

Thanks,
Troy

[Meathammer]

Well I just got slightly Pedderized today. I brought my Mag over to Witt Buick in Muskegon, MI and was originally just going to have the bump steer kit installed. Well I got the oppertunity to meet up with Pete and after the tech who worked on my car, I believe Mike was his name, got it up on the lift, Pete brought me out to go through a suspension inspection with me. We found a few issues that needed to be addressed as well. No surprise, my tie rod ends were shot...... AGAIN!! That's the second set I've had put on since I got this car a bit over two years ago. I know it's due to the OEM parts not being able to handle the wider tires I have on there so I had the Moog aftermarket parts installed this time. Pete also pointed out to me my front radius rod bushings and the fact that they were in need of some attention to say the least. So since I was leaning towards replacing them anyway (Pete and I had an extensive conversation over the phone about some parts he saw as inadequite from the factory and that was one such part). So that made up my mind. They had to be replaced. I'll post up some pics later of how bad they were. I just don't have the time now as I just took a brief break from getting my car ready for a show tomorrow...

Anyway I can definitely tell you that she feels so much better after this install. I can't say for certain that it was just the Pedders bushings, but I can tell you that even with having the tie rod ends replaced before it never fealt so tight. I can feel the road and the bumps, but it doesn't shake the steering wheel like it always used to. Nor does the front end skate around like it used to when I'd go over either large bumps or an area of bad road (It's pretty much impossible to avoid bad roads in Michigan any more as they are all either under repair or in need of it). So to me, I think it was worth every penny. Now my bigger concern is that I may over drive the car as the front end grips better in the twisties so the rear end may try and go forg the pass....


Ahh, I don't drive her that hard... usually, but that will be in the back of my mind.

On a side note, I got to go for a ride in Pete's supercharged, fully Pedderized G8. Impressive car. I was not impressed by any pics or vids I've seen of these cars, but once I saw one in person, and got to go for a ride.... Well my opinion has changed. It's a car I'd consider owning and for anyone that knows me, that's saying a lot as I've been very anti-GM for years.

So once again Pete, Mike, Tom and all at Witt Buick, I'd like to say thanks! I really appreciate all that you did today especially considering how much of a pain that one radius rod bushing was to get out (yeah for Michigan winters and the rust they provide....). I'll be back to see you guys when I have money for more suspension work.

[DMS Motorsport]

Well I just got slightly Pedderized today. I brought my Mag over to Witt Buick in Muskegon, MI and was originally just going to have the bump steer kit installed. Well I got the oppertunity to meet up with Pete and after the tech who worked on my car, I believe Mike was his name, got it up on the lift, Pete brought me out to go through a suspension inspection with me. We found a few issues that needed to be addressed as well. No surprise, my tie rod ends were shot...... AGAIN!! That's the second set I've had put on since I got this car a bit over two years ago. I know it's due to the OEM parts not being able to handle the wider tires I have on there so I had the Moog aftermarket parts installed this time. Pete also pointed out to me my front radius rod bushings and the fact that they were in need of some attention to say the least. So since I was leaning towards replacing them anyway (Pete and I had an extensive conversation over the phone about some parts he saw as inadequite from the factory and that was one such part). So that made up my mind. They had to be replaced. I'll post up some pics later of how bad they were. I just don't have the time now as I just took a brief break from getting my car ready for a show tomorrow...

Anyway I can definitely tell you that she feels so much better after this install. I can't say for certain that it was just the Pedders bushings, but I can tell you that even with having the tie rod ends replaced before it never fealt so tight. I can feel the road and the bumps, but it doesn't shake the steering wheel like it always used to. Nor does the front end skate around like it used to when I'd go over either large bumps or an area of bad road (It's pretty much impossible to avoid bad roads in Michigan any more as they are all either under repair or in need of it). So to me, I think it was worth every penny. Now my bigger concern is that I may over drive the car as the front end grips better in the twisties so the rear end may try and go forg the pass....


Ahh, I don't drive her that hard... usually, but that will be in the back of my mind.

On a side note, I got to go for a ride in Pete's supercharged, fully Pedderized G8. Impressive car. I was not impressed by any pics or vids I've seen of these cars, but once I saw one in person, and got to go for a ride.... Well my opinion has changed. It's a car I'd consider owning and for anyone that knows me, that's saying a lot as I've been very anti-GM for years.

So once again Pete, Mike, Tom and all at Witt Buick, I'd like to say thanks! I really appreciate all that you did today especially considering how much of a pain that one radius rod bushing was to get out (yeah for Michigan winters and the rust they provide....). I'll be back to see you guys when I have money for more suspension work.

Your description on improvements is almost exactly what MEISTER said after we did his torn radius rod bushes and steering bushes. He didn't, however, have any issues with tie rod ends.

Thanks for believing in Pedders and enjoy the experience..

So what size tires are do you have? I am interested. All the tie rod ends I have seen bad o LXs had much larger than OEM tires.

mike
dms

[Meathammer]

They are 275/40-20's. So they are bigger than the OEM tires.

[sidetrack]

They are 275/40-20's. So they are bigger than the OEM tires.

Instead of bigger, heavier is the operative word.

There should be a poll of the folks who have replaced tie-rods to see how many have heavier than stock rims.

[DMS Motorsport]

They are 275/40-20's. So they are bigger than the OEM tires.

I would also assume you replaced wheels as well?

thanks
mike
dms

[Meathammer]

Instead of bigger, heavier is the operative word.

There should be a poll of the folks who have replaced tie-rods to see how many have heavier than stock rims.

Well they are bigger. While the overall diameter is almost the same, they are quite a bit wider.

I would also assume you replaced wheels as well?

Yes. The wheels I have are cast aluminum (guessing that they are cast) Verde Kaos 20" wheels. I don't recall the width, but I believe they are 9" or 9.5" wide.

So they are bigger than the 18" stockers (I have an R/T not an SRT) and they are approx 10lbs heavier per wheel (guestimation).

thanks
mike
dms

[DMS Motorsport]

Well they are bigger. While the overall diameter is almost the same, they are quite a bit wider.

I'd bet they are probably 25 lbs heavier. I think the issue with your tie rods are relate to a combo of tires/wheels, but mostly wheel weights. When you look at tie rod ends as being marginal initially, adding a serious amount of weight will do a umber to them. The LX is not unique to this. I would not recommend using replacememnt Chrysler units, but use ones by MOOG. Moog nakes good stuff and will be much more HD that OEM

mike
dms