paul81

Hi there, I've got a 97 cherokee with a few inch lift. I need to replace the steering and I've seen about upgrading it to grand cherokee hardware and have a few questions in hoping can be answered since I'm fairly new to all of this..

1. Is is it a bolt on upgrade, no modifications needed?

2. I have a 97 cherokee, would I go to the store and just as for parts for a 97 Cherokee (I read it has to be a v8 4x4 GC but no mention of year).

3. Can I do this with all tires on the ground or does it need to be jacked? I have only basic hand tools, will that suffice?

4. Is he upgrade 'worth' it?


Thanks!

Gary Briggs

Yes it's bolt in, and you use a 94-98 Grand cherokee aka ZJ tie rod.

Stock wimpy tierod


Beefier ZJ tie rod


15 minute install if you have the right tools.

goatherder

OK, now here's a related question. I recently replaced the TRE on the pitman arm the kid's 91 XJ. Got a replacement, brought it home to install and it was WAY smaller than what was on the Jeep. Removed the old one and went back to the parts store and they found me a match. Did not say what vehicle the match fit.

SO my question(s) is this: What drag link is on this Jeep? Could it be the V8 ZJ drag link?

If so, that would mean the XJ drag link & tie rod can BOTH be replaced with much beefier V8 ZJ parts.

Gary Briggs

Don't quote me on this but if I recall correctly the XJ and ZJ are identical. Just the tierods are different. So the ZJ tierod is the upgrade.

Teephphah

Demonoid369

They are not identical, the zj drag link is different from the xj, and as I found out not to long ago on naxja, later models xj got the zj drag link. I know on my 97' when I compared, my drag link end that connects to the pitman has a bigger threaded shank than earlier

Gary Briggs

The drag link on my 96 XJ is made of the beefy material as the ZJ tie rod.

sreeb

The zj and xj drag link are the same size but bent a little differently. Stick with the xj.

You want the zj tie rod, clamp, and TRE which will be about the same diameter as your existing drag link.

Demonoid369

No they are not the same size, again I asked a similar question on naxja and there was a pic I believe that should the different thread size at the pitman arm

2000chersport

All I know is my pitman arm TRE is the same part# as my ZJ TRE

goatherder

Ok, so my '97 probably already has the heavier drag link so I can just order the ZJ tie rod assembly and be good.

I'd go and look under the Jeep...but I'm in Denmark and my Jeep is at home. So thanks for the info.