Front end help
 

Just picked up this Jeep a couple of days ago. Suppose to have this and that and after one thing not having this, I am now finding that most is not having that. Turning into prolly over paying for the Jeep :wallbash:and sending a nice lil message to the previous owner. Well it's mine and I'm here so lets begin. 01 classic with 8.5 lift, rusty's long arms in the front and RE leafs and block crap in the rear. Rolling on 33's. Dana 30 up front and 8.25 in the rear. SYE, possible woods shaft in the front, not the case for the rear. Needing to regear to 4.56 or 4.88s in a hury. My issue and reasoning to joining and posting in the front end. Previous owner hacked off the sway bar mounts and the Jeep likes to swerve all over the place over 50mph. I would like to throw another sway bar on but as you'll see in the following pics, there isn't much room. Also, trying to get an idea of what's been done to the front (regarding the linkage and I'm not sure what to call it). Also the coils are rubbing the inner C's. Yeah she can flex but that's not going to help me get down the road to bust some ducks during winter snow storms. Thanks for the help guys.

A sway bar isn't going to solve the darting issue.

I really wouldn't say it's darting. It breaks straight. Feels unstable and sketchy, there is a lot of body roll as well.

At 8.5" I'm not surprised it has body roll.

Is it aligned correctly?

A few guys here are really really good with SA fronts.

I know there is gonna be some body roll at 8.5 but it seems excessive. This isn't my first lifted rig either but is my 1st Cherokee. Its feels like its aligned fine and tires look like they are wearing ok.

Work has been done to that rig.. how much of it is quality.. and how much Ghetto fab cant tell you.

Onto your issues


Make/buy some coil retainers for the front... The coil resting against your Inner C is nothing... more then likely the retainer that is suppose to be there isnt and the coil moved.

Check on Rusty's offorad, or Tera flex they sell extended swar bar mounts.. Of sourse you are going to have to locate a swaybar, and sway bar end links.


You need to check you caster angle... that would cause the darting/unstable feeling yhou are experiencing. 7* is ideal... you measure it at the ball joints using a angle finder.

Thanks pingpong, jks had 2" extended sway bar mounts but im unsure if they will clear the pitman and torsion on the passenger side?

You are going to have to buy them..and see if it clears.. only way to find that out.

Ill order the jks. Looks like a quality piece with gussets. 20.00 ea.

Looks like your passenger side ujoint on the axle is worn out...just an random thing I noticed.

I think the pic loos worst then what it really is. Pretty effing dirty down there for sure. Might not be a bad idea to swap them out when I am in there or gears.

Anyone seen a steering set up like this before?

Adding the second steering stabilizer would help with the darting, if you mean it is darting when you hit something in the road like a pot hole or a small rock. Also, its just a normal tie rod steering set up. Keep in mind your front swaybar keeps your tires on the ground when going around a corner, Even tho I am only lifted 3 inches versus your 8.5, I can easily take tires off the ground going around just about any corner, reason being is because its a 4 linked front end, all coil vehicles do that. I cant imagine driving on the road with that much lift and no swaybar, I cant believe your alive to tell the tale honestly.

In the pictures you can see the steering stabilizer connected to a bracket on the axle and there is also another bar connected to that. What's up with that noise? I'm looking for a junk yard in the surrounding OKC area for a sway bar. I really don't want to drive the damn thing on the high way at all.

Check to see everything is tight. Check the hubs for any play. I've been eating through them lately and I get some darting to the left when I hit a bump in the road. Will be fixed this afternoon though

I saw that steering stabilizer but I noticed it happens to be set up for a second. With that much lift who knows it may help. If anything it will help with bump steer, but to be honest i think its all in your swaybar.

What is and what's the purpose of the bar under the oil pan connected to a bracket on the axle with the steering stabilizer?

It does indeed look like it was set up for a 2nd steering stabilizer and the one that's on there is a pro-comp. I'll have to take measurements of both mounts and order some replacements. Any recommendations?

**** in my book a steering stabilizer is a steering stabilizer. Just get the cheap 20 dollar one from rustys offroad IMO. And that bar is your track bar. It keeps your axle centered under the jeep. Remember its 4 linked and coils can sway any direction, so a bar is needed to keep your axle from moving sideways. I wouldnt worry about the steering stabilizer at the moment, just run to Vato Zone and get a new sway bar.

i wouldnt call this a "basic" set-up... each component is far beefier than stock(track bar, drag link, tie rod, & ends), relocated over the axle track bar mount (beefy) & nobody's mentioned, HEIM ENDS, all of them

i'd guess the crappy feel of the steering, is in part related to having heim rod ends... which are GREAT for flexing & do not have the absorbing capabilities of rubber/poly rod ends

I wasn't referring to the parts being basic, simply the setup. I am used to working on full size rigs from working at a shop and that is the setup almost every straight axled rig is still running.

i agree it's a basic steering geometry... i'm just pointing out what nobody's mentioned yet, steering linkage are heim joints & has an over the axle relocated track bar... it has different than stock components, geometry, & characteristics, plus a lot of lift on long arms, no sway bar, & possibly in need of 1 more stabilizer

im sure it has awesome flexibility, but there has to be a compromise with on-road characteristics, am i wrong?

I am almost positive the other set of mounts on the axle is for a Hydro assist setup. Heim joints unless worn do not cause the darting issue that he is experiencing. I am willing to bet his caster angle is out of spec.. and that would cause his issue.


As for his steering geometry.. it looks pretty much like it is spot on. :grin:

The caster looks off to me. At rest there shouldn't be much of a bend in the front drive shaft U-joint. If I were you I would measure the caster and then the front alignment with a measuring tape. The parts look new so wear won't show on the tires just yet. I had a darting issue fixed with a simple front end alignment on mine.

I'm not familiar with the big lifts, so this is just my 2 cents.

I see nothing coming off the steering box to lead me to think it's hydro assist. But who knows, maybe. Imma throw in a 2nd steering stabilizer anyways. Once I get the sway bar in and mounted I'll have it aligned. Should be good to go after that. Thanks for everyones help...really appreciate it.

He just means that the axle end is set up for hydro assist and now that I think about it im sure he is right about that.

i agree that it is a hydro assist mount. PO probably yanked it off before he sold it.

Thats what I would have done if I was selling my rig to build another one. Westtexasoffroad.com will port your boc for a 100 or... add a PS cooler... ad a 6.5" ram and call it good.:thumbup:

I still don't see where it was mounted up.

Belay my last...I was referring to the pump as I don't see anything tapped out from the power steering.

More then likely he removed the ported steering box.. I know I would. He also probrably removed the PS cooler as well, since most ppl just use Trans coolers for ps coolers.