Modified XJ Cherokee Tech XJ (84-01)
All modified tech questions. If it modifies your XJ beyond stock parts ask it here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

I hate bump steer!!!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:06 AM
  #1  
Ramac's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Default I hate bump steer!!!!!

So lets just say my jeep isn't shy and likes to sway into the opposite lane on the road when I hit the smallest of dips or bumps....

I was thinking about getting the RC track bar drop and drop pitman arm.

Anyone have it? Good? Bad?

Any other suggestions to help?
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:18 AM
  #2  
builtnotbought89''s Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 1
From: SLC, UT
Year: 1989 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I just got an extream drop pitman arm, & I don't have any bump steer problems!
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:26 AM
  #3  
FlyingLow's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 747
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey
Year: 1996 XJ Sport 2007 KJ Rubicon
Engine: 242 4.0 Ho, 226 3.7 V6
Default

Besides the 4.5 Rough Country do you have an adjustable track bar? Or just a stock one?
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:31 AM
  #4  
Ramac's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by FlyingLow
Besides the 4.5 Rough Country do you have an adjustable track bar? Or just a stock one?
Stock, and I listened to RC and redrilled like an idiot. I didn't have the cash at the time. So that's why I'm thinkin about RC's adjustable track bar with the drop and the drop pit arm.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:33 AM
  #5  
BuckB91XJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
Default

Here is the best way to miminmize or eliminate bumpsteer. First of all it happens from lifting your jeep and not properly fixing your steeringl inkage and trackbar angles. What you need to do is get the drop frame bracket for the trackbar and drop pitmarm for steering. Most lift kits donnot come with these two very important, to your not having bumpsteer, pieces. To minimize or eleiminate bumpsteer after a lift you need to try to get your trackbar and draglink parallel to each other and as close to horizantel as you can with reguired adjustment and drop pieces. A larger steering dampner helps too.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:38 AM
  #6  
FlyingLow's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 747
Likes: 0
From: North Jersey
Year: 1996 XJ Sport 2007 KJ Rubicon
Engine: 242 4.0 Ho, 226 3.7 V6
Default

Usually you run a drop bracket, or a adjustable track bar, not necessarily both. I'd say a drop pitman arm could be a good idea. Some guys run pitman arms off ZJ's cause they are longer (an inch or so I believe).
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:42 AM
  #7  
BuckB91XJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
Default

Well I've dealt with Rusty's and Rough Country lifts mostly. Rusty's recommends their adjustable trackbar up to their 4.5 inch lift. Anything higher, they recommend adding their HD trackbar frame drop bracket. RC recommends their adjustable TB up to their 6.5 inch lift and adding their HD drop frame bracket for anything higher.
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 12:48 AM
  #8  
builtnotbought89''s Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 1
From: SLC, UT
Year: 1989 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Ya like I said all my steering is still stock other than my pitman arm, but I bought the biggest drop I could get for the XJ & I've had no problems!
Reply
Old Jan 8, 2010 | 07:03 AM
  #9  
SeriousOffroad's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,952
Likes: 17
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by Ramac
Any other suggestions to help?
Yes, post a pic of the front of your rig so we can see the steering linkage.
Reply
Old May 5, 2015 | 12:47 AM
  #10  
thatXJguy's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,686
Likes: 6
From: Hudson, FL
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Inline 6
Default

Originally Posted by builtnotbought89'
I just got an extream drop pitman arm, & I don't have any bump steer problems!
How's that holding up for you? From what I hear, too much of a drop causes extreme leverage issues against the unibody and wears it out more over time. It's like a giant crowbar and the lower you go, the harder is pries.
Reply
Old May 5, 2015 | 05:32 AM
  #11  
SteveMongr's Avatar
Beach Bum
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,123
Likes: 22
From: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Year: 2000 WJ
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by thatXJguy
How's that holding up for you? From what I hear, too much of a drop causes extreme leverage issues against the unibody and wears it out more over time. It's like a giant crowbar and the lower you go, the harder is pries.

^ Yea.
Not to mention,it causes bump steer!
This thread is so wrong it should have a disclaimer.
Reply
Old May 5, 2015 | 09:05 AM
  #12  
HS00XJ's Avatar
CF Veteran
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 2
From: Ross Vegas, Ga
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 w/ tupy head
Default

Originally Posted by SteveMongr
^ Yea.
Not to mention,it causes bump steer!
This thread is so wrong it should have a disclaimer.
My thoughts exactly.
Reply
Old May 6, 2015 | 12:01 AM
  #13  
Ianf406's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
Default

so I had pretty bad bump steer for a few years and after replacing my steering system twice, playing with my castor, upgrading my steering box, replacing stabilizers, fixing trackbar/steering geometry, getting alignments etc. etc. the thing that fixed it for me (It now tracks even better than my stock one with 35s, 6.5" lift, Currie steering) was replacing all if the bushings in the front end. I added a flex joint on the axle side of the track bar, rebuilt the RE superflex joints in my IRO long arms, replaced the upper track bar bushing, replaced all the main bolts in the entire suspension system and finally, the lower OEM style rubber ones. It made a HUGE difference. I think this is something that is often overlooked but my bump steer is 100% gone.

Just my experience. Was the cheapest and most effective thing I have ever done steering wise.Granted that I have already done everything else correctly.

As far as trackbars go, ironrockoffroadsis bullet proof, afaffordable, adjuatable and works exactly like it is suposed to. It has been great in mine for years.

Last edited by Ianf406; May 6, 2015 at 12:07 AM.
Reply
Old May 6, 2015 | 12:09 AM
  #14  
Ianf406's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
Default

I apologize for the typos... my phones screen is cracked and barely works anymore.
Reply
Old May 7, 2015 | 12:07 PM
  #15  
Teephphah's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 88
Likes: 1
From: Papillion, NE
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

How much lift are you running? You may have mentioned it and I just missed it, but I didn't think I saw that part.

Anyway, I went up to 3.5" and was having bump steer and death wobble. Getting an adjustable track bar helped A LOT. Didn't eliminate everything, but really, really took the amplitude down. What killed all of my problems dead was getting adjustable lower control arms that brought my caster back to where it was supposed to be. That mod was just . . . wow. It drove pretty much like stock again (albeit with a slightly higher CoG). Sooo much more stable. I had to educate myself about how caster relates to steering stability and your wheels coming back to center. Honestly it was something I never gave much thought about in my pre-XJ life. Once YouTube 'splained some of that to me, it's all so clear to me now . . . A very big deal if your steering is being twitchy.

Granted, short arms like I have aren't what the pros will tell you to get (long arms or die, noob!), but boy, they sure made a difference for me.

Finally, I'd be warry of suggestions that include getting a beefed up steering stabilizer. You're much better off (and safer to yourself and everybody on the road with you) by tracking down and addressing the root of the problem instead of just trying to mask the symptoms.

Oh! Okay, maybe that wasn't really "finally." Another big help for me was just new tires. Mine were long since fried and even with my front end fully figured out (he said boldly, practically begging the Jeep gods to throw a monkey wrench in something) the improved ride was very noticable with new shoes.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TaylorLG
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
6
Jul 19, 2021 10:59 AM
IG@97_2dr_xj_build
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
4
Sep 16, 2015 07:58 PM
tokelyn
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
8
Sep 8, 2015 12:22 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:26 AM.