[Cydney97]

If you want to put up with heims, this would work if you make sure your track bar is parallel by lowering the frame end about 3"

Steinjager Jeep Wrangler Crossover Steering Kit - Black J0048525 (97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ)

FREE SHIPPING! All-Terrain Stability. Off-roading will eventually lead to the deterioration of your stock steering components. Make the wise choice of upgrading

www.extremeterrain.com

But this is the design you should look for

Rubicon Express Jeep Wrangler Heavy-Duty Y-Link Style Steering Kit RE2602 (97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ)

FREE SHIPPING! Heavy Duty Y-Link. The Rubicon Express Heavy-Duty Y-Link Style Steering Kit provides your Wrangler with a high-performance alternative to stock t

www.extremeterrain.com

Okay what do you mean by lowering the frame about 3”? Again sorry for all the questions but just never had deal with steering.

 

[Cydney97]

Okay what do you mean by lowering the frame about 3”? Again sorry for all the questions but just never had deal with steering.

Also the guy I bought it from is saying it’s got a 4.5” lift on it. I know it’s Rough Country lift. Not sure if that matters or not

 

[Gluckmysock]

Your setup looks like a rustys off road. Check out this link. Rustys off road steering. It's need some major adjusting and I would say all those tie rods are toast.

 

[4.3L XJ]

In order to not have bump steer or death wobble (you will know if you ever have it) the track bar and drag link need to be exactly parallel and the exact same length. So if you go messing with the steering, you have to obey this cardinal rule if you are using a three or four link front suspension. This is the way they are set up from the factory. It is also necessary that all pivot points are tight. If they become loose, then you get steering problems. So having said that, with the heim set up first mentioned the pivot point of the drag link would be raised about three inches from under to over the steering knuckle. So you would have to change one or both track bar mounts to make them parallel again. The axle end would end up being inside the coil spring. So you would lower the frame end by that same three inches so that the drag link would still be parallel with the track bar.

 

[Cydney97]

Your setup looks like a rustys off road. Check out this link. Rustys off road steering. It's need some major adjusting and I would say all those tie rods are toast.

Do ya know exactly what I need to do for adjusting? And are you meaning the tie rod ends? The guy I bought it from claims it has new tie rod ends but it doesn’t look that way to me.

 

[Gluckmysock]

Adjusting: the drag link from the steering box is rolled over. This needs correcting by rotating the connecting rod between the tires. The drag link (connected to the Pittman arm at the steering box) will also probably need adjusted. All these changes can and will affect your alignment. The track bar looks like a factory unit and too short for your lift.

 

[quicksilver]

Do ya know exactly what I need to do for adjusting? And are you meaning the tie rod ends? The guy I bought it from claims it has new tie rod ends but it doesn’t look that way to me.

Adjust it by throwing it in the trash, cause that's all it is. New tie rod ends won't last a year even with road miles.

I'd go with the recommendation by 4.3l XJ and get that steering system by RE. It will be the most reliable and will require minimal work to install since its bolt in.

*side note, not trying to be a dick, but I had a very similar setup and constantly wore out rod ends, it caused many issues with good control over the road. Now that I have the steinjager setup, I have no more dead spots in the range of steering.

As stated above, id recommend keeping it simple though and go with the RE kit. Also, im curious to know if you have a drop pitman arm or not, some measuring might be in order for you to figure that out. Unless the PO of the jeep could tell ya.

 

[Cydney97]

Adjust it by throwing it in the trash, cause that's all it is. New tie rod ends won't last a year even with road miles.

I'd go with the recommendation by 4.3l XJ and get that steering system by RE. It will be the most reliable and will require minimal work to install since its bolt in.

*side note, not trying to be a dick, but I had a very similar setup and constantly wore out rod ends, it caused many issues with good control over the road. Now that I have the steinjager setup, I have no more dead spots in the range of steering.

As stated above, id recommend keeping it simple though and go with the RE kit. Also, im curious to know if you have a drop pitman arm or not, some measuring might be in order for you to figure that out. Unless the PO of the jeep could tell ya.

I don’t see you being a dick or anything. I appreciate everyone’s help. I’ve just never had to deal with steering and so I had no clue where to start. But what re kit are you talking about? I just trying to figure out what to buy and get to fix it.

 

[XJSuperman]

A few posts back in this thread 4.3Lxj linked a RE (Rubicon Express) steering kit in a post. Check that one out. I have BLees (no longer in business) and its been good to me. Its exactly the same as the Steinjager kit. My main reason for that choice was because I absolutely hate tie rod ends. Personal preference. But for most people TREs are less maintenance and will be fine. The atached pic might help you decipher what parts we are talking about.

 

[Gluckmysock]

Am I the only one who noticed the control arm drop brackets?

 

[junipero]

I'd check out stinky fab. I just picked up their premium UTK kit and their machined pitman arm

7075 Aluminum 1-Ton Steering Kits, XJ/ZJ/TJ

We have taken the basic 1-Ton steering kit to the next level. Instead of doing the same old steel tie rod and drag link that everyone does we've gone with machined 7075 Solid Aluminum. This material has a lot of flexibility so when you run into a rock (and you will) it can flex and spring back...

www.stinkyfab.com

Cannot wait to get it installed! Although, I have a lot of things I need to install on my 97 XJ

 

[Cydney97]

I'd check out stinky fab. I just picked up their premium UTK kit and their machined pitman arm

7075 Aluminum 1-Ton Steering Kits, XJ/ZJ/TJ

We have taken the basic 1-Ton steering kit to the next level. Instead of doing the same old steel tie rod and drag link that everyone does we've gone with machined 7075 Solid Aluminum. This material has a lot of flexibility so when you run into a rock (and you will) it can flex and spring back...

www.stinkyfab.com

Cannot wait to get it installed! Although, I have a lot of things I need to install on my 97 XJ

 

[Cydney97]

View attachment 229055

I actually just instead the stinkyfab utk but still have to adjust it.