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WILDHOBO

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💯 - looks like I'll be drilling this weekend 😁
Just curious, as I just swapped my steersmarts drag link end for the top mount, along with a TB relocation to stay parallel. Why did you not want their solution this time? Genuinely interested. Thanks.
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Just curious, as I just swapped my steersmarts drag link end for the top mount, along with a TB relocation to stay parallel. Why did you not want their solution this time? Genuinely interested. Thanks.
Not sure about the OP, but that reverse taper shank looks too thin. Haven't had any issues with it on the wife's 2022 JLUR on 39s but it definitely looks weaker than the standard 1 ton rod ends in other kits. That's why I went metalcloak on the mojave.
 

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Yes and no.

Yes, after drilling it will be effectively weaker than it was.

No, it shouldn't be an issue UNLESS you're really out there banging it, but then again other schtuff will break too.

By making the drag link more parallel with the axle, you're reducing stress at that point.
 
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imallcrawl

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Just curious, as I just swapped my steersmarts drag link end for the top mount, along with a TB relocation to stay parallel. Why did you not want their solution this time? Genuinely interested. Thanks.
On my JKU, I tried both the HD and XD SteerSmarts 'no-drill' top mount drag link and both times the rod ends failed. On the HD, both knuckle and pitman arm side failed very quick and with the XD, the knuckle side failed. And this is with very light off-roading, majority street driving and minimal miles. Over 60mph on the freeway, my JKU drove straight, no shimmy, wobble, bump steer, etc. with 40's and a 11" lift, so honestly I am not sure why this happened. I did reach out to SteerSmarts, and although they seem like great people, the fix was just to send me replacement parts.
 

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On my JKU, I tried both the HD and XD SteerSmarts 'no-drill' top mount drag link and both times the rod ends failed. On the HD, both knuckle and pitman arm side failed very quick and with the XD, the knuckle side failed. And this is with very light off-roading, majority street driving and minimal miles. Over 60mph on the freeway, my JKU drove straight, no shimmy, wobble, bump steer, etc. with 40's and a 11" lift, so honestly I am not sure why this happened. I did reach out to SteerSmarts, and although they seem like great people, the fix was just to send me replacement parts.
11" of lift...at least the name checks out. The JK wheel openings were smaller than the JL, but not that small. The wife runs 39s on her JLUR on 3.5" of lift with plenty of articulation on trails like the rubicon. With that much lift even top mounted the drag link angle must be terrible.
 

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11" of lift...at least the name checks out. The JK wheel openings were smaller than the JL, but not that small. The wife runs 39s on her JLUR on 3.5" of lift with plenty of articulation on trails like the rubicon. With that much lift even top mounted the drag link angle must be terrible.
Angle wasn't too bad at all, this is why I had absolutely no steering issues and it drove like stock. Also the lift was more like 10.5" front 9.5" rear. It had 5.5" springs, 3.5" coil spacers in front and 2.5" coil spacers in rear and a 1.5" body lift. Yes it was a pavement queen :LOL:

 

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Angle wasn't too bad at all, this is why I had absolutely no steering issues and it drove like stock. Also the lift was more like 10.5" front 9.5" rear. It had 5.5" springs, 3.5" coil spacers in front and 2.5" coil spacers in rear and a 1.5" body lift. Yes it was a pavement queen :LOL:

Some people like the massive lift, body above the tires look. I noticed that was really popular in Hawaii. All the lifted tacomas I saw over there had 3x the lift they needed to clear the 33s they were running. I prefer the just enough lift to clear the tires and still flex look. Function over form. Both the JLUR and the JT run 3.5" lift and 39s or 37s. I think the Hawaii tacoma looks dumb, probably rides like crap, and is pretty well useless.
Jeep Gladiator Drilling Knuckles 20240127_120621
Jeep Gladiator Drilling Knuckles 5C419131-1F2E-45A6-A837-20CC59759C5E
 
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Some people like the massive lift, body above the tires look. I noticed that was really popular in Hawaii. All the lifted tacomas I saw over there had 3x the lift they needed to clear the 33s they were running. I prefer the just enough lift to clear the tires and still flex look. Function over form. Both the JLUR and the JT run 3.5" lift and 39s or 37s.
I think the Hawaii tacoma looks dumb, probably rides like crap, and is pretty well useless.
20240127_120621.jpg
5C419131-1F2E-45A6-A837-20CC59759C5E.jpg
You are absolutely correct! But I never got into the super wide rims thing :LOL: I did ended up selling the 37s and added 40's that filled it up nicely...well sort of lol

Jeep Gladiator Drilling Knuckles 40s
 
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Unfortunately there will be no drilling this weekend. From the looks of it, if I add the TB bracket to raise the TB to be parallel with the flipped DL, due to my Synergy TB and sector shaft brace with sealed roller bearing, the aggressive bend from my Rough Country TB will come into contact with the bearing. Spoke with Synergy and they can't guarantee it will work and recommend getting one of their TB's.
 
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Not sure about the OP, but that reverse taper shank looks too thin. Haven't had any issues with it on the wife's 2022 JLUR on 39s but it definitely looks weaker than the standard 1 ton rod ends in other kits. That's why I went metalcloak on the mojave.
The spindle on mine isn’t tapered at all. The sleeve that goes below is tapered to shoulder the straight spindle on the rod end. Looks plenty strong to me.
 

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On my JKU, I tried both the HD and XD SteerSmarts 'no-drill' top mount drag link and both times the rod ends failed. On the HD, both knuckle and pitman arm side failed very quick and with the XD, the knuckle side failed. And this is with very light off-roading, majority street driving and minimal miles. Over 60mph on the freeway, my JKU drove straight, no shimmy, wobble, bump steer, etc. with 40's and a 11" lift, so honestly I am not sure why this happened. I did reach out to SteerSmarts, and although they seem like great people, the fix was just to send me replacement parts.
11” lift!? You might need telephone poles for steering components. I don’t think that’s Steersmarts’ issue there. That’s a ton of stress at that height.
 
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imallcrawl

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11” lift!? You might need telephone poles for steering components. I don’t think that’s Steersmarts’ issue there. That’s a ton of stress at that height.
Believe me, I've seen bigger LOL And I think the JKU Wrangler springs are not as high as the JT springs, because right now my JT EVO 6.5" springs are sitting very close to the height of my JKU
 

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11” lift!? You might need telephone poles for steering components. I don’t think that’s Steersmarts’ issue there. That’s a ton of stress at that height.
I never caught that when I read it earlier 😂 Holy High Beams Batman !!!
 

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Believe me, I've seen bigger LOL And I think the JKU Wrangler springs are not as high as the JT springs, because right now my JT EVO 6.5" springs are sitting very close to the height of my JKU
Well that should be interesting. I apparently need to eat a huge pasture raised, organic crow. Since I’m installing Evo 6.5 rear springs tomorrow. :)
 

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Well that should be interesting. I apparently need to eat a huge pasture raised, organic crow. Since I’m installing Evo 6.5 rear springs tomorrow. :)
Say huh?? 6.5=11
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