4.3L XJ

There is one thing I have not seen in the posts here and that is what kind of steering do the Jeeps have. A lot of aftermarket steering improvements make a Jeep drive like crap. But to answer the OP question, I have gone from short arm to Y link long arms to three link and I can tell you that right now with everything still tight I drive down the highway with just a couple of fingers on the steering wheel. No steering stabilizer needed. In theory if everything is tight, in specs and good alignment, any ride height within reason and good alignment and tires, it should steer just about like a stock vehicle.

Tbone289

^This. Nothing else really needs to be said.

Suprmn

Now that's what I like! Someone willing to apply themselves to the problem.

Suprmn

This is my belief as well. That is why I have tried so hard to chase the problem. Everything in the front end is new short of the axle housing. Started with heim joint OTK steering, just ditched a matched Currie steering and track bar set up. All of it was new. When I bought the rig, it was a homebrew long arm. It is now all high quality name brand parts. My last try is going to be to take both axles to a builder to verify and/or straighten housings to make sure all is in spec. Then I am going to tear the jeep down into parts and start my build on the stocker. In my group we already have drop brackets so I might just buy a quality set of short arms and build it that way first so I can feel it all for myself. Only way I will ever know for sure I guess. Pretty easy to then go long arm if I decide the short arms suck,.

4.3L XJ

Let's see a pic of your steering components

Tsaani97xj

I was on 5.5/5" with RE coils, s10 bastard, relocation boxes, RockyRoad cads, oem control arms, 5100s, JKS rear xover shock mount in the rear and it handled as good as stock and rode better. Its all subjective though. Sadly the old XJ went to a new home. Ill get another one day.

Suprmn

4.3L XJ

I don't see anything so far except that it looks like your castor angle is positive, which would affect steering and make it wander

Bugout4x4

Please share how you were able to determine that with one side parked on a huge rock? Seriously... What is it you see in that picture to indicate this?

I would like to learn what to look for with this if you don't mind.

Atmos

who the hell set up that antirock bar. is it always at that angle?? It should be close to parallel with the ground at ride height. I'd remove that immediately, I'd be worried your front axle is fighting against it

Atmos

once again, it's not the quality or brand name of parts but rather your geometry and everything working in unison. take both axles to check if they are straight? you might be over thinking this. It could be something as simple as you don't have enough weight in the back with stiff leaf springs so it rides like a dump truck. start with the obvious stuff first

springs/ quality shocks working together and being bumped and limited
steering/ track bar working together
suspension installed properly/ not binding or hitting anything

you can't expect a caddy at the end of the day it's still a Cherokee with leaf springs. and comfortable ride quality is subjective

Suprmn

Atmos

okay then what's the point of this thread if you're not trying to figure out your problem as well. short arm vs long arm has very little to do with freeway control unless you jack it up with a tall lift. then the long arms or drop brackets would be better as they'll give you flatter control arm angles


there. thread over

4.3L XJ

In the pic, check the arm on the driver side knuckle. It looks like it is pointed slightly down. More so than my reference TJ here which I know is not quite right due to lift

Martlor13

boom.

And to me "ride" and "handling" go hand in hand. If your jeep rides like a dump truck, it wont have great handling.