Canadian Nissan Truck Club

In 2010 I started wheeling a 2003 Xterra

I drove it like I stole it, and by 2011 I had replaced most of the steering 3 times.



This started my search for a heavy duty solution.
I considered big truck parts like a Ford F-250, but that didn't get me too far.

I found the company Total Chaos in California.

http://www.chaosfab.com/

They advertised a heavy duty setup that consisted of a beefed up centre link, heim joint tie rods, and custom milled idler and pitman arms.





Since no one locally were using this system, I couldn't really check it out for myself, so I jumped in and ordered it. 

When it arrived, I could tell right away that it was going to work well 



Side by side you can see it. 




Installation was easy, just the same as if I was replacing OEM parts. 

The kit replaces the factory parts and use some very strong hardware to hold it together. Where the spindles were still tapered to expect a tie rod, the kit has a machined cone that adapts the OEM system to the TC one. 





Wheel alignment was a breeze, because of the combination of right thread and left threads in the tie rod (heim joint)

Long term testing next...

LONG TERM TESTING 

I have had to replace the heim’s twice since being installed, as they had a little play in the joints, and I wasn't comfortable driving it. 

The first set I ordered from a local hot rod shop, and got hosed on the price. 

I have since found that TMR carries them at about a third of the cost at the speed shop. 

http://www.tmrcustoms.com/store/

FAST FORWARD TO 2016

keeping in mind the xterra is not my daily driver, 5 years might be misleading. Calculate time at your own risk. 

CampNL2016 saw me climbing through a rock garden on the Anson North trail. At some point I got jammed against a rock and blew out the bearings in the idler arm. 




I contacted Total Chaos, as their idler arm and pitman arms are sold and labelled as “rebuildable”

I called TC and they had the kit available. 
Kit was worth $80. They offered to send it usps which passes to Canada post. 
Since I have timing issues with Adventure Weekend coming up, I asked them to overnight it by ups. 
Kit was packaged, and showed up today. 

4 business days, and I have them in my hand. 



Rebuilding next…

reserved

How long have you been running that setup Mike? I upgraded mine when I had by IFS Xterra, SLR I think, and it was way better than stock, but still left something to be desired. The TC setup looks pretty good, for a crappy design...how did Nissan get the steering dsign so wrong?

sandor wrote:How long have you been running that setup Mike? I upgraded mine when I had by IFS Xterra, SLR I think, and it was way better than stock, but still left something to be desired. The TC setup looks pretty good, for a crappy design...how did Nissan get the steering dsign so wrong?

4-5ish years I think.

Engineers don't need to design anything stronger than what is exerted from hitting a pothole I bet.

The designers will get over ruled by bean counters if the parts are over designed. Robustness often costs more. There are however some trade-offs that can be made with out cost increases.

If you want to save yourself some heim joints, just jeeps has some rubber boots for them. I put them on my steering as I had to replace them about every season. I keep em full of grease and so far this is my second season on the joints with no play what so ever.

Is the truck back on the road now?

Yep, all is done.

I need to write up the last part and post some pics. I think that won't happen until next week.