1.) This is the new tie rod I scavenged from a donor 88 XJ at the local junkyard. 3$ and it was mine. A little wire wheel work and some gloss black rattle can paint I already had in the garage and Bingo!!! It looks like a million bucks.

2.) This is the new tie rod and the piece of 1/2" solid steel rod that I put inside the tie rod. I picked this up at the local Ace Hardware for $6.

3.) Okay here is where there is actually a little bit of work involved. The tie rod is 36.5" long. The piece of steel rod I bought was also, 36" long. There is 2 3/4" of inside thread on each end of the tie rod to mount and adjust the tie rod ends. So, do the math. 2 3/4 + 2 3/4 = 5 1/2, so 36 1/2" tie rod - 5 1/2" combined tie rod end thread area = a 31" piece of 1/2" steel rod needed to make my tie road SOLID. So, I cut it to size and greased it up and slid it in. Instant solid tie rod for your XJ.

4.) I removed the old bent tie rod and cleaned up the clamps and tie rod ends. This pic has the old tie rod and the new tie rod. I installed the driver's side tie rod end and now am ready to install it on my XJ.

I tightened everything up and used the old tape measure trick to ensure the toe was properly adjusted for the tires. The is easy. Simply measure front side center to center of your front tires. Then, measure rear side center to center of front tires. Adjust the tie rod under these two measurements are the same. If you need to adjust your steering wheel to center, do that with the adjustment collar on the draglink. All done.

I put this write up in Cherokee Chat because the website would not let me post a thread on XJ Write Ups. I'm sure one of you Administrator types will make sure it gets put in the proper section.

 

Here is the finished product on my XJ.

 

well done!! im curious how tight does the solid rod fit into the tie rod?? it doesnt make the Jeep sound like a one horse open sleigh? JINGLE JINGLE
does it? i bent my tie rod and am having one made at one of my sponser shops but that is a good idea im impressed!!!!

 

No, and funny you should ask. 9/16" rod is actually the optimum size rod to use but, I could only get 1/2". Slathering the rod with the wheel bearing grease before stuffing it in is 3 fold:

1.) Helps the rod slide in easily.
2.) Keeps rod from moving around.
3.) Keeps the rod from corroding.

 

you should have posted in xj write up submission.

wouldn't picking up a ZJ tie rod be cheaper and easier.

 

Tried to post it in the XJ Write Uo, section. I got a sign that said I didn't have proper authority to post it there. Stryker, do you know why that happened to me?.......and no.....LOL.....I don't want no stanking WJ parts on my beloved XJ.

 

Here is a trick maybe you guys already know. But a good tie rod trail fix if needed is to slide the handle of the hi-lift jack over the tie rod. this will work good enough to get you back to point A!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for sharing the tip, Bud.

 

looks great buck i cant wait to make one for mine lol