Cognito may not be one of the most well-known suspension suppliers to some, but it is definitely on the need-to-know list. Coming in later in the game allowed Cognito to see what kinds of suspension systems other better-known manufacturers were fabricating, so it may improve upon the competition's designs. What Cognito came up with were more strength and better parts supplies to allow customers' trucks to stay on and off the road longer and to ensure its customer service agents were taking sales instead of complaints. Norcal Truck in Fremont, California, had just the truck we needed to do a Cognito installation. The owner of the truck opted for a custom-colored candy-red powdercoat on all of the aftermarket parts to make a few additional heads turn. After Norcal Truck, we suggested a couple of additional parts needing color to complete the total visual package. The truck's owner opted to do it, but unfortunately for us it was after our scheduled shoot. Ten inches of lift made plenty of room for the planned 37-inch tires, but 38s could have been squeezed in, if we had desired. One of the positives that make Cognito such a hit is the company's steering support pieces. Cognito offers a heavy-duty tie-rod steering kit with ultra tough heims, an idler pivot assembly with weld-on gussets, and a pitman/idler arm support kit, again with heim joints. With all of these parts, it's an involved installation but in the end, it was worth every second. Check out the story on how we lifted an '06 GMC sky-high for a truly custom look.
This isn't everything in the...
This isn't everything in the kit that was going onto our '06 GMC, but it is all of the candy-powdercoated components. They are beautiful.
Norcal Truck began by pulling...
Norcal Truck began by pulling apart the entire front suspension, including removing the upper and lower control arms, spindles, brakes, tie rods, torsion bars, a torsion-bar crossmember, shocks, sway-bar end links, and the front driveshaft. Here, the only necessary cutting of the frame was being handled. A couple of inches in the front differential mount needed to be removed to install the Cognito subframe. Once the material was removed, the front differential assembly was unbolted the rest of the way, then it was dropped from the truck.
Getting the installation started,...
Getting the installation started, the decision was made to do the steering idler pivot assembly and its weld-on gusset. The Cognito-supplied gusset was welded to the frame and the idler pivot mount, which added strength to resist flexing with some big rubber bouncing around. A coat of satin black made for a near-factory appearance.