RuffStuff Specialties HD Tie Rod

BaddestCross

Active Member
Does anyone have any experience running this with 17" wheels with more than 3.5" backspacing? Yes, I know their site says you can't, but I've been emailing a rep over there today that tells me they say that to cover their butt because all wheels are different. He tells me that if I've got better than 1.5" from the center of the ear that you mount the tie rod to that it "should" work. It's hard to measure that spot, but it looks like I've got anywhere from 2-2.5" so it may work...

Just wondering if any of you have any real world experience before I throw down the coin to be a guinea pig.
 
I run it on 3.5 and it's pretty close. At least it's cheap so if it doesn't work out you're not out too much.


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Did you have to drill the knuckle for the rod end? They said it's hit or miss when I called, not sure what that means since the knuckles are the same for 07-17.
 
Are you running spacers too, or just straight up 3.5s? Any chance you have a photo?

Just straight 3.5 slabs. I don't have a pic of the clearance but can snap one for you tomorrow.

Did you have to drill the knuckle for the rod end? They said it's hit or miss when I called, not sure what that means since the knuckles are the same for 07-17.

Some people don't and say it's just fine. I researched it and what I found was the factory taper is slightly different from the GM taper. I went ahead a reamed them.




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Are you running spacers too, or just straight up 3.5s? Any chance you have a photo?

Here's the pic you requested. You can see there's not much room. Without having someone to hold the steering wheel over to full lock, the steering isn't even all the way against the stops in these pics, so there's even less room than what is shown here. I'd say there's approx. 1/2" of clearance between the TRE and wheel.

IMG_1030.jpg

IMG_1031.jpg


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Here's the pic you requested. You can see there's not much room. Without having someone to hold the steering wheel over to full lock, the steering isn't even all the way against the stops in these pics, so there's even less room than what is shown here. I'd say there's approx. 1/2" of clearance between the TRE and wheel.

View attachment 260313

View attachment 260314


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Thanks for that! Sure does look pretty tight.
 
wondering why the ruff stuff and not syngery or currie ? as someone who is going to be doing this sometime in the near future kinda wonderin ... if it is just cost related I can relate
 
wondering why the ruff stuff and not syngery or currie ? as someone who is going to be doing this sometime in the near future kinda wonderin ... if it is just cost related I can relate
Cost is definitely a factor, but I do like the beefiness of the rod itself and the ends. If it isn't going to work with my setup, I'll probably end up going with Synergy.
 
I run it with 4.5bs 17" wheels and 1.5 spacers. Been running it now for a few months and have nothing bad to say. I didn't have to ream my knuckles either. If you're wanting to order now is the time as I just received an email for 20% using MD2017 code

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I run it with 4.5bs 17" wheels and 1.5 spacers. Been running it now for a few months and have nothing bad to say. I didn't have to ream my knuckles either. If you're wanting to order now is the time as I just received an email for 20% using MD2017 code

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Thanks for that. I don't want to run spacers. Any idea how close the ends are if you weren't running the spacers?
 
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