STEERING KIT INSTRUCTIONS
1. First remove currently steering here are some helpful hints (1).
1. Mark the location of the pitman arm on crossmember brace to help line up steering wheel later. If changing the intermediate shaft or steering box at the same time. Make sure you mark locations and strap the steering wheel in place.
Use a piece of wood and a floor jack to push against the drag link up and hit the pitman arm with a hammer several times till the drag link pops up.
2. Install the Tie Rod assembly. There are two positions for the cotter pins and extra our special hardened washers in the kit in case your knuckle taper has been stretched out due to cheap steering kits or over use of impacts.
3. Install the Drag link. Pitman arm side first. Push the pitman to the pass side to make it easier. Recenter the pitman to your mark.
-Note: If the truck is newer than 19+ SOME of the models have an extra flange on the frame. This will need to be knocked down to clearance the pitman arm side joint due to the massive size of the joints.
4. Torque the Castle nuts to 90 ft lbs and install cotter pins (there are two holes you can use) now or later. (Extra washers are provided for people that have had several steering kits and the taper in now larger than OEM and the cotter does not line up)
5. Do your alignment (use Thuren Fabrication specs)
6. COUPLERS: NO ANTI SEIZE! Do not use any kind of lube or red locktite. The zinc coating on the bolts, couplers and nuts already providing corrosion resistance. The bolts MUST be torqued dry in the proper sequence to avoid bolt breakage. (page 3)
Position the joints vertically and torque the 1/4” bolts on the adjusting collar as shown on Page 3. If needed or your wrench is not to spec, you can gradually go more rounds until the coupler is tight. Follow the instructions and values for each round. I cannot stress this enough, if you don’t the rods will pull out of the collars causing you to have no steering. Don’t be that person PLEASE!
7. Add 5+ pumps of Grease to the Drag link, add 12 + to the TRE with supplied grease (or you can use REDLINE). After the test drive add a couple of pumps of grease joints and again at 500 miles, if it doesn’t take any that is fine. Grease every 5k miles or as needed. The grease acts as a hydraulic lock and ensures the system will feel tight all the time. You may need to turn the steering wheel to access the pitman arm grease fitting due to the oversized of the joints. Lube locker (Amazon) grease ends work VERY well if you don’t have one. Do not over grease with an electric gun, same goes for the ball joints. (if you did pull the zerks to let off the pressure)
RETORQUE AND ENJOY!!!
-On 19+ models, you may need to clearance an extra frame mount above the pitman arm due to the massive size of our joints.
-Steering damper and clamp:
To find the position you need for your clamp, turn your steering all the way to the left or right. Mount the damper in the mount at full extension and then mount your clamp. Torque to 5 and then 8 ft lbs.
-Adjusting the joints when they get worn in and how to tell if the joints need to be adjusted:
None of the Joints should never have up and down movement ever. If so tighten till the joint feels tight again.
Drag link needs to have some free movement, so it is ok if it has rotation back and forth.
The pass side TRE is gated like OEM so it should never be able to rotate front to back.
-How to tightening the joints later:
Loosen the two allen set screws on the joint housing, tighten the top caps till the steering joint feels tight again. No torque setting required. Regrease and then evenly snug the set screws back up.
ANY QUESTIONS? DIRECT LINE TO THE OWNER CHRIS: CALL, TEXT, EMAIL:
616-202-2131
CHRIS@BADAXEPARTS.COM
Coupler Torque Sequence
Round 1: Snug all bolts IN ORDER
Round 2: Torque all bolts IN ORDER to 8 ftlbs
Round 3: Check all bolts IN ORDER at 8 ftlbs
You should get ¼-½ turn more
Round 4: Torque all bolts IN ORDER to 10 ftlbs
Round 5: Check all bolts in order at 10 ftlbs
You should get ¼-½ turn more
Round 6: Re-check in order at 10 ftlbs as necessary
Note: Max torque for ¼-20 bolts is 12 ftlbs