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Topic: steering problems fix

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steering problems fix

So the fiancee (soon to be wife as of Saturday!) hates driving my Jeep because of how it handles and steers, saying it's sloppy and leans all over.  We decided it's a lot easier for her to drive my Jeep to her work around the corner and I take her little jellybean car up to my work 30 miles from her house (where we'll be staying until we close on the house we are in the process of buying).

With the skidplate removed so I can adjust the steering wheel alignment sleeve (it has been aligned recently), I figured I'd sort out the other steering issues Jeep has so it's better on the street.

I was told ZJ v8 bars are direct swaps and of larger diameter, and help the Jeep feel more planted.  Any truth to this?

The stock swaybar does nothing as it is disconected, so I'll need some swaybar discos.  Being a choosy buyer, I'm thinking JKS, or something less pricey that's made here in the good ol USA.  As always I like to keep my neighbors working.smile

Stock swaybar links are long since gone.  FYI.

Can you adjust the steering box with the box inside the Jeep yet?  I've found no good how-tos, beyond there's an allen nut on the top of it you turn a quarter turn at a time.  I have a fair amount of slop in it.

Does the steering stabilizer do anything really?

I know I can't make a XJ with a 3.5" lift handle like a Civic, but I can make it at least wife-friendly.

Thanks for any advice,
Matt

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ChevelleSSLS6 wrote:
I was told ZJ v8 bars are direct swaps and of larger diameter, and help the Jeep feel more planted.  Any truth to this?

One of the best handling upgrades we made to Rebecca's XJ was with the Quickor swaybar. Unfortantly they are NLA; but Addco does still make an upgraded one for the XJ/MJ. Yes it is true that the ZJ V8 bar will fit onto our XJ/MJ. It is 27mm.


ChevelleSSLS6 wrote:


The stock swaybar does nothing as it is disconected, so I'll need some swaybar discos.  Being a choosy buyer, I'm thinking JKS, or something less pricey that's made here in the good ol USA.  As always I like to keep my neighbors working.smile

If your running your XJ without the swaybar connected this will be the MAIN reason it handles like crap. In my opinion your should NEVER run your Jeep on the street with the swaybar disconnected. Get longer links at least if not going to a disco.

On a side note; I just upgraded to Motion's Gen. 2 disco's on Rebecca's XJ. Thus I have a used set of Motion Gen. 1 disco's I'd part with if your interested.



ChevelleSSLS6 wrote:


Does the steering stabilizer do anything really?

Does it do anything? Yes. Will it make a night and day difference if you change it out? Probally not. I would however consider upgrading it to a larger diamater one since your runnning a lift and larger tires.


ChevelleSSLS6 wrote:


I know I can't make a XJ with a 3.5" lift handle like a Civic, but I can make it at least wife-friendly.

Come take a ride in Rebecca's XJ; you may re-consider that statement.

 

3 other items that have really made improvements when it comes to handling/steering on the XJ's are a trackbar brace (if your running an aftermarket trackbar) as well as a steering box brace. Here is what Andy said in his build thread;

"Got THIS steering brace for the XJ and got in on yesterday.  It made a HUGE improvement.  It is crazy to think that one little brace can make that much difference.  Before my XJ's steering was very loose.  I had driven worse, but it was still bad.  After I put this on it is almost like it was from the factory before it was lifted.  There is some play but it is very minimal compared to what it was before.  Great investment if your steering is loose."

Also make sure your steering box mounts are not cracked. Upgrading that with a plate similar to the C-Rok one is also a great upgrade.

 


 



-- Edited by LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW on Tuesday 20th of July 2010 09:20:23 AM

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I have some solid RC 4.5in sway bar links it you wanted to fab a link. They would be very cheap as they are of no use to me. I know there are plenty of links out there on how to make you own quick discos.

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Great questions by the way. Those are things I have been researching and wondering too.

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Like Adam said, the steering brace helped a TON.  It is not the end all be all.  I would like to get my steering better.  There still is some play but it is MUCH better than others that I have driven.  People that don't drive a lifted XJ on a regular basis that drive it still complain about the sloppyness of the steering but they never drove it before either...

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On another site I was told to check the intermediate shaft (more or less the 'driveshaft' from steering wheel to steering box)... until then...

But for starters and in the name of not going nuts on a spending spree, here goes my little shopping list...

V8 ZJ sway bar (junkyard, cheap)
polyurathane bushings for said ZJ sway bar.
steering box brace
Discos used from Adam

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1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods.  I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

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One thing that you could do is have the soon to be wife hop in and crank the steering wheel from side to side and you sit under the jeep and look to see where most of the play is coming from...

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I have read that some people get more solid steering from a heavier duty tierod. You might look into a ZJ one too. This is just a suggestion not a recommendation, I still have my stock tierod.

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90XJkid wrote:

I have read that some people get more solid steering from a heavier duty tierod. You might look into a ZJ one too. This is just a suggestion not a recommendation, I still have my stock tierod.




I might grab one from the junkyard while I'm at it :)  This way I can use the hollow stock one as a cheater bar.smile



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My Fleet
1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods.  I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

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With the downward factory bend in the ZJ tierod you might consider a tierod flip insert. Cheap insurance from the rocks. I plan on getting one whenever I bend my stock one and upgrade to an HD one.

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