COGNITO STEERING SUPPORT KIT AND IDLER PIVOT ASSEMBLY

[Sage Green]

Trail Duty or Cognito dealers near you. See http://www.cognitomotorsports.com/dealerlist.html

[Rich]

Trail Duty because Cognito dealers near you don't provide you a forum to learn this valuable info.

FIXED!

Support Trail Duty! That is all!

[CrazyGreek]

ok thanks for the info

[Joe H]

Okay so here is a dumb question: Will someone take a picture of the Pitman/idler so I know what it is. I have 32k and have not replaced them. Maybe it is time to see if there is a problem I am not aware of.

Thanks.

[ree]

I took these before and after pictures when I did mine. Cognitos photos suck.

Pitman after and before (can't figure out how to get attachments in the order I want them in).

[ree]

Idler after and before (can't figure out how to get attachments in the order I want them in).

[PhilD]

You may want to adjust the angles on those heim joints to prevnet any binding. It's a little tricky I know, but you want those heims to be "level" and have the same movement on either side. I found the best way was to get them close to tight, then turn them slightly the opposite way, and as you do the final tightening they rotate slightly and end up level.

[ree]

Good to know. I've noticed that in the past.

As I didn't do the work myself, it reinforces the "truth" that you simply can't expect others to get it as right as you'd want it.

I'm up to fixing it though. Is that just tightened to a specific torque at the nut on the tail end of the ring? Or is it thread locked and torqued? I probably have the printed directions somewhere...but I'm not going to look for them in the mess that is my uncompleted office and I'm not finding them online anymore.

[PhilD]

I'm up to fixing it though. Is that just tightened to a specific torque at the nut on the tail end of the ring? Or is it thread locked and torqued? I probably have the printed directions somewhere...but I'm not going to look for them in the mess that is my uncompleted office and I'm not finding them online anymore.

Just loosen the locking nuts slightly and make the adjustment. It's a little bit of trial and error to get them right, but it's not difficult.

[Joe H]

That is great. Thanks very much.

Is there any way to tell if they are in need of replacement by looking at them? How hard is it to install the Cognito kit? Could I just get the kits and take them to the dealer to get them to replace them and install the kit?

Thanks again.

[PhilD]

Is there any way to tell if they are in need of replacement by looking at them?

No. But you can get a good idea pretty quickly, jack one wheel up at a time and trying moving it side to side, there will be a small amount of free play, but should not be a lot. Having someone watch the steering wheel helps.

How hard is it to install the Cognito kit?

If you can change a Pitman or idler arm, you can easily install the kit. It was a little tricky the first time, but it was real easy the second time. If you don't know what you are doing with the vehicles steering, don't mess with your it, get someone else to do it, it is only a 1 hr job.

Could I just get the kits and take them to the dealer to get them to replace them and install the kit?

Yes, or any alignment store can do it, most likely much cheaper than a dealer.

[Joe H]

Thanks as usual PhilD for the help. Sounds like fun to try this.

[Alan00HMCO]

I put it on at 15K miles and now have 30K miles. I waranteed the arms right before the cognito was put on, and it tightend up the steering. No more wandering. So far so Good. Tighten it up ater your ride with it though, somehow mne got a little loose (even with the thread locker).

Have you noticed that hard wheeling or highway use tends to loosen it up? How often do you check it?

Hard wheeling tends to loosen the steering and also the control arm bolts. I check them after each hard wheeling trip.

[Sage Green]

Thanks Alan!

[Pdxrealtor]

Old thread I know, but these pics helped tremendously as Cognito's pics and instructions are snap for someone who is not familiar with terminology and wrenching on a daily basis.

Got my kit installed, pitman replaced (PITA) and idler brack and idler arm replaced as well as steering stabilizer.

Anyone notice that the pitman arm does not go all the way up the steering gear shaft? There's tons of threads on other GM/Chev forums about this being normal, but it drives me nuts. I have about a 3/8" gap between the rubber seal on the box and the top of the pitman arm.

Also did lower ball joints, hubs, upper control arms with joints. All MOOG. I should have just done the tie rods while I was in there but I know they can easily be replaced without removing tons of stuff.

Thanks again.