I broke my first set of steering arm studs this weekend.
I am trying to decide on the following
get the six shooters
use the hardened studs and monitor torque on studs and nuts more often
Use hardened studs and weld arms to knuckle. I think I read a post where this was being done by Chris Geiger. (get six shooters when this fails)
I will be competing and have no problem removing two studs if the BOD decided that is OK.
I want to do the best thing for durability at the lowest price. (dont we all)
I think hardened studs with welds holding the steering arms will work. But, I feel like the welding will make them non-serviceable in the future.

use the hardened studs and monitor torque on studs and nuts more often



;)

Most people will tell you that ARP studs are all you need. I agree, but have broke ARP's before (probably my fault, I forgot to check torque). Im going ARP's and adding a fifth stud. I only did the fifth stud for my own reassurance. If you are interested in the fifth stud, the toy FAQ has some good info in it and Bobby Long sells a kit for I think $40.

I think the six shooters are cool but kind of a waste of money......

We check ours each day during comps and trail rides we,ve never broken any

We check ours each day during comps and trail rides we,ve never broken any





Thats kind of hard when the tires are never on the ground!:flipoff2:

Rubber side down!

Thats kind of hard when the tires are never on the ground!:flipoff2:

Rubber side down!

It,s actually easier to check them that way:flipoff2: Don,t you have a roller to build or something?

It,s actually easier to check them that way:flipoff2: Don,t you have a roller to build or something?


I'm in design mode right now, leave me alone!

I'm in design mode right now, leave me alone!

LOL

I would go with ARP studs and leave it at that. The Marlin Crawler F-Toy has been competing with stock studs for 3 years now. I just make sure I check the torque often.
I did have a couple loose ones on the drivers side before Texas so I put in a set of ARP studs on the drivers side but it was too late. Once the studs have loosened once and the threaded holes are elongated, you are screwed. If there is ANY room for the studs to move, Even ARP studs will break. I ended up breaking the ARP studs that I installed during the new years weekend.
I plan to get another set of knuckles and put ARP studs in there from the begining this time.

I think the six shooters are cool but kind of a waste of money......



haveing this insurance of them never coming loose is not a waiste of money, espcially if you want to go fast. or you hate retoquing the stud and then the nut everytime you go out whether you have arps or stockers.

i have never broke a stud while running a trail. its only when i am hauling ass do i brake studs. now, i dont brake nothing and they nuts dont come loose:smokin:

plus you cant take the arm off like normal which you cant do with the 5th stud that bobby sells. and then there is a cool bolt that goes down pushes the steering arm off for quick change

and then there is a cool bolt that goes down pushes the steering arm off for quick change

That is a pretty cool addition!!!

Thanks for all the input. Here is my decision.
Hardened studs are on the way. I will install them and monitor torque. In addition I will remove the knuckles from my backup/parts rig, install hardened studs, and have them ready for comps and future trips. When all this fails I will buy six shooters.