steering system opinions

[Stubby~CC]

So I found out the other weekend that my steering system is starting to fail. :( Which is allowing to bump stops to hit harder and thus causing a popping noise. I think it may have been from the same incident which damaged the bumper. Thanks to damnhippie for helping me nail it all back down, which btw fixed the rattle noise. :)

Found out today that I'm getting a very nice tax refund. :beermug: So that answers how I'm gonna pay for a new steering system. :D Now I just need to decide which one to get. I'm thinking way overkill is the way to go here.

I was looking and the slr and l&p websites. The slr seems solid as hell, but a little pricey. While the l&p is cheaper, it kinda looks cheaper, but is it actually any worse? Any other systems I should consider? Thanks for the help.

-Martin

[Allen Cox]

How much is either one?

[ChefTyler]

The L&P and SLR Econo steering are the same basic design. Both are overbuilt to hell and gone. If you go with L&P (love mine, btw) make sure you e-mail Phil first and get confirmation that he's actually turning steering systems for the near future.

[BLACKOUTX]

I have a L&P Setup for sale. $250 takes the centerlink. idler arm, pitman arm. Slr Idler arm bushing goes to Troy till he goes sas. Then you can have it too.

[Alpine Spirit]

Right now I would go with the L&P. It may not be the prettiest but it TAKES A BEATING!!!

[bogof]

Last I heard L&P was out of business. That could have changed though.

[tmorgan4]

A bunch of people are getting hosed by L&P right now. Phil took a bunch of down payments on steering systems and never delivered a product. A few of the people have filed claims with Paypal to get the money back, but since his account is empty they aren't getting anything....

Sounds like they have a great product but need a hand in the customer service area.

http://npora.ipbhost.com//index.php?showtopic=13258

There was a thread on NOR too, but it's down right now.

[DamnHippie]

What SLR econo line steering? They have econo line suspension lift, but I think they only have the one steering system, which is strong as hell, but definitely pricey. And, you won't get back full core value either, so consider the core charges to be built in to the price, basically.

Don't get me wrong, I love SLR and their customer service is great, but as a struggling small company they get their income where they can, and claiming that a pitman arm is only worth $20 instead of $75 is one of the ways. (There was absolutely nothing wrong with my pitman arm, of course. Hell, I'd tip my hat to anyone who could bend one.)

[ChefTyler]

Perhaps I had the econo lines mixed up :D

L&P should just be P now, and while Phil took a bunch of down (full) payments on steering systems, and didn't do anything with them for a long while, he's shipped at least two in the last month to people on XOC...so YMMV.

[Stubby~CC]

SLR is around $600 and the L&P is about $400. I guess from reading what I need for the 'hardcore' system is a center link, pitman arm, idler arm and an idler arm brace. I'm a little torn on the tie-rod adjusters. I like the idea of using them as a sort of fuse in my steering system, but I don't really like the idea of planning to make on the trail repairs. I think I'd be more comfortable heading out knowing I got the most reliable setup I could get my hands on.

How interchangeable are the two systems' parts? Seems like the pitman arm, idler arm, and center link all need to be from the same system. What about the spherical end thingies? Can slr bushings fit a l&p idler arm or vice versa? What's this deal with taper size? I assume the slr tierod adjusters will work with either system.

Thanks for the help guys! Keep that info coming! :beermug:

BlackoutX- You got PM

[Packman5280]

the adjusters aren't the problem.

[BLACKOUTX]

Stubby check pm.:wave:

[BLACKOUTX]

Steering sold

[DamnHippie]

Centerlink, idler, and pitman are the minimum you need. You can use that Calmini IA brace I gave you with the SLR system until you have a few bucks to spare for SLR's better-design brace (that's what I did). Same with the idler shaft, as long as your OEM shaft isn't bent, you can use it with the SLR for a while. But you'll eventually need SLR's shaft, because the good strong brass bushings in their idler arm will eventually eat grooves into the softer metal of the OEM shaft. You'd be good for a year, though.

If you have any money to spare beyond the required 3 items, I'd get the stronger adjusters first, then the shaft and brace later. Once your basic linkage is strong the adjusters are no longer a fuse, they're just the weakest part of the system and they'll bend or break at the most incovenient time on the trail.

[Packman5280]

you know what, I'm wrong. I was thinking d21 adjusters, you d22 guys have some weird ones that aren't as strong.

[BLACKOUTX]

The Calmini brace will not work with the L&P steering. I'm giving him a AC brace off my old setup. I'll check my idler arm shaft wear. I've had the slr bushing on for over a year. Our adjuster suck. I snaped a calmini adjuster in two pieces even wtih good steering.

[Stubby~CC]

I've decided to buy blackoutx's old l&p system. The big selling point for me was not having to mess around with the core charge bs. I think I may go ahead and get the adjusters as well, but I'll have to wait and see how much $$ is left in the budget. Shouldn't be a problem as I've given myself a 1k truck allowance. I'm also thinking a 3" BL is in my near future. Also I really need some beefier rubber, these 17" sc rims are taking a beating on the trails.

Will the SLR shaft fit a L&P IA? I'm kinda thinking a do it once, do it right approach may be in order. Looking at slr's website it looks like a total of about $270 bucks shipped for the IA shaft, bushings and brace. :eek:

$250 used l&p, and $270 for the above mentions slr assurances. Total of $520, not too bad. Certainly very doable. BL is about another $300. Brings it up to $820. If i can find some cheap tires, I'm in business for a sweet ass wheeling season! :crazy:

Thanks again for all your guys' help...I'm so excited!

[DamnHippie]

I can't imagine how/why the calmini brace wouldn't work with lp steering, unless it's because the IA is gussetted. I notched the calmini brace to work with a gussetted IA back when I was using it with SLR's steering.

[BLACKOUTX]

I can't imagine how/why the calmini brace wouldn't work with lp steering, unless it's because the IA is gussetted. I notched the calmini brace to work with a gussetted IA back when I was using it with SLR's steering.

It's because of the gusset.

[Stubby~CC]

I thought the brace I had would work. :D Moochie moochie!:wave: :bannana: