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Whats the best way to go about OTK steering?

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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:58 PM
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From: Cambridge OH-IO
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Default Whats the best way to go about OTK steering?

So Ive been reserching and I know I need to do something about my steering. I have an 88 waggy. 6.5" lift on 33's. With stock steering(inverted Y). Now, I can drive down the road at 65mph just fine and without much death wobble at all. Trouble is, Im not getting very good gas milage with only 5 psi in the tires. So I have heard of getting wj knuckles and tie rods. My buddy was talking about putting a heim joint on my stok knuckle and run the tie rod to the bottom and the drag link to the top. Can someone please let me know the best "on a budget" way to do this? And maybe post a link of some instructions.

Thanks
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 09:59 PM
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1990cherokee's Avatar
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umm bring ur tire pressure up i runn 30 PSI on the streets man no sense in being air downed i run 11psi on trails (no beadlocks) so that would help. as for the OTK i have no idea
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 10:24 PM
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um, yea 35psi-CRAZY death wobble
20psi-same as above
10psi-yep, same thing
5psi-NO death wobble

I dont know why, thats just how it is.
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Old Mar 31, 2010 | 10:29 PM
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wj knuckles would give you true high steer. there is some machine work involved though. but it also upgrades the brakes alot
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 01:01 AM
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I like this kit a lot.... http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/...tegory_Code=S6

Last edited by gonridnu; Apr 1, 2010 at 01:11 AM.
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 01:08 AM
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I like this kit a lot..... http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/...tegory_Code=S6

Your post said "best way" but there are a lot of ways with varying degrees of expense and fabrication.

here is a link to the WJ swap
http://www.burnsvilleoffroad.com/articles/01_02.aspx

here is a guy that did it with stock parts,
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoOTKSteeringLinks.htm

Here is a heim joint kit (not a big fan of heims on street cars)
http://rustysoffroad.com/mm5/merchan...egory_Code=ste

And here is another "bolt on" kit"
http://www.rocky-road.com/xjott.html

There are many many more but like I said I like the JCR kit....
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 01:21 AM
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Originally Posted by XJ_FEVER
Can someone please let me know the best "on a budget" way to do this?
Define "on a budget?" At 6.5" of lift and 33's you NEED to upgrade your steering and do it right. Best bet is the WJ knuckle swap, which gives you true OTK and bigger, better brakes. Lots of write ups on it out there. Here's one, scroll down to post #124; http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...=913774&page=9.

Also, you can run an extreme drop pitman arm with your stock setup for the time being, like the Skyjacker, which would help improve your angles a bit. Just be aware that a drop pitman arm also puts added stress on your steering box so you should reinforce that with a steering brace like the C-Rok or TnT Customs brace. Remember, when you upgrade/change one aspect of your XJ, it will usually affect something else... it's a constant domino affect.

Lastly, running 5psi in the tires for daily driving is not a good idea. I would inspect every last part in the list of usual suspects for DW and make sure it's not just a steering issue. You really should be running more psi on the street.

Last edited by Brad M.; Apr 1, 2010 at 01:24 AM.
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 11:46 AM
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Thanks guys, I'll get started on it right away!
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 04:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Brad M.
Define "on a budget?" At 6.5" of lift and 33's you NEED to upgrade your steering and do it right. Best bet is the WJ knuckle swap, which gives you true OTK and bigger, better brakes. Lots of write ups on it out there. Here's one, scroll down to post #124; http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...=913774&page=9.

Also, you can run an extreme drop pitman arm with your stock setup for the time being, like the Skyjacker, which would help improve your angles a bit. Just be aware that a drop pitman arm also puts added stress on your steering box so you should reinforce that with a steering brace like the C-Rok or TnT Customs brace. Remember, when you upgrade/change one aspect of your XJ, it will usually affect something else... it's a constant domino affect.

Lastly, running 5psi in the tires for daily driving is not a good idea. I would inspect every last part in the list of usual suspects for DW and make sure it's not just a steering issue. You really should be running more psi on the street.
I keep finding myself agreeing with this guy.....
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 06:40 PM
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if you have dw and the only way to "cure" it is to run at 5 psi than you need to look into making the proper adjustments to actually fix the dw, not upgrade your steering. get an adjustable trac bar and an alignment and balance your tires. if that doesnt work then maybe your tire threw a belt. also if youre at 6.5 inches on stock control arms thats not going to help the dw either... just my two cents..
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 10:41 PM
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the control arms are short arms but, not stock.
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 10:54 PM
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Originally Posted by XJ_FEVER
the control arms are short arms but, not stock.
I guarantee this is a big part of your DW. Maybe not all of it entirely, but a big part. You need to get adjustable lower and upper CA's or a long arm kit to dial in the alignment. Short arms with that much lift don't allow for enough adjustment, which throws your alignment out and ta-da, DW. Speaking from personal experience here.
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 09:30 PM
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PLEASE dont bit my head off! i did NOT do this. the cas were this way when i got it. Are they extended stock arms?
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 10:32 PM
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O
M
G
!
!
!


You are in serious need of some new suspension components!
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by FrankZ
O
M
G
!
!
!


You are in serious need of some new suspension components!
x2. there are more things you need to worry about before getting otk steering. not trying to be a jerk, just trying to help the dd situation out as i know how it is to deal with it. are those stock control arms cut and bent and welded or...what are those?????? lol
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