Rancho, Breaking end links? [Archive] - FSC

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 02:55 PM

I've heard Y2kboti mention that he has broken several end links on his truck.

I'm still trying to convince myself to add a kit to mine so I stopped at a local off-road shop this afternoon.

The guy there tried really hard to sell me the RCD 6" kit, but when I kept asking him about the Rancho, he started talking about breaking end links. He said the RCD was actually worse about it, but it has been worrying me.

I can't recall anyone with a Rancho lift ever complaining about a broken link, but with the 70 miles a day @ 70 MPH that I drive, I can't afford to break one on the freeway and not be able to pull off the road.

Y2kboti, what actually happenned when yours broke?

99GMC

02-08-2002, 03:00 PM

None here, over 10K. John has quite a bit more with no problems:cool:

quadcab4x4

02-08-2002, 03:04 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX
I've heard Y2kboti mention that he has broken several end links on his truck.

I'm still trying to convince myself to add a kit to mine so I stopped at a local off-road shop this afternoon.

The guy there tried really hard to sell me the RCD 6" kit, but when I kept asking him about the Rancho, he started talking about breaking end links. He said the RCD was actually worse about it, but it has been worrying me.

Sounds like a great salesman. Here he's telling you to buy the RCD lift and in the same breath is telling you they break end-links :rolleyes:

Hard to imagine braking those links, they look pretty stout.

Grant

02-08-2002, 03:04 PM

No problems here. What shop did you go to? Mike's Off-Road in Euless, maybe?

Grant

Chris

02-08-2002, 03:14 PM

I haven't been having to send out replacements.

Basically a Grade 8 3/8 bolt, unless it was too loose or too tight

Did the same guy install all the ones they had break?

JC Z71

02-08-2002, 03:20 PM

what's an "end link"? :confused:

quadcab4x4

02-08-2002, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by JC Z71
what's an "end link"? :confused:

That vertical thing in the photo. Its the link between the swaybar and the lower control arm:D

Grant

02-08-2002, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by 5-8CHEVY

They are normally the better 4x shop around here I would hope not. :( :(

I am not at all impressed with Mike's. Last summer when I got a price quote from them for my Rancho, they were way overpriced. They told me $1800 for just the kit, and some insane amount for install. I'm sure they do good work, but they want way to much $$$.

Grant

02-08-2002, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by Chris
I haven't been having to send out replacements.

Basically a Grade 8 3/8 bolt, unless it was too loose or too tight

Did the same guy install all the ones they had break?

I have about 30,000 miles on my Rancho kit and 57,000 on the truck itself and I have never had an endlink break or any suspension component fail. I drive 100 miles a day minimum and 80% is at 75-90mph............yes I haul ass.

That guy is just trying to sell you a kit that is in stock and needing to move, inventory time is coming :tongue:

Y2k+1 Z71

02-08-2002, 03:36 PM

26k miles with zero problems.

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by Grant
No problems here. What shop did you go to? Mike's Off-Road in Euless, maybe?

Grant

Actually I was at The Off-Road Shop in Dallas (really Garland).

Grant

02-08-2002, 03:37 PM

Yep, I got my lift at the 4WP on highway 80 in Fort Worth.

Grant

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by Grant

I am not at all impressed with Mike's. Last summer when I got a price quote from them for my Rancho, they were way overpriced. They told me $1800 for just the kit, and some insane amount for install. I'm sure they do good work, but they want way to much $$$.

Grant

Mike's quote was $1425.00 for the kit (w/ rsx) plus $685.00 for the install.

02-08-2002, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX

Mike's quote was $1425.00 for the kit (w/ rsx) plus $685.00 for the install.

Damn thats high, 4WP for me was $1350 with RSX and $450 for install and alignment.

What would you say if I told you that I know a shop here in North Houston that will sell and install you a Rancho kit for $1700 drive out?????????????

Grant

02-08-2002, 03:44 PM

JC Z71

02-08-2002, 03:49 PM

Originally posted by quadcab4x4

That vertical thing in the photo. Its the link between the swaybar and the lower control arm:D

Thanks!!!:thumbup:

02-08-2002, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by Grant

Damn, thats awesome.

Yea unfortunately I didn't find out about this place until I had allready got my Rancho installed :bawl:
Its on Cutten Road here in North Houston near Willowbrook Mall.

Incredible Hulk

02-08-2002, 03:57 PM

Yeah john its called cutten rd.customs, they do lowered trucks too

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by Y2KZ71

Damn thats high, 4WP for me was $1350 with RSX and $450 for install and alignment.

What would you say if I told you that I know a shop here in North Houston that will sell and install you a Rancho kit for $1700 drive out?????????????

My first question would be, can you trust them?

Here's my dilemma; My Wife and my Dad have both just *****ed about a 9+ inch lift with 35" tires. If I do this then I will never hear the end of their complaints. So, I'm considering having the body lift pulled off -3" and the RAN6545 put on +4". This way I will have some added clearance, no more nasty frame, 1 free ", and can keep my 33" tires.

The beauty is they will not really notice the change and save me the wasted time listening to their griping...

Make sense? I need to find some place I can trust, that isn't trying to rape me for $4000.00. When I tell people I want my body lift off they either say no problem or go into brackets and bolts I'll have to buy for up to $150.00

Maybe I should just sell this truck and start over... :mad:

Jokeman

02-08-2002, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX
Maybe I should just sell this truck and start over... :mad:
How about a lifted 2500HD crew cab with a duramax? Now thats what I want.:D :D :D

Grant

02-08-2002, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX

My first question would be, can you trust them?

Here's my dilemma; My Wife and my Dad have both just *****ed about a 9+ inch lift with 35" tires. If I do this then I will never hear the end of their complaints.... :mad:

Who cares what others think...Build the truck the way YOU want it. YOU are the one that drives it everyday.

Grant

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Grant

Who cares what others think...Build the truck the way YOU want it. YOU are the one that drives it everyday.

Grant

You aren't married are you? :)

Grant

02-08-2002, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX

You aren't married are you? :)

Nope, I'm only 19. But my mom threw a fit when I told her I was gonna lift my truck. My dad intervened, and told her that it is MY truck and that I am the one that drives it, so I can do with it as I please (within reason) :naughty:

Grant

y2kboti

02-08-2002, 06:36 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX
You aren't married are you? :)

LOL you do have a very good point!

dhill_TX nothing really happened. If your under the impression that if you break an endlink doing 70MPH your gonna flip? Don't worry, nothing happenes. It will not affect the truck very much. The endlinks connect to the swaybar and LCA so that you don't get alot of body roll. I drove for 2+ weeks without endlinks and no problems. Did notice a little more roll but not enough to change my driving habits.

99GMC

02-08-2002, 06:36 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX

You aren't married are you? :)

Lol, doesn't sound like it;) My wife said the same thing when I only had the Rancho. I told her I wanted to do it and she b*tched for awhile about not doing it. Well I added the bodylift and 315's about 2 weeks later, and she was actually pretty cool with it! She gave me grief for a couple minutes but I think she liked it more:LOL: I say go for it:head:

Incredible Hulk

02-08-2002, 06:45 PM

I got my wife breast implants then i got the truck lifted.
she never complains about anything i do to the truck.

Y2k+1 Z71

02-08-2002, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by Big green Z-71
I got my wife breast implants

Yeah, I thought they felt fake. They look good though.:devil:

99GMC

02-08-2002, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by Y2k+1 Z71

Yeah, I thought they felt fake. They look good though.:devil:

:eek:

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by 99GMC

Lol, doesn't sound like it;) My wife said the same thing when I only had the Rancho. I told her I wanted to do it and she b*tched for awhile about not doing it. Well I added the bodylift and 315's about 2 weeks later, and she was actually pretty cool with it! She gave me grief for a couple minutes but I think she liked it more:LOL: I say go for it:head:

Well, usually my wife doesn't notice anything. If the truck would still fit in the garage, I could have it done without telling her and she would never know... :) But, after doing the measurements on my garage with Mark2000Z71's number, I'm about 2 inches short. So, no way I'm hiding it...

Oh, and breast implants?! Good idea, but she's already DD and pregnant, so it's pretty easy to piss her off these days.

dhill_TX

02-08-2002, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by y2kboti

LOL you do have a very good point!

dhill_TX nothing really happened. If your under the impression that if you break an endlink doing 70MPH your gonna flip? Don't worry, nothing happenes. It will not affect the truck very much. The endlinks connect to the swaybar and LCA so that you don't get alot of body roll. I drove for 2+ weeks without endlinks and no problems. Did notice a little more roll but not enough to change my driving habits.

Man, getting bad advice is easier than getting NO advice... The guy at The Off-Road Shop (that's really the name, clever isn't it) said if the endlink broke, the wheel woudln't turn it would be kinda limp, so I could stop but I couldn't turn or exit the highway.

So I'm thinking I stop in the middle of the freeway and watch as some idiot slams into the back of my truck at 70+ MPH.

Thanks for the info, I'm feeling a little better now...

y2kboti

02-08-2002, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by dhill_TX
The guy at The Off-Road Shop (that's really the name, clever isn't it) said if the endlink broke, the wheel woudln't turn it would be kinda limp, so I could stop but I couldn't turn or exit the highway.

Doesn't make any sense :confused: He must have been talking about you tie rod ends. Those connect the spindles a.k.a steering knuckles to yout centerlink which is in turn connected to your pitman and idles arms which are connected to your steering box...and I know you know what that does :D

hdmax

02-09-2002, 03:39 AM

I put 200,000 miles on my truck with the older superlift while running 35`s. and never had any thing break. (well the transmmision at 183,000 miles) but nothing on the front end. So you can`t always blame the lift, it could be bad factory parts that would break regardless if you lifted it or not.