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Steering upgrade headache...help wanted.

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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:02 PM
  #1  
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Default Steering upgrade headache...help wanted.

First off, hey everyone and thanks for any help or advice. So I am currently upgrading my stock steering to the Serious 1-ton Steering, but I have ran into a problem After installing everything I have noticed a decrease in turning radius when turning to the right. The tie rod is hitting the bolt that holds the trac bar. After researching some on here I read that it might be the caster angle and figured that that might be off after I installed my RC 4.5 long arm lift. (But i have had an alignment) But after adjusting the caster angle, I still don't see how that would fix my issue. I am at a loss and im starting to think that maybe I should just relocated the trac bar mount :/

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when turning to the right

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about how much space is left after contact with the bolt.

96 XJ RC 4.5 long arm lift
This is my first time working on the steering system, so any and all help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:31 PM
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You can run a bolt with a smaller (thinner) head.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:34 PM
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Good idea. I might do that, but I'm not sure how much thinner I could get. Or how much more room it'd give me. But I might have to try it.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:38 PM
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did you measure center to center of tie rod bolts of old steering link and adjust new drag link to that measurement b4 installing...?
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:39 PM
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How about a button head torx/hex head bolt?

Keep in mind that there is a shear load on that bolt, not a tension load.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by freegdr
did you measure center to center of tie rod bolts of old steering link and adjust new drag link to that measurement b4 installing...?
There's no need to do this.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by SeriousOffroad
There's no need to do this.
there no need to make sure both wheels are going straight ahead or close to it b4 final toe adjustment? If both wheels are pointing out steering is gonna turn more than needed causing clearence issue...

Last edited by freegdr; Mar 9, 2012 at 02:56 PM.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:56 PM
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@freegdr, yeah I did, but didn't write it down and just tried to get as close as possible off the top if my head. I probably messed that up.

@seriousoffroad, that's true. I'm gonna hit up the hardware store after work and see what'll help.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by rudboy11
@freegdr, yeah I did, but didn't write it down and just tried to get as close as possible off the top if my head. I probably messed that up.

@seriousoffroad, that's true. I'm gonna hit up the hardware store after work and see what'll help.
just asking seems way to close to me gonna lose alot of turn radious in my opinion...id adjust the toe see if more clearence is there
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by freegdr
there no need to make sure both wheels are going straight ahead or close to it b4 final toe adjustment? If both wheels are pointing out steering is gonna turn more than needed causing clearence issue...
That's not what I said.

The written instructions explain the installation process.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by SeriousOffroad
That's not what I said.

The written instructions explain the installation process.
just trying to help i cant find online instruction to help him i think he gonna get a different bolt hope it helps out...
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 03:08 PM
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Thanks guys. I'm gonna try the a different bolt. Hopefully that'll be it. Seem like a lot of loss in radius in on direction, thats why I was wondering if I missed something
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 03:40 PM
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Sorry if that came across wrong....pissy day here.

The idea is to get the wheels close to straight before adjusting the tie-rod to set the toe-in.

You'll also want to get the steering wheel close to it's proper position before making any on-vehicle adjustments to the drag link.

Make sense?
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 05:16 PM
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Makes sense. Everything was pretty straight when I noticed the loss in one direction. Then I took everything apart and adjusted the caster angle, but didn't see any change, so idk why I'm having the problem. I haven't seen anyone else mention this with this kit.
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 05:32 PM
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I've had a few other folks ask the same question. Usually they contact me directly since I build and sell the kits.
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