4x4 labs hy steer...

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chicago

chicago

Joined
Jan 18, 2006
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Reno, Nevada
Just wondering any pros and cons that folks have had with this system and if its worth the extra dough?
Marlin raised their prices on theirs, so it actually not that much more, so Im considering it a bit more heavily!

Seems that the way that its set up, it MAY yield less interference with the springs?

Thanks,

Keith
 
I've run it for a while...had the 4-stud setup, now running the 6

BIG advantage to me is having the tie rod protected behind the axle AND having my hydro-assist ram mounted back there too. The rocks have to be pretty creative to hit either ;)

I ran one weekend with no hydro assist and no ram, just the arms...I thot it steered great...

if you run the assist ram on the tie rod behind the axle, it needs to have 8" stroke....
 
Though I haven't run anything else besides the stock setup, I love my 4x4 labs high steer. I had some clearance issues with the tie rod and Luke re-bent the arms and now everything clears perfectly. Great customer service.

I would probably go the 6 shooter route if I did everything over again, just to have that peace of mind (they are on sale w/ arms at Davezoffroad 6 shooter knuckles on SALE! - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board).

If you don't go the 6shooter knuckle route, use the ARP knuckle studs which you can pick up from Front Range off road. Oh and while you're there, may as well pick up the ARP hub studs as well :D

s*** gets expensive don't it?!
 
I went the 6 shooter route and used Luke's 6 stud arms on my FJ60. It's a very clean set up.

On a 40, you can run the 4x4Labs Frombe type steering with the tie rod behind the axle. I've run my 40 the last 3 seasons with that set up and really like the extra protection.

The other cool thing about the 4x4Labs steering is the easy customization. You can have Luke rebend the arms to slightly different custom positions if needed.

Anyway, I highly recommend you go with a 6 stud knuckle. Luke sells a part to convert your existing knuckle or you can buy them from Trail Gear.
 
Alright...
So the biggest advantage is the protection and NOT the way that it steers because of the way that it is set up?
Not planning on a ram assist, at least right now. Im thinking that the sag gear will provide a much improved steering power than the stock cruiser set up.

His website is down right now....

Thanks for the input!
 
EWheeler said:
Though I haven't run anything else besides the stock setup, I love my 4x4 labs high steer. I had some clearance issues with the tie rod and Luke re-bent the arms and now everything clears perfectly. Great customer service.

I would probably go the 6 shooter route if I did everything over again, just to have that peace of mind (they are on sale w/ arms at Davezoffroad 6 shooter knuckles on SALE! - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board).

If you don't go the 6shooter knuckle route, use the ARP knuckle studs which you can pick up from Front Range off road. Oh and while you're there, may as well pick up the ARP hub studs as well :D



s*** gets expensive don't it?!
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tip my man!

you have a nose for the sales!

Yes...its KILLING me how this stuff gets expensive!
 
I really like how the 4x4 labs steering works on the road and off road. Correct ackermen so it turns better than the stock Toyota steering.
 
I just received my six stud arms from Luke nice piece... That being said I had him make them both stickout the front also... My thinking is that if they get in the way as the truck progresses I'll weld up the hole in the drivers side arm and have them both drilled and tapper-ed to take the draglink and tierod upfront (if it gets in the way of links or radius arms, in the future) I am going to be spring over for now...


I also took the arms to my buddies mill and opened the holes up to accept Marlins 25mm trunnion pin...

TG six shooters, 4x4 labs high steer, and Marlins 25mm trunnions...
 
the correct Ackerman DOES make a difference...as I noted above, I drove a Labs-only setup after running with hydro-assisted 'normal' steering...and it was nice. Adding assist only made it that much nicer :)


running 35's, you'll appreciate assist....running 37+, it's all but required :)
 
woody said:
the correct Ackerman DOES make a difference...as I noted above, I drove a Labs-only setup after running with hydro-assisted 'normal' steering...and it was nice. Adding assist only made it that much nicer :)


running 35's, you'll appreciate assist....running 37+, it's all but required :)
Click to expand...

Planning on 37's...
So it is that noticeable of a difference than a standard hy steer set up?
Interesting.

Thanks for the input Woody!

K
 
woody said:
if you run the assist ram on the tie rod behind the axle, it needs to have 8" stroke....
Click to expand...

why the need for the longer stroke?
 
because a 6" ram will leave you with LOTS of missing steering...it just doesn't travel enough relative to the length of the arms.

I run an 8" WTOR ram, 4x4Labs arms/tie rods, stock FJ40 housing with Trail Gear trussing/reinforcement, 6-shooter knuckles, the latest Longfields, Marlin seals and NO steering stops...turns on a dime ;)
 
NONE....tabs are not on the housing, and the bolts are not in the knuckles :)
 
the 8" ram appears sufficient to not destroy anything, but the backing moons and felts DO get crushed

the newest Longfield version will go 40 degrees...at this point, I haven't seen a need to limit anything :)
 
i've run marlin crawler histeer arms and now tr#l g@$r 6-shooters with the tie-rod in front of the axle and nothing has ever hit it yet, don't really think that's a huge issue.....i think you could get by just fine with the 5th knuckle stud mod (check out longfields site), arp studs and regular histeer arms
 
Boing said:
I just received my six stud arms from Luke nice piece... That being said I had him make them both stickout the front also... My thinking is that if they get in the way as the truck progresses I'll weld up the hole in the drivers side arm and have them both drilled and tapper-ed to take the draglink and tierod upfront (if it gets in the way of links or radius arms, in the future) I am going to be spring over for now...

I also took the arms to my buddies mill and opened the holes up to accept Marlins 25mm trunnion pin...

TG six shooters, 4x4 labs high steer, and Marlins 25mm trunnions...
Click to expand...

Can you find those bearings at a regular bearing house or is Marlin the only source? That axle must be bullet proof.

woody said:
because a 6" ram will leave you with LOTS of missing steering...it just doesn't travel enough relative to the length of the arms.

I run an 8" WTOR ram, 4x4Labs arms/tie rods, stock FJ40 housing with Trail Gear trussing/reinforcement, 6-shooter knuckles, the latest Longfields, Marlin seals and NO steering stops...turns on a dime ;)
Click to expand...
woody said:
the 8" ram appears sufficient to not destroy anything, but the backing moons and felts DO get crushed

the newest Longfield version will go 40 degrees...at this point, I haven't seen a need to limit anything :)
Click to expand...

Holy crap. That's pretty amazing, I want it!!
 
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