it changes because you are changing the distance between the pitman arm and the passenger side knuckle.

i really dont know how to word this any better for you, because of the geometry of the Y style steering they stuck on the XJ, this will happen.

put it on a digital alignment rack if you need to, and have the tech adjust the drag link. you will see the toe fall out of alignment.

 

Are we maybe talking about 2 different steering set ups? I have a 1999 with stock steering and this is how I set mine up. At the end of the directions under "Steering Wheel Alingment" It states the adjustment had nothing to do with anything but steering wheel position. Not trying to argue with you, just going by what I see.

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoAlignment.htm

 

UPDATE: I think I finally found the problem. It turns out it was the passenger side axle u-joint. It would swivel one way easy and I couldn't even turn it the other way after I had the axle shaft out.

New u-joint installed and tire pressure checked and all seems a lot better now. It turned out to be an easier job than I had anticipated. I hope this will help someone out in the future.

Well, I can scratch another one off the never ending list of things to do to the Cherokee.

 

This man speaks the truth. There is a whole lot of mis-information in this thread about alignments.

First off, caster angle can and WILL cause a pull to one side or the other. Caster has absolutely no effect tire wear. None. End of story. The less positive caster you have, the easier it is to turn the tires at speed. More positive caster makes the vehicle stable at high speeds.

For example: i set up a lifted f-350 with 37's to have around 2-3* of positive caster. A Z06 vette gets close to 11* positive.

As the axle drops when you lift a cherokee, the axle twists(pinion comes up) DECREASING your caster angle. It makes it easier to turn heavy tires, but will cause the truck to "wander" at highway speeds. You add shims to the lower control arms to twist the axle back to where it should be.


Chances are, it pulled before the lift. Just installing a lift will NOT cause a CASTER pull.

Camber angle will not change unless you change balljoints on a cherokee, so that is a moot point. It /can/ cause a pull, but the specs have to be waaaay out.

Incorrect toe settings are THE main cause of tire wear issues. Incorrect toe settings can cause a pull. The way a cherokee is set up, you adjust toe and steering wheel at the same time. They both affect each other, no doubt, no "my uncles brothers best friend from band camp used to work on cars and he says not" end of story.

Its just the way it works.

The OP has a mechanical failure that is causing the pull. Not the alignment.
Sticky calipers, failed brake hoses, bad wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, u-joints, and BAD TIRES are among the many things i have seen cause a pull.

The most common cause of a pull i have seen in 6 years of aligning vehicles day in and day out is a customer that has failed to rotate their tires and now the vehicle is pulling at speed. Swap the tires from left to right or front to rear and the pull goes away. Second to that is balljoints.

 

Take everything you see on the internet with a grain of salt. The easiest way to fix a problem on a vehicle is to understand how the system works. The person that published that write up knows enough to get the alignment close enough to track straight and not wear the tires too bad. To get the alignment perfect, take it to a professional or ask one to help you.