Crossover Steering Kit with 7-8" JMX rod ends

We're working to restore these instructions from our previous website. Please bear with us. If you need immediate assistance, contact sales@artecindustries.com.

Warning:  This kitrequires basic fabrication skills (Cutting, Drilling, and Welding ) If you arenot confident in your abilities please have this installed at a Local Off-roadShop.  

 

Tools Required :

Safety Glasses, Gloves, (optional), Jack Stands, Floor Jack,Drill, Drill 3/4" Drill bit or Reamer , 1-1/4  Wrench, 1-1/8"wrench, Socket Set/Wrench or Impact, Breaker Bar,  Torque wrench, 1-1/8 socket, Socket for your vehicles Pitman arm Nut (most vehicles use around a 32-34mm socket) Measuring Tape, Sharpie, Cutting Device(Sawzall, Band saw, Cutoff wheel, Chop saw, Hacksaw), 7/8"x14tpi Tap (BothLeft hand thread and Standard) Lug wrench, Wheel Lock Key (If you have wheellocks the guys at the tire shop probably lost the wheel lock key), Pitman armpuller ,  Tie rod separator, Needle Nose Pliers, Large Hammer,  Mapgas Torch (Optional  but probablyRequired in Rust Belt States)   Anti seize, Blue Loctite, Cuttingoil, Welder/ Welding PPE, and a helper/wrenching buddy.    

 

 

Step 1: 

Open Packages and  take Inventoryall of the Parts   Please contact Artec Industries Immediately if you are missing anyparts @ (855) 278 3299 .     

 

Step 2:

Please make sure your wheels and steering wheel arestrait,  An you do not have any bent or broken steering components Thiscan throw off your measurements  which will be critical later on. 

 

Step 3:

Grab your buddy, Use the tape measure. You will want to measureand record the lengths of your current Tie rod from center of bolt on theknuckle to center of bolt on the knuckle.  Now measure the currentdrag-link length from  bolt center to  bolt center of the drag-linkends.

 

 

Step 4: 

Thread the Jam nuts onto your Heim Joints, Then Thread the Tubeadapters onto the heim. We recommend when assembling the Heim to measure thedistance from center of hole in heim to the inside edge of tube adapter whereit will bottom out against the D.O.M.  Set that length to 3" This will allow for plenty of adjustment later on. The Artec uncut assembledTie rod Should Measure 60"   and Drag-link should Measure54" if you did this correctly.   Subtract your current Drag linkAnd tie rod lengths from the measurements for the Artec steering and cut thedifference out of the tubes.  Remember to Measure 2x Cut once ! 

 

Step 5: 

Remove Heim from Tube adapters and Weld the tube adapters into place (You will want to ensureyou have 1 tube adapter with a groove LH Thread  and one non groovedStandard Thread  on each piece of tube to allow adjustment on the vehicle).    Oncethe welding is complete allow tube adapters to cool for a bit.  Once cooledchase the threads with a 7/8x14 Tap  . Welding can cause the tube adapters to shrink some.  After the threads have been chasedgrab the Anti seize ( Yes, that stuff that will make you look like the tin manfrom The Wizard of Oz !)  Put some anti seize on the treads of the heimand thread them into the tube adapters.  

 

(The LH Thread Tubeadapter will have a grove machined on to it you’ll want a LH Thread tap for it )

 

Step 6:

Chock your wheels,  Start to break loose the front lug nutsfree while Jeep is on the ground (Do not fully remove the lug nuts) 

 

Step 7: 

Jack up the Vehicle and set it securely on jack stands. Now continue to remove the lug nuts and wheels.

Once Wheels are off. Remove the brake caliper off the knuckles (Hang the calipers off the frame with a bungeecord or modified Metal coat hanger if you let the caliper hang freely brakelines can become damaged ) Now remove the brake rotors (Youmay need to tap the hat of the rotor if it is rusted on.) Set the rotors on a flat surface. (Do not stand the rotors on end it can cause themto Warp.)   

 

Step 8:

Remove cotter pins on Tie rods and drag links,   Thenloosen the castle nuts.   (Leave the castle nuts  installed by a few threads ! )  Grab your Tie rod Separator, wedge it betweenthe knuckle and the base of the tie rod Hit on the end of the Tie rod separatorwith your Big Freaking Hammer until it pops loose Then repeat on the other sideand with drag link .  Remove the castle nuts and the Drag-link and tie rodshould drop off the Vehicle. 

 

( Tip : If you have a small Map gas torch heat the  Castlenuts and heat the knuckle some this will help break parts free in the rust beltstates ) 

 

Step 9: 

(We Highly RecommendRemoving Pitman arm to ensure it is drilled strait and makes drilling a loteasier) 

 

Use your appropriate sized socket to remove Pitman Arm Nut.  Once the nut is removed  attached your Pittman arm puller andstart to pull the Pitman arm.  

Once the Pitman arm is removed from the Jeep you will want toPut it in a drill press and drill out the  drag link hole to 3/4"  if youdo not have access to a drill press you can use a bench vise just ensure youare drilling it strait.  If you donot have access to Either a drill press or bench vise the pitman arm can bedrilled on the vehicle but we do not recommend it. 

 

 

Tech Tip : You can use the torch here to help Just remember if you used any type of penetrationoil to soak the pitman arm  it couldcause a fire. Be sure to keep a Fire Extinguisher handy . You can alsogive the Pitman arm a whack with the Hammer and sometimes till pop rightoff.  Sometimes you have leave the Pitman arm puller on under tension fora bit.  walk away for a bit when you come back its magically on the floor

 

 

Step 10:

Reinstall the Pittman arm it is keyed so it should only go on 1way, Use Blue Loctite on the Pitman arm nut . You will want to use yourtorque wrench when installing the Pitman arm torque to  your vehicle manufacturers spec.

 

Step 11: 

Grab your drill and 3/4" drill bit or reamer and drill outthe tie rod hole and drag link hole (if equipped) on the knuckle.  Once the knuckle is drilled out, install the tie rodfollowed by the drag link.  When installing hardware you will want to havethe Bolt go through the knuckle then Washer on underside of knuckle sandwichedbetween the knuckle and misalignment spacer in the heim than the nut againstthe other misalignment spacer. 

 

Step 12:

Reinstall the brakes (if your brakes are worn this is the time to replace them.) 

Install the wheels on vehicle and tighten lug nuts.  (Do not torque them yet !)  Lower vehicle off of the jack stands and ontoground then  torque the lug nuts to manufacturers spec. 

 

 

Step 13:

With the vehicle back together and on the ground, Did youremember to record the measurement of your steering you took in step #3.   Use your helper and a tape measure to make sure your adjustments are thesame or as close as you can get. to those numbers . You will want your tiresset Toe in 1/16" - 1/8"  ( Toe in is when the Front of the tires closer together than therear of the tire.)  Set this byloosening Jam nuts on the steering and twisting the tie rod using a wrench onthe wrench flats machined into the tube adapters.   This will get itso you can drive the vehicle to an alignment shop to have a professionalalignment performed by a shop.   

 

Step 14:

 

Go Wheeling and enjoy your new steering .

 

After 50 Miles or a fewTrail runs (whichever happens first Please check steering to ensure it is tight