Close. The ball joint flip is used to correct front suspension geometry after lifting the truck; and the spacer further facilitates this when needed (trucks lifted 3+"). But yeah, unless you have lowered the truck adding spacers without first doing the ball joint flip doesn't make a bit of sense.

As sort of mentioned earlier, if you are lifting, there is more pull from the "connecting rods" (technically not tie rods i suppose) on the steering rack causing the seals to be pulled out on full droop, then you lose all of your power steering fluid. If you're keeping your stock shocks on and hope that your shocks will limit droop you are going to decrease the life of your shocks.
Conversely, if you are lowering your truck would the concern be bottoming out in the rack? i haven't seen the insside of mine.

ok thank for the all info oh and i hate lowriders

Joe, I checked both Rodeo 2002 and Axiom 2004. On both vehicles, with completely stock-length shocks and stock mounts, the shock "stops" before the metal bumpstops you were mentioning get into contact.

The clearence between these events is very small, although, I have to admit. It was enough for me to modify, a very little, the upper shock mounts (I just put more spacers on the top of the shock) and the metal bumstops became the stopping factor, exactly like you sad. But I was saying about the 100%-stock situation: stock shocks+stock mounts. In this case, the metal bumpstops never get into contact - at least, on the vehicles I've owned.



Joe, I was checking the vehicles being completely new.

yes, this is exactly how I understand this.

The reason not to sell them is, if you use balljoint spacers with a balljoint flip. The rack and pinion over extends and damages itself.

Yep. There are two guys in my group that have overextended multiple steering racks under heavy off-road (ab)use without the flip and spacer. Both of them have 3+" of lift and 33's and had to add material to the metal 'bump stop' to solve the issue. The suspension probably doesn't droop enough under normal driving or just jacking the vehicle up to cause an issue; but the sudden and powerful drop when tackling a rutted-out ledge is going to get every last bit of movement out of all of the bushings/etc.

this is scary. Is it time to design a sort of "steering rack drop kit" ?

Seems like any overly complex way to address the issue when you can just add 1/8" of bulk to the metal bump stop area. Yeah, it will cause you to lose a marginal amount of suspension droop (probably 1/2" or less)... whoopdeedoo! Neither person has experienced any problems since doing so. Keep in mind the Midwst Isuzu crew is rough on their trucks. Just by nature of the type of terrain around here, we have to utilize more throttle more often than people who have access to grippier surfaces. That was one of the weirdest (and coolest) things about Moab; I could practically idle up obstacles that, at home, would require full-throttle and a 10 foot running start. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

whew, For a moment there I thought you may have been refering to me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Except I didn't do anything to fix the bumpstops.

Yes with the ball joints in the facoty location you can ruin the rack and pinion seals. I know the first rack I ruined (and the only one with a seal pulled out) when I did it I was in a tight ravine sort of laying on my side. As I backed up, the 'Migo righted itself with a front tire still stuffed into the wall of the ravine. Which very close to the same time I started losing my power steering.

But Sean is right, things do tend to require a bit more throttle in the midwest. It seems mud on the trail is pretty much a given.

-Mike