Lift kits,
Oversized wheels and tires, Off Roading, Drag Racing, Sled Pulling in 4
wheel drive and just everyday driving can apply extreme demands on the stock
GM steering components. The factory tie rod assemblies on the Chevy / GMC -
1500 are not sufficient for the job they were asked to do. These components
were way under designed from the factory and are a real danger when extra
loads are put on them.
From the start these undersized components are the
weak link in the front end of your truck and need to be addressed for a good
reliable solid steering system. Since the factory tie rod ends are not what
they should be, they start wearing prematurely which will result in sloppy
steering at first, then eventually the worst case, complete failure and
breakage. Even the tie rod shaft themselves are very thin and weak, we have
seen them bend from just mild off roading.
Unfortunately the original units were just way under
designed from the get go. So even good quality aftermarket replacement
steering parts are better, but the original OEM units are just too small to
take the extra demand put on them. It is the small size of the joint and the
main shaft that is the culprit not just the quality of the part.....
Statement From Rare Parts: Quality
of a steering and suspension part is critical to the safety of you and the
people you share the road with. With a majority of today's products coming
from overseas the attention to quality has diminished. That's why Rare Parts
prides itself in only manufacturing high quality Chassis parts, hence the
Diamond Series. To qualify, a Diamond Series part must exceed OEM and other
after market products. Examples would be, the part is now greaseable,
forgings are made larger for increased strength, improved internal designs,
better wear characteristics, tighter machining tolerances, proper heat
treatment of ball studs and mating components, and many more. One thing
every Diamond Series part has in common is, it has been tested and inspected
in our facility before it leaves our warehouse. So rest assured, you are
getting a quality part when quality counts. Danny Burgess President Rare
Parts, Inc.