I just put on my 33's yesterday and now I have play in the steering wheel. Does that mean it's time to upgrade to 1-ton steering, or did the 33's just ruin my old TRE's?

 

Bottom line;
OEM XJ steering is weak and doesn't hold up well once you start modifying your rig.

A steering upgrade is always a wise move....regardless of who you buy it from.

 

Would it be alright to take it wheeling next week? I've have a big trip planned and not enough time to get the steering here.

 

You're the only person that can make that decision.

 

If it is a worn tre i wouldnt want it letting go on the trail yet alone on the road......does that answer your question?

 

I'd suggest grabbing some spare parts from your favorite JY.....just in case.

 

Is a tierod end something I can pick up at my local napa? If so would new one's hold me over till the 25 when I go wheeling? Then I can upgrade afterwards

 

probably will be fine, though anything is possible I guess. Wheeling on your stock TREs is fine even if they are a little worn, though upgraded steering should be your first stop instead of replacing the old TREs

 

Well I would replace them but I don't have enough time before the trip. Are TRE's fairly cheap? And how hard are they to replace?

 

Look up a zj tie rod conversion. Stronger tie rod for pretty cheap, new, pretty much any auto parts store, bolts on no modifications

 

But they don't have stronger TRE's do they?

 

you goota look under at the steering while some on turns the wheel back and forth see whats up b4 throwing parts at this

 

this will help get the tighter feeling back the stock xj is hollow and small compared to the solid thicker one from the zj

 

But stronger rods wouldn't fix the loose steering would they? I know they would be less likely to bend when offroad, but are the zj tre's the same size as xj's?

 

Yes they are.