Fitz's Overbuilt XJ
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
This happened yesterday... V8 ZJ tie rod upgrade, drag link, and TRE's.
Old..
Attachment 291705
New...
Attachment 291706
I actually took a "sick" day from work to get it done. Only somewhat cooler day of the week/weekend. Thought it would go smooth, but never does. Took me like 6 hours to remove, install, and do my own alignment. I wanted to do this cause I'm fighting a shimmy in the steering wheel/front end. Pretty sure it's my tires but wanted to take care of this before dropping the coin on that just to be sure. Steering is WAY tighter now, but I still have the shimmy (not as severe now). Probably go to a shop and grab some Duractacs like I mentioned before. Really haven't been too impressed with the BFG's. They're not very good in rain and snow, even when everything was good. So I'm gonna change it up.
Old..
Attachment 291705
New...
Attachment 291706
I actually took a "sick" day from work to get it done. Only somewhat cooler day of the week/weekend. Thought it would go smooth, but never does. Took me like 6 hours to remove, install, and do my own alignment. I wanted to do this cause I'm fighting a shimmy in the steering wheel/front end. Pretty sure it's my tires but wanted to take care of this before dropping the coin on that just to be sure. Steering is WAY tighter now, but I still have the shimmy (not as severe now). Probably go to a shop and grab some Duractacs like I mentioned before. Really haven't been too impressed with the BFG's. They're not very good in rain and snow, even when everything was good. So I'm gonna change it up.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
That's a good question... LOL! It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure the drag links for the XJ and V8 ZJ are the same, it's just the ZJ has the stronger tie rod.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Okay, I was thinking the same thing just wasn't sure, thank you. Really hoping those two will tighten up my steering quite a bit. I just did front sway bar bushings and that did make the front feel a bit tighter but still a lot of play in the steering wheel.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Does the steering need fixing? Or are you just hoping that the new steering will fix it? Try not to just throw parts at it. But, good luck! Keep me posted.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The parts in it have about 150K Miles on them anyway so worst case scenario it'll be preventative maintenance any way. I wouldn't say that it "needs" fixing but it's something I did do on my last XJ and it tightened up the steering quite a bit. Plus having the beefier V-8 tie rod is good peace of mind.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
It's honestly starting to be a bit of a thorn in my side. The available time and motivation to work on a DD isn't the easiest to come by. At least not in my world.
Things actually might be changing though (saving details for now). It didn't happen the other weekend like I had hoped, but it could still very well happen. We'll see how things go this week and through the weekend.
Newbie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: New York City
Model: Cherokee
Thanks, man! I appreciate it. There are MUCH better builds out there than mine, but I do appreciate it!
It's honestly starting to be a bit of a thorn in my side. The available time and motivation to work on a DD isn't the easiest to come by. At least not in my world.
Things actually might be changing though (saving details for now). It didn't happen the other weekend like I had hoped, but it could still very well happen. We'll see how things go this week and through the weekend.
It's honestly starting to be a bit of a thorn in my side. The available time and motivation to work on a DD isn't the easiest to come by. At least not in my world.
Things actually might be changing though (saving details for now). It didn't happen the other weekend like I had hoped, but it could still very well happen. We'll see how things go this week and through the weekend.
Better is all subjective but your build definitely gave me some ideas on what I eventually would like to do. I'm planning to use the xj as my DD as well with some minor off-roading when I go fishing/hiking.
I know what you mean though. Are you lacking the motivation to do the maintenance or upgrades to your build? My housemate seems to constantly be fixing something every other day with his 98. I'm afraid to end up in a similar boat especially with a lack of funds and time cause of work.
Either way good luck with your plans, looking forward to it
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Better is all subjective but your build definitely gave me some ideas on what I eventually would like to do. I'm planning to use the xj as my DD as well with some minor off-roading when I go fishing/hiking.
I know what you mean though. Are you lacking the motivation to do the maintenance or upgrades to your build? My housemate seems to constantly be fixing something every other day with his 98. I'm afraid to end up in a similar boat especially with a lack of funds and time cause of work.
Either way good luck with your plans, looking forward to it
I know what you mean though. Are you lacking the motivation to do the maintenance or upgrades to your build? My housemate seems to constantly be fixing something every other day with his 98. I'm afraid to end up in a similar boat especially with a lack of funds and time cause of work.
Either way good luck with your plans, looking forward to it
Maintenance is easy. I take care of that stuff on a regular basis. I find that it's hard to work on the XJ during the week because of time, and not wanting the XJ to be down (only vehicle). Then when the weekends come around, I have full intentions of working on it, but then I end up being busy, or just more inclined to go out with friends and have some fun.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Well, doesn't look like my big "secret" is gonna happen now. Time and work are screwing things.
I had a hit on a SUPER clean 2000 XJ 2 door that was a couple hours from me. 123k miles, rust free, tasteful upgrades (3 inch lift, 31s, leather seats swapped in, 4-hole injectors, etc. etc.). I have a soft spot for 2 doors so at the very least I wanted to go check it out. However, the first weekend, he was out of town for work, last weekend, I was gone, this weekend I have plans, and next weekend I'm going up north. So at this point, it's probably not gonna happen.
The sad part... the guy has a 16 year old son who doesn't want it because "it's an old beater". Was ready to go down just to punch the kid in his mouth. HAHAHA!
I had a hit on a SUPER clean 2000 XJ 2 door that was a couple hours from me. 123k miles, rust free, tasteful upgrades (3 inch lift, 31s, leather seats swapped in, 4-hole injectors, etc. etc.). I have a soft spot for 2 doors so at the very least I wanted to go check it out. However, the first weekend, he was out of town for work, last weekend, I was gone, this weekend I have plans, and next weekend I'm going up north. So at this point, it's probably not gonna happen.
The sad part... the guy has a 16 year old son who doesn't want it because "it's an old beater". Was ready to go down just to punch the kid in his mouth. HAHAHA!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 1
From: Detroit, MI
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
Usually people in my area are fairly reasonable on XJ prices, but some people are getting ridiculous. Some guy was asking $13,500 for a built XJ, and I promise you, it's nothing special. He just now (after a couple weeks) dropped it all the way down to $12,500.