American Expedition Vehicles JK High Steer Kit - Manual (Page 6)

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VI. install high–steer draglink
1. First, drill out the tapered hole in the upper (draglink) arm on the passenger-side knuckle to make it
a 7/8” diameter straight hole as shown (Fig. 6). Be sure to drill as straight and steady as possible to
avoid a loose connection. Insert the supplied taper-to-straight adapter sleeve into the hole.
Figure 6
2. Apply anti-seize compound to the threads of the new draglink and thread it into the adjuster sleeve
until the amount of thread showing is similar to the amount showing on the short side that is still at-
tached to the pitman arm.
3. Insert the tie rod end of the draglink into the adapter sleeve. DO NOT use the original TRE nut, use the
new 14mm locking flange nut provided in your kit. This supplied nut has a larger flange that can ad-
equately cover the 7/8” hole. Torque to 63 ft/lbs. DO NOT use an impact gun, over-torque can damage
the draglink.
VII. Install new steering damper
1. Loosen the clamp that holds the factory steering damper mount to the tie rod and slide it toward the
driver’s side several inches (out of the way for now.)
2. Place the eye of the damper body onto the stud of the tie rod bracket, add the original nut and tighten.
3. Attach the damper to the new High Steer axle bracket orienting the hardware as shown (Fig. 7).
NOTE: the Old Man Emu Steering damper includes a spacer sleeve for proper fitment on bolt.
Rotate the black rubber boot on the damper so that the drainage holes are on the bottom.
4. To position the tie rod bracket properly, extend or compress the damper until the eye to eye length is
16 1/2”. Making sure the steering is straight ahead, rotate the tie rod bracket until the stud is point-
ing just forward of straight up while the tie rod itself is rocked “down” as far as it will go. Tighten the
mounting bracket at this location. Torque the lock nut (see Fig. 7 below) to 40 ft/lbs.
DRILL OUT TO 7/8”