JK Aluminum Steering Kit with JMX PRO 7-8 in Rod Ends

Warning:  This kit requires basic fabrication skills (Cutting, Drilling )  If you are not confident in your abilities please have this installed at a Local Off-road Shop. 

Step 1:

Open Packages and Inventory all of the Parts   Please contact Artec Industries Immediately if you are missing any parts or hardware @ (855) 278 3299 .     

Step 2:

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

Step 3:

Grab your buddy, use the tape measure. You will want to measure and record the lengths of your current Tie rod from center of bolt on the knuckle to center of bolt on the knuckle.  Now measure the current draglink length from  bolt center to  bolt center of the draglink ends.

( Reference : On our Jeep  Equipped with Reid Racing Knuckles We measured total length of the tie rod @ 58.5" and drag-link @ 40.5" )

Step 4:

Thread the Jam nuts onto your Heim Joints, Put some anti seize  (a little goes a long away unless you want to look like the tin man on The Wizard of Oz )on the treads of the heim and thread  the heim into the Tie rod and Drag-Link  and set aside for later. 

Step 5:

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

Step 6:

Jack up the Jeep 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 bungee cord or modified Metal coat hanger .  Do not let the calipers hang  freely you risk damaging the brake lines )  Now remove the brake rotors (You may 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 strait up on end it can cause them to Warp.)  

Step 7:

Remove cotter pins on Tie rods and drag links,   Then loosen the castle nuts.   (Leave the castle nuts  installed by a few threads ! )  Grab your Tie rod Separator, wedge it between the knuckle and the base of the tie rod . Hit the end of the Tie rod separator with your Big Freaking Hammer until it pops loose, Then repeat on the other side and with drag link.  Remove the castle nuts and the Drag link and tie rod should drop off the Jeep.

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

Step 8:

(We Highly Recommend Removing Pitman arm to ensure it is drilled strait and makes drilling a lot easier)

If removing the pitman arm to drill it out use a 33mm socket to remove Pitman Arm Nut .  Once the nut is removed  attached your Pitman arm puller and start to pull the pitman arm.

Once the pitman arm is removed from the Jeep you will want to Put it in a drill press  and drill out the drag link hole to 3/4"  If you do not have access to a drill press you can use a bench vise just ensure you are drilling it strait.   If you do not have access to either a  Drill press or Bench vice you can drill out the Pitman arm  installed on the vehicle  however we do not recommend drilling out the Pitman arm with it installed on the vehicle. 

Tech Tip : You can use the torch here to help with removal of pitman arm, Just remember if you used any type of penetration oil  it could cause a fire so keep a fire extinguisher handy.  You can also give the pitman arm a whack with the BFH when it is under tension from the puller sometimes till pop right off.  Sometimes you may have leave the pitman arm puller on under tension for a bit.  walk away for a bit when you come back its magically on the floor.

Step 9:

Reinstall the pitman arm it is keyed so it should only go on 1 way, Use  Blue Loctite on the pitman arm nut . You will want to use your torque wrench when installing the pitman arm  torque to 185ft lbs.  (manufacturer spec)

Step 10:

Grab your drill and 3/4" drill bit or reamer and drill out the tie rod hole and drag link hole (if equipped) on the knuckle.  Once the knuckle is drilled out, Use the supplied hardware and install the tie rod followed by the drag link.    When installing the hardware you will want to have the Bolt go through the knuckle then Washer on underside of knuckle sandwiched between the knuckle and misalignment spacer in the heim than the nut against the other misalignment spacer. Tighten all of the hardware .

Step 11:

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 the lug nuts yet !)  Lower vehicle off of the jack stands and onto ground then torque the lug nuts to 95ft lbs.

Step 12:

With the Jeep back together and on the ground, Did you remember 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 the same or as close as you can get. to those numbers . You will want your tires set Toe in 1/16" - 1/8"  (Front of the tires closer together than the rear of the tire.)  Set this by loosening Jam nuts on the steering and twisting the tie rod using a wrench on the wrench flats machined onto the Tie rod.  This will get it so you can drive the Jeep to an alignment shop to have an alignment performed by a shop.  

Step 13:

Go Wheeling and enjoy your new steering .

After 50 miles make sure all of the bolts are tight and that they have not came loose.