Help: what else to have the shop do while repairing Pitman and idler arms

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sam05

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Hi All. I've been a lurker here for 2 years and have learned a ton from you! I do a lot of DIY but never suspension. Now I need my Pitman and Idler arms changed as the tires are wearing unevenly and the joints are blown on them. I have several questions:
1. I feel uneasy about putting new parts under at 12 year old truck when the front suspension is showing wear (all the joints). Are the kits on Amazon from Detroit Axle or Parts Warehouse ok? They come with Pitman, idler, ball joints, tie rod ends...
2. I want to lower the truck...not for looks or handling but because it's hard for my wife to put the kids in and out (yeah, I'm the guy who really just has the truck because it's the best kid hauler out there). I think just a 2/3 drop would do. Should I be considering this at the same time as all the other work?
3. Is the Crown Suspension kit any good?
4. I should change shocks when I do all this, right...some shops say mine are shot while others say they're still Ok?

I found a shop that is highly recommended, does great work, has a good warranty and is more than happy to install whatever parts I bring...seems like their labor rate is between 80 and 95 per hour.

Any ideas how to maximize this on a budget?
 

Danny3737

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I'd replace all the rubber bushings with urethane ones. Don't go cheap if you are replacing the shocks, you'll regret it later.
 

Snowbound

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Most kits like the ones mentioned on Amazon aren't the greatest quality.

Here's the deal, you can always get the ACDelco professional parts from Rockauto.com which come with a lifetime warranty but the shop is not going to warranty the labor. I would ask the shop if they have a lifetime warranty part that they sell so if it ever goes bad it's not gonna cost you for the part or the labor. That being said, shops come and go all the time. You can pay a little more to have them get the part so it's warrantied but if they sell or go out of business, your screwed and should have gone with the professional series from Rockauto. At least you'd get the part replaced. I see a lot more shops doing this "bring your own parts" thing. It's brilliant because it takes all the responsibility off them. As a shop owner you'd only have to guarantee that the part won't fall off.

Only because I do my own work, I generally replace the entire steering system when I have one part go bad. Mostly because after a tie rod goes bad an alignment needs to be done. I'm not gonna replace one tie rod and then do an alignment when the other parts are probably gonna be going too. But, idler and pitman arm are attached to drag link and would not require an alignment.

As far as shocks, 2/3 drop shouldn't require new shocks. But having a quality shock under each corner of your rig is a good feeling. I would advise you to make that decision for yourself. If your paying someone to lower the truck and doing some front end work and maybe with parts and labor you wouldn't be able to get a quality shock right now, save it for later.
 

95escahoe

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Hi All. I've been a lurker here for 2 years and have learned a ton from you! I do a lot of DIY but never suspension. Now I need my Pitman and Idler arms changed as the tires are wearing unevenly and the joints are blown on them. I have several questions:
1. I feel uneasy about putting new parts under at 12 year old truck when the front suspension is showing wear (all the joints). Are the kits on Amazon from Detroit Axle or Parts Warehouse ok? They come with Pitman, idler, ball joints, tie rod ends...
2. I want to lower the truck...not for looks or handling but because it's hard for my wife to put the kids in and out (yeah, I'm the guy who really just has the truck because it's the best kid hauler out there). I think just a 2/3 drop would do. Should I be considering this at the same time as all the other work?
3. Is the Crown Suspension kit any good?
4. I should change shocks when I do all this, right...some shops say mine are shot while others say they're still Ok?

I found a shop that is highly recommended, does great work, has a good warranty and is more than happy to install whatever parts I bring...seems like their labor rate is between 80 and 95 per hour.

Any ideas how to maximize this on a budget?

1. I'd avoid either of those kits & go with Moog or AC Delco, I'd check out the front end and replace what's worn and if you have the extra cash I'd try to rebuild the rest of the front end that way it's all done and will be good for awhile, I'd only do the balljoints if there shot tho.

2. 2/3 drop would be good I'd do it all at once

3. Crown is good a few people run there setup on here, I'd honestly go with a kit with front spindles vs. the keys.

4. If your shocks are shot I'd replace them at the same time.


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