So, I had a guy Gene of Sonoran Desert Offroad adjust my vehicle. I had him do a 4 inch lift along with redo the tie-rod boots behind both front wheels (as well as a new muffler which is unrelated to this post). From the lift, I'm experiencing a significant pull to the right when I let off the gas, as well as extensive transmission fluid leaks from the center differential (I'm not very technical myself, but I'm referring to the center of the truck with the drive train pipes leading to the axles). I was riding trails (but easy level trails) when one of the four bolts on the bottom of the front right tie-rod boot completely broke off, and 2 others were loose (so, therefore, as I was driving downhill out of the mountains, my front right tire was doing it's own thing. I was lucky to find someone to tighten up the 2 loose bolts and that got me on my way until I found another shop to drill out the broken bolt piece and put in a new bolt. I'm assuming my angles are way off to cause the steering issues (oh yes, I also have a bad grind when I let off the gas going over about 50 mph...which Gene stated wasn't a big deal, and only an issue if it happens when you speed up)...as well as angle issues with the height of the lift pertaining to the center differential and the transmission fluid leak which I'm having to get under the truck every 500 miles or so to pump transmission fluid into the center diff.
So, my first point of this post is to warn anyone who is considering utilizing Gene of Desert Sonoran Offroad in Sahuarita, AZ. I additionally had received a quote from Slee Offroad in Golden, CO for $1200, and expressed to Gene that if I was going to have him do the work, I wasn't willing to pay over $1000. Next thing I know, he cut into the sheet metal domes on top of the axles to build custom lift platforms without ever giving me a full quote, only lying to me that he thought he could get it done for $700-$800...next thing I know, I get an invoice from him for $1850 for the lift. I obviously should have gone to someone else, but had moved back to Tucson vs. being in Denver anymore. I paid him a total of $5K for all the work.
So, my next points/questions are, if you've done a 4 inch lift on an 80, what types of things did you have done outside of the norm (diff drop kit type things, adjustments to make sure axles are at proper angles, should drop pins be used to help the tie-rod bars, etc.) to make sure everything was secure and proper. I'm additionally planning on buying tie-rods (cross bars), so if you have any recommendations there in terms of product, that would be helpful. On the tie-rod boots, any recommendations of after market parts or efforts which I should do to ensure that they'll hold up better? That's all I can think of, but, any and all advice outside of what I've mentioned would be a huge help as I'm not technical myself and relying on others to do the work for me.
I currently have left it with Trail Boss in Tucson, AZ for them to analyze and put together a quote for me of what it will take to clear things up as the other 2 shops I spoke with in town felt they would not be able to help as 4 Wheel Parts and Desert Rat in Tucson seem to be more capable of putting on kits, but nothing to do with custom. They've now had it since before Thanksgiving, and twice now after conversations with their tech, he has told me he has to rethink things and get back to me...
Sad and frustrated for sure as I love my truck and want to get things taken care of...thanks for any help/guidance you can provide!!! Dan
I have some photos of the center diff & tie-rod boot if that would help. I may have others of the tie-rods, but likely would have to get photos taken of it if that would help on recommendations.
So, my first point of this post is to warn anyone who is considering utilizing Gene of Desert Sonoran Offroad in Sahuarita, AZ. I additionally had received a quote from Slee Offroad in Golden, CO for $1200, and expressed to Gene that if I was going to have him do the work, I wasn't willing to pay over $1000. Next thing I know, he cut into the sheet metal domes on top of the axles to build custom lift platforms without ever giving me a full quote, only lying to me that he thought he could get it done for $700-$800...next thing I know, I get an invoice from him for $1850 for the lift. I obviously should have gone to someone else, but had moved back to Tucson vs. being in Denver anymore. I paid him a total of $5K for all the work.
So, my next points/questions are, if you've done a 4 inch lift on an 80, what types of things did you have done outside of the norm (diff drop kit type things, adjustments to make sure axles are at proper angles, should drop pins be used to help the tie-rod bars, etc.) to make sure everything was secure and proper. I'm additionally planning on buying tie-rods (cross bars), so if you have any recommendations there in terms of product, that would be helpful. On the tie-rod boots, any recommendations of after market parts or efforts which I should do to ensure that they'll hold up better? That's all I can think of, but, any and all advice outside of what I've mentioned would be a huge help as I'm not technical myself and relying on others to do the work for me.
I currently have left it with Trail Boss in Tucson, AZ for them to analyze and put together a quote for me of what it will take to clear things up as the other 2 shops I spoke with in town felt they would not be able to help as 4 Wheel Parts and Desert Rat in Tucson seem to be more capable of putting on kits, but nothing to do with custom. They've now had it since before Thanksgiving, and twice now after conversations with their tech, he has told me he has to rethink things and get back to me...
Sad and frustrated for sure as I love my truck and want to get things taken care of...thanks for any help/guidance you can provide!!! Dan
I have some photos of the center diff & tie-rod boot if that would help. I may have others of the tie-rods, but likely would have to get photos taken of it if that would help on recommendations.
