I would like to beef up the steering on my 1994 Grand Cherokee to enhance and compliment the 4.5" lift I'm running. To accomplish this I'm thinking of replacing the OEM drag link and tie rod with the IRO 5/8" Heavy Duty OTK Steering XJ/TJ/ZJ, or similar, kit. Are there any "gotchas" or concerns that I should be aware of moving forward on my project? I'm thinking there maybe two: 1) having to relocate the lower sway bar connection point; and 2) I do know that I will need spacers to meet the backspace requirement, as my rims have too much, for example.

Any comments or advice about the aforementioned issues and any other concerns related to my project and how to deal with them are greatly appreciated.


Cheers

 

OTK you will have to change the trackbar and its axle mounting tab and both sway bar mounts on the axle have to be moved up or changed.

 

Thanks, good to know.

 

http://www.bleeoffroad.com/ look at his utk steering thats strong and won't take any welding.

 

Have you swapped the lp axle for the hp axle? I'm pretty sure all grands came low pinion.

 

Interesting option. I came across the Rocky Road ZJ High Steer offering the other day, which was the first time I'd heard of this alternative. Worth thinking about. Thanks.


How does one visually know the difference?

I'm still running the OEM axle, however, with 4340 Chromoly shafts and E-Locker. I have no plans to go any larger than the 34" tires I'm turning now so I believe I'm set in this regard.

 

Unless you have swapped the whole axle its the stock low pinion it came with.A picture of both http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1082307 4th post the left is low pinion and the right is high pinion.But back to the steering a lot of xj guys run the v8 zj steering its strong enough unless you go big lift and 35s plus then you need the aftermarket stuff.

 

the pinion would come out the top and not the bottom, and because of the direction a low pinion is driven it is weaker than a high pinion. Also the pinion is on the bottom instead of the top which reduces clearance and makes for worse pinion angles on a lifted jeep.