Ok I know this has been asked many times over but have searched and searched threw the forum and all I have found to my answer is solutions that unfortunately don't exist anymore. I am finally after many years getting around to putting a lift on my Xterra and have been looking at my options for a heavy duty steering kit. I am pretty set on getting the TC King Kong kit from AC (price is super steep). My other option was the Calmini kit but I have heard nothing but horror stories about them lately. Before I pull the trigger on this kit I just wanted to see if there are any other options that are still around? Thanks for the input!
The Calmini kit isn't bad. I doubt they have any "in stock" so you'd have to order it and wait.
SLR kit is available direct from Spencer for about $200 more than the Calmini and again, you'd have to order it and wait for him to build it for you.
The Calmini kit isn't bad. I doubt they have any "in stock" so you'd have to order it and wait.
SLR kit is available direct from Spencer for about $200 more than the Calmini and again, you'd have to order it and wait for him to build it for you.
I can get you his contact info if you want. The only pictures I’ve got on hand are his modified, machined and heat treated SLR on left. OEM idler arm pin on the right;
and SLR idler arm, idler arm pin and center link (in a modified total chaos brace).
If you want more pictures tell me of what and I’ll take them and post them when I have some time.
Anyone have any experience with the P&P engineering kit? It's $1075, more expensive than Calmini, but I'd rather buy quality and buy once - I've heard the Calmini kits often have problems.
I'm trying to do one now, but the clown over at P&P that goes by the name Mac - didn't send all the mounting hardware for the kit. If I can get it done, I'll post the pictures. Beware of P&P, very slow, full of excuses and only communicates through email (very slow at replying).
Found some pictures of the SLR with Bandit4x4 bushings and Calmini IA brace I helped a buddy put in his truck. That's the OEM steering with an old Calmini brace to the right of the SLR stuff in the first pic..
Found some pictures of the SLR with Bandit4x4 bushings and Calmini IA brace I helped a buddy put in his truck. That's the OEM steering with an old Calmini brace to the right of the SLR stuff in the first pic..
Found some pictures of the SLR with Bandit4x4 bushings and Calmini IA brace I helped a buddy put in his truck. That's the OEM steering with an old Calmini brace to the right of the SLR stuff in the first pic..
Thanks Bklyn, the pics definitely helped. Had major troubles with the Heim joint tie rod ends. Could never get them to work with the suspension at full drop. Looking back at the pictures of the Heim joint tie rods installed, noticed they were on a stock truck, not with the 3" suspension lift we installed. Finally gave up and went back to ball joint tie rod ends haha.
I can get you his contact info if you want. The only pictures I’ve got on hand are his modified, machined and heat treated SLR on left. OEM idler arm pin on the right;
and SLR idler arm, idler arm pin and center link (in a modified total chaos brace).
If you want more pictures tell me of what and I’ll take them and post them when I have some time.
I think it was great. You can rebuild it (bushings and bearings) when it starts getting sloppy. Then it's like new again. It was on my truck for years and never let me down. I lent it to a friend who has it on his Fronty at the moment.
Found some pictures of the SLR with Bandit4x4 bushings and Calmini IA brace I helped a buddy put in his truck. That's the OEM steering with an old Calmini brace to the right of the SLR stuff in the first pic..
Yeah, Spencer modifies the OEM so its double shear and works with the bearings in his center link. You add the bushings from Bandit4X4 and ya got a pretty strong set up that's rebuildable.
I'm looking to get a new heavy duty steering kit because calmini is a nightmare and apparently they arent hardly producing anymore. Any thoughts, it seems to me that the aftermarket is very small for the 1st gens.
Do some searching and get a hold of SLR. They do still make IFS kits for the 1st gen. I bought mine from them in the past year. Coupled with a AC idler arm brace, my rig feels super solid. Though you may want to get the Calmini idler arm brace, its a bit more robust and Calmini seems to still make them.
Well, the MOOG kit is, at best, the same as OEM. And OEM is a bit weak if you plan to do any off roading. If you do go with MOOG, then at least get a idler arm brace from AC/4x4parts.com, plus the beefier tie rod adjusters.
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