COMPLETED First Day with the TB

[TBNewbie]

So I didnt even have the TB for 8 hours and I had to hit the dirt. Found a little sand pit near my friends house and had some fun.

[TBNewbie]

It doesnt look like much but when you come over and stare straight down you swear its almost vertical.

[gotspeed1]

Pictures rarely due anything justice. Going out immediately is definetly a good way to get the offroad fever.

[The Roadie]

Cool. But watch out for donuts. The power steering pump has a shear feature that breaks rather than seize up and cost you your serpentine belt. Losing the PS is a "hint" to not do high RPM full-lock donuts, the GM designers figured.

[navigator]

Is there any kind of upgrade for the power steering?

I noticed on the beach that if you are riding in the ruts and try to get out that it has a hard time getting out of the ruts. I'm not sure yet if that is because the tires just aren't biting or if it is due to the weak PS not really turning the tires hard enough against the rut to bite.

[The Roadie]

If you really honk on the steering wheel do the tires turn? I'd be very, very cautious about wishing for a pump upgrade. You could always install the EXT smaller size pulley and its shorter serpentine belt to increase pump delivery rate at low RPM. But the crooked tie rod ends are the weakest link in the system, and pushing harder on tires trapped in ruts will be risking the tie rod ends.

Airing down the tires will help them flow and bite on the rut edges easier. Are you airing down?

[navigator]

I'm sure I was taking it easy and not cranking on it, I remembered we had a "weak" pump so I took it easy.
I imagine though that in sand I'm not likely to hurt it near as much as you guys on rocks and stuff.
I've only aired down about 1/2 the time so that could have been it.

Sometimes I won't air down going on the beach but will air down coming off the beach.

[fishsticks]

My steering has put up with a locked front axle for awhile now.

I submit that the 3/8" wide part of the INNER tie rod ends are our weakest point. The one on the side I broke recently was bent almost 90*.

[navigator]

thanks Donny, In my head I had the debate which is better on the front, the tall skinny tire to cut through the sand or the wide tire that gets more bite?
On the rear the answer was obvious, I wasn't so sure on the front.

I'll make sure to air down next time to see if I notice any difference.
I have been thinking about investing in some deflators, I expect they are much better than the back of my air gauge.

[djthumper]

Deflators are nice, just take the time to properly adjust them to your tires.