i swaped in the rockwell front axle this weekend and i realized that i have never heard how every one was doing the steering. so i figure, how hard can it be. i pulled the king pin cover from the passenger side and built a high steer arm[2 hours on the mill]. when i went to see about bolting it on. i knew i needed some longer bolts, so no big deal. till ifigured out that they are 9/16ths coarse thread. can't just pick that up at the hardware store. then it hit me. all i really need was to swap the studs and arm from the other side. i just cut up the stock steering arm and cut up my custom made one and welded them together. i would have prefered to make a whole new one but i didn't have a taper reamer for the taper locks that go with the studs from the other side. that will be one of those projects that i will never get to unless the welded one breaks. but here is a heads up to anyone getting ready to swap a rockwell. i also need to get a longer steering arm for the box, i can't turn it all the way with the short one. mike

what are you puttin the rockwells under? The camo'ed family cruzier? oh yeah, PICS!!! :flipoff2:

I did the same thing as you. Wagoner Machine Shop makes high clearance arms for the rockwells, they're neat. I just used the 4 studs from one side to hold the arm on.

The arm has a hole for a 3/4" bolt. I ran the bolt all the way down to the knuckle itself and welded a nut there. My steering ram is located inbetween the top of the knuckle and the bottom of the steering arm, so the 3/4" bolt is in double shear, should be strong enough. My tie rod is above the stock knuckles. I adapted the tapered hole toa 3/4" hole also.

CJ

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great now i get the pics, after i stumble threw this weekend. and danial, i see you stole that pick from one of hayrakers post at orc. yea it's under the cruiser pdaddy. i can't use a hole closer to the axle danial, it will hit on the drive flange on the front the 3rd member. mike

Daniel,

I dont know if you were asking that question of me or not. The ends of my arm were bent in a press/break. Casey @ WMS does this for the leaf spring setups he has done. I flipped my arm upside down, I really wanted that 3/4" bolt in double shear...flipping it upside down got the angle of the bolt to where I could weld the nut on the knuckle. Casey told me he has had a few hydro setups rip the steering arm off the 4 bolts at top. I dont want that happening!

CJ

I can testify to hydro steering ripping the arm off of the knuckle. It also breaks the knuckle (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65130&highlight=rockwell+carnage) if all of the bolts don't break!

that is so cool.

:beer:

Got a question for ya. Can you make an arm drill it out fot the holes and bolt the cap back on ttop of it with the cone washers and just use longer bolts instead of studs? I was looking last night and thought of this anybody taken this path to high steer?

Todd

you could do that, if you have studs that are long enough. mike

Not talking about studs just put bolts in it and keep the cone washers. That way it stays tight with the cone washers. Might not be the same using conewashers and bolts but it is worth a try. I will have to look up ARP for the studs if I can remember right ext. studs at fine thread.

Todd

they are 9/16 coarse thread where it threads into the knuckle and 9/16 fine thread on the top. i think the bolts might work, but why not just get the high steer holes taper reamed and be done with it. and chuck the old steering arm/cap. mike

there's no need to reuse the cone washers. I have been running a piece of 1" plate with the 4 9/16" holes in it and gr8 bolts for almost a year w/ no probs.

Anybody know what wagoneer is charging for a rockwell highsteer arm??

I kinda agree about chucking the washers but the whole purpose is to keep the arm tight to the nuckle. I am tring to do alittle redneck fabing so I could do the taperes but just welding the cap on is easier for me.
Elf that is what I wanted to hear somebody running it with no problems. I got a coulpe pieces of 1/2" plate I might weld together and use. I am just doing this to get my hyd. cylinder up and away from the rocks.

Anybody know what wagoneer is charging for a rockwell highsteer arm??

whatever they are charging, it's too much! How about $5 for a 10"x4.5"x1" plate... plus an hour with a drill and sawzall, voila!!!