Steering upgrade with 31s and locker?
#1
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Steering upgrade with 31s and locker?
I currently have 31x10.50 tires and will be putting a spartan locker in the front soon. Do I need to upgrade the steering or will I be fine with the stock setup? I heard that the v8 ZJ steering is a good upgrade is it a direct bolt in or does it require modification? Would a kit like this work.http://www.ebay.com/itm/93-98-Jeep-G...dTJv7F&vxp=mtr
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Dawson Springs, KY
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
I picked up the ZJ tie rod and new TREs and Pitman arm so I could replace every joint in mine. It was less than $200 total I think, maybe a few dollars more. Replacing 30 year old steering definitely made a difference.
#7
Member
Trending Topics
#8
Seasoned Member
having the front locked will put more pressure on everything steering related. won't be too bad with 31s, but I'd check everything around the steering gear (including the spacer between the gear and "frame") and add a plate to the outside of the frame to stiffen things up. didn't do it to mine and now I have a flimsy unibody up there. will likely have to tear it down and rebuild/plate everything just to have something to bolt the gear to.
#9
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Quebec
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
you don't need the ZJ drag link, and I think it might not fit properly. the upgrade is the tie rod only as the drag link is already solid on the XJ. if you already have it, make sure it is identical to your oem XJ drag link, if not return it for the right one (XJ drag link)
what you need are the 3 parts of the tie rod that links both wheels together. those are the long tie rod end, a short one, and the sleeve that both will screw into.
looks like this : (not my pic)
what you need are the 3 parts of the tie rod that links both wheels together. those are the long tie rod end, a short one, and the sleeve that both will screw into.
looks like this : (not my pic)
#11
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Quebec
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
he can do whatever he wants, but having heard people saying the ZJ drag link doesn't fit properly, I wouldn't take a chance unless I have them side by side and they look exactly the same
#13
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Ok now I am confused, on my truck the drag link comes off of the pitman arm and connects to the tie rod and both ends of the tie rod connect to the steering knuckles. On the jeep it comes off of the pitman arm and goes to the passenger side knuckle and the one going to the driver side is also connected to it. So what exactly are we calling the drag link?
#14
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
I reread that post and it is starting to make sense now. So the drag link from the pittman arm to the passenger side is good and all I need is the tie rod, tie rod end, and adjuster that runs from the drag link to the drivers side? Also I have been looking at the steering box plates that go on the outside of the unibody but it looks like the factory bumper mount would interfere with it going on right, how exactly does that work?
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Dawson Springs, KY
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1985
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 2.5L
It does get confusing when buying the parts, as the drag link is sometimes called the outer right TRE and the TRE that connects the drag link to the pitman arm is called the inner left TRE. Then the ZJ tie rod is called the outer left TRE and the one that connects the tie rod to the drag link is called the inner right TRE.
I know for my 85, the drag link for it and for the ZJ both had the same part number at O'Reilly's.
I know for my 85, the drag link for it and for the ZJ both had the same part number at O'Reilly's.