Quick Chassis Engineering MII rack question

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May 18, 2011 | 08:01 AM

Doc

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From: East KY

Quick Chassis Engineering MII rack question

Little league (and me coaching 2 different teams) has really put a hurting on my progress with my truck. Well anyway, I got to work an hour or so last night after my kids settled down. I have the Chassis Engineering bolt in crossmember and CE MII kit with a manual steering rack. I bolted the rack on last night. JPL sent the little (im guessing 1 inch) extenders for the ends of the rack. I was told that I'd need them with the manual rack. So I installed them and the tie rod ends and screwed everything up as far as it would go before I hooked it up to the spindles. Then I stood back and looked and almost laughed. It's toed WAY out. I did a rough measurement. The front outside shoulders of the tires are like 55 inches apart while the rear shoulders are only like 52 inches apart. So I'm guessing obviously I probably don't need those extenders. Has anybody else using this particular kit noticed this? I was told that CE started using full length racks that don't require the extenders. But then again, they probably just buy them from somebody else like the rest of em. That rack does not have one single marking or part number, including the shrink wrap and cardboard it came with.

May 18, 2011 | 09:07 AM

rzns60

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From: Austin Texas

I will pass along what I have garnered while researching all the IFS systems out there. Most everyone uses a T-Bird rack and pinion. Everyone with the exception of No Limit uses the extenders to make up for the length of the Tie Rods. No Limits Tie Rods are longer to eliminate this issue. I would imagine that you could find the stock lengths for the rack online somewhere and compare that to the one you have to see if that is the issue. The recommened settings for an IFS are about 1/8" Toe-in

May 18, 2011 | 09:42 AM

Old F1

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From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca

So the instructions leave a little to be desired? I know you have a manual rack and so this will be of no help but the Heidts 2 inch extenders on their power rack have good instructions. Other then that the original ends come installed and to remove them and install the spacers………. are they ever tight.

http://www.heidts.com/_uploaded_files/in-090.pdf

May 18, 2011 | 10:34 AM

Doc

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From: East KY

Thanks guys. Well....let me put it this way. I got NO instructions with that rack whatsoever. And I've quickly discovered that I probably didn't get the same rack that CE sells. I called JPL. They said that I MUST install the extenders. And I guess I was supposed to read their mind and put those extenders under the boots with no instructions at all. So I called CE and told them how far it's toed out with the extenders just screwed on the ends. He told me that JPL may very well have sold me a rack that is already extended and told me what measurements to look for. So when I get home, I'm gonna measure it. I was told if it's 45 1/2 inches from end to end, I need the extenders. If it's approximately 47 1/2, I don't. Maybe that little tidbit of info will help the next guy.

May 18, 2011 | 11:23 AM

Old F1

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From: Windermere Valley,B.C. Ca

The story (“the rest of the story”) is not over yet,….. but didn’t some fat skeptical puke mumble something about JPL one time. Sorry ……..Heee Heee!

May 18, 2011 | 06:51 PM

old_dan

Fleet Mechanic

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From: Morgan Hill, CA

I used the Fatman parts. They sold me an "aftermarket" mustang 2 rack. Theirs is offset to one side by two inches....so no extender on one side and a two inch extension on the other. It took a while to figure it out, but the extender went on the inside of the rack. The instruction didn't really cover this too well, but I figured it out after a little thought.

Sounds like yours is already extended. When you measure toe-in on yours, be sure to go to hard points...such as the wheel. I found out that if you measure to a tire that there can be quite a bit of variation just from the tire.

Dan

May 18, 2011 | 09:09 PM

Doc

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From: East KY

Well you guys helped me learn my rookie mistake. I finally located and downloaded some instructions like the ones mentioned above. Man, that is a PITA to install those spacers under the boots!! Why can't they just have those things fabbed up already for us!? And then I've got to figure out how to get those little pissant brittle clamps tightened back up on each end of those boots. At least I had the rack bolted to the crossmember and didn't have to worry about putting it in a big vise or trying to hold it with my hands as I tightened up those spacers. Next step is to clean up my mess under that thing (now that I've got my tires installed and can roll it around freely) and get my engine and tranny re-installed.