Huh - that is the 2nd weak link I see in the stock setup. The first is the whole "inverted Y" thing.

It is a ridiculous design and whoever thought it would be a good idea needs to get out of engineering and start flipping burgers.

You really seem to have big beef with the Jeep "Y" steering setup. Just curious, have you broke anything in your steering linkage on your XJ besides the tierod?? If so I'm guessing you are running some HUGE tires.

I was looking around for an aftermarket setup to buy like the guy who started this thread. The Rusty's one sucked, I had 2 friends with XJs who had their Rugged Ridge "HD" steering linkages come apart on them and everything else I would have had to mortgage the house to buy. When I heard about the ZJ tierod I was scepticle because lets face it, XJs are cooler than ZJs....lol. I tried it out because I got a smokin deal from a friend on mine $20. I've beat on it ever sense and so far, no bends.

I do have a big beef with it. I am concerned with strength AND correct geometry.

My gripe has nothing to do with it breaking. Maybe to you as long as it stays together it is fine but that isn't the only factor. There is no strength issue with the Y's design. That issue lies in the XJs tierods.

If you can tell me ONE SINGLE reason why engineering a steering setup that is GUARANTEED to cause inverse toe changes (And knowing it will even before the design is even on paper) with suspension travel is a good idea I will let it go.

Get back to me on that one . . .

I agree with what you are saying about the geometry changing with wheel travel, especially huge wheel travel in the case of a lifted XJ taversing off road terrain. I have seen a couple aspects of the XJ that prove it was never meant to be lifted or driven off road when the 50 pound head dudes designed it.

1.) The design of the steering.
2.) The design of the sway bars and links.
3.) The fact that the front suspension works best the closer to horizantal the upper and lower control arms are.
4.) The all aluminum transfer case hanging there "behind" the cross member where anything can hit it.
5.) The way stupid slip yoke design of the rear drive shaft.
6.) The "UN" adjustable OEM trac bar which only works correctly if the Jeep is at stock height with suspension level.

...and there are many others I'm sure I could think of with time.

Ok I know the zj conversion is a good mild upgrade the reviews I have read r great. but I am something more than that. I wanna go with UTK and something with TRE as like you I'm not A huge fan of Heims. I'm just looking Opinions on the diff setups out there. The reason I wanna do this is because this is only my temp. Daily driver once my 1 ton dodge is fixed the 88 is gettin sold and this will become a streetable wheel. So I'm planning Fo future upgrades it will eventually have 5-6in of lift with 33s locked and geared. But it needs new steering now due to the tre bein worn out.

frankZ i really like the look of your kit as well looks beefy but i wasnt wanting to buy a 60 dollar reamer. by using the inserts is there any downside as far as strength or reliability?

100% agreed.

I also believe that the XJ is one of the best wheeling platforms out there. The shortcomings are easily (though not necessarily cheaply) addressed and the XJ can be made into a stout mid-level (Where most of us wheel) performer. Addressing the Y link is one of those tasks.

Then the Serious setup with inserts is for you. Be prepared to relocate your swaybar mounts and fab up a steering stabilizer setup (Though that is probably not absolutely necessary).

I don't see the inserts having any strength issues. All the do is allow you to drill a straight hole and "insert" the larger taper needed for the tons. Since it has a slit in it I assume it is ever so slightly undersized and designed to expand a little giving you a solid fit. The load is ultimately going to be supported by the castle nut and the base of the ball joint on the TRE so the insert isn't really taking any load. It's only purpose is to center the TRE and maintain a tight fit.

I think I'm gonna order the serious offroad UTK kit and use the inserts. I like that he is active in the forum and the kit looks sturdy

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...ston/008-3.jpg
Just pulled this off mine today and im only running 33 12.50 lol. the y link steering is crap.

and ive personally watched 3 people bend the tie rod that gos from driver to the center peice.

Wow long arm u did it right.... I was in my 88 and was competing in a competition called rock and rampage at a local offroad park and it was a times obstacle corse it was pretty technical but it had a small gap jump at the end and let's just say I got a lil heavy on the skinny pedal comin outta the corse and caught some big air and it broke my upper control arms trashed my steering and broke the ball joint outta my trac bar. It pretty much trashed everything but was almost all stock stuff. Yeah had to replace all of it lol.

Currie HD steering upgrade im running it super beafy

chase gentry

Curry makes great pieces but, kinda spendy.