98 TJ No left turn nd measurements on drag link

bsldallas

New Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2008
Location
Gaston Co.
Bought this Jeep the steering wheel was off, no big deal. So it is time for tires and get the front end straight. Tires size is 235/75/15. When you put the steering box in center position the wheel are clocked to the right about 20 degrees (w/all parts adjusted to the left). The guy at the front end shop said it looks like the drag link, tie rod assy. is to long. So my question is I nd the measurements of the front end parts. The parts store don't have them in stock for measurements. The shop said to look under one and measure. So I went to wal mart and started looking in the parking lot. The gentleman I spoke to didn't want me looking under his Jeep so I said thank you and left.
Qestion 2: the shop was using the pitman arm pointing straight back, is that center? Just asking.
I have about 3/4 turn left now, and about 2 to the right.
can't drive the Jeep because I don't want to chew up my new tires.
Thank you in advance...
 
Does anyone know how to measure a tie rod end. I think the one at the pitman arm is to long. Going to NAPA in the a.m. to get other parts. I'm going to take the draglink with me for measurements.
 
dude, dont listen to those guys, if your tj is stock hight with 235's your stock steering setup will work just fine. Your best bet would be going to a better shop where they could fix it the right way. but if you got tools and time:

you could do this,

1) unhook the pitman arm from the tie rod/drag link, then get in the jeep and center your wheel (same amount of turns left and right)

2) look at the pitman arm and see where it is. if its pointing straight back, ur ok, if not, pull it off and put it back on in the right place. (you'll need a puller and a darn good impact gun, rent the puller from advance)

3)lift the front of the jeep, straighten the tires by hand, and adjust the tie rod setup accordingly.

If you can do this yourself, you'll be better off cause you'll gain the knowhow to do so, but try talking to your shop guy and see if you can lend him a hand cause it will be better to go ahead and have the jeep on the alignment machine when your done with the steering wheel.

hope this helps, and just to say I know what ur going thru cause I recently had to adjust mine for the lift I put on a few months ago. my wheel was only about 1/2 turn out before I installed my drop pitman arm and had it aligned at the same time. the alignment shops around here usually let me help em out after I talk them up for a few minutes. :D good luck
 
Ok thanx, I did go in the shop with Kevin on the front end machine. Today I did #1.
pitman arm was clocked straight back.
2. set front tires straight. The tie rod (pitman arm side) is off about 1.5 inches from being put back together. I did drop the pitman arm to see if I could move it but it has to move 90* so I left it loose fitted. The draglink is pulled all the way together. At the shop he moved everything to get more left turn out of it. In the a.m. I'm going to pick up a tie rod from the parts store. Looks like the P.O. put a jack under it so it is bent. The shop said that shouldn't throw it off like that. He thinks the draglink is to long. The PO said it was like that when he bought it. He put tires on it and left the front end alone. The old wore petty good. Kevin (shop) thinks it look like a cherokee drag. I don't know but when I get er done I will up date. My wife pulls the golf cart with it to the camp ground I'm behind her with truck/camper and the wheels r inline. Just trying to rule out frame damage. Oh I have good places to get the alingment done where I go back help/watch. We just can't trust anyone with r rides.
Thank
 
I did all the above and replaced the tierod today.
Here is where I stand. Body Shop!!! The front of the Jeep
is pushed over. I have to go back to get est. for the job.
All parts measured out to specs.
Thanks for the help, will reply with final results.
 
Update... Took the Jeep to the body shop. He had it for 7 weeks. The frame machine was a single puller. Tim said he need a double post. With no luck Tim couldn't find another shop to do it. I picked it up took to body shop #3. Drop Mon. they called said frame is straight. Good right. No, said the steering box was bad. I did what Mudder said, before taking it to the body shop. So I'm going to go by the shop this week and take a look myself.
The frame was push back, then diamonded with the left rail in about 2.5"+. So I'm going to drop the draglink center the pitman arm up and count turns. I'm wondering if they r trying to screw me. ($304 for a gear box) I was like no no no. But if u read from the top post down u can see that everything is in spec. What I'm thinking is that the wheel should be left, that is the way I turned the sleeve on the draglink.
I'll go check it out and post an update in a day or so...
 
I just found this post. This all seems a little fishy to me. I'd love for you to bring this thing by my shop sometime I need to see it for myself. If your frame was 2.5 inches off you'd likely be able to look at the body mounts and see bolts leaning or where body bushings are moved out of place. Don't spend any more money on it till you have someone that knows 4wd's look at it I mean with jeeps you could be dealing with anything. It could have had some kind of lift before and they took it off and left the drop pitman arm or does it have an adjustable track bar or has the stock one been shortened.
 
As soon as I go look @ it I'll post what is up. I sold my car trailer yesterday. I think it will fit on my other one. I don't want to drive it with the front end out (new tires). So I need to trailer it. I'll get directions from you web site. I don't think it had a lift. Pitman arm looks factory. What it looks like is the draglink is to long (before the frame shop). I don't know now until I look at it.
Thanks Brad.
 
Well like I said I'll be glad to take a look at it for you just to see if maybe there is something like that going on. Just let me know when you can make it. Thanks Chris.
 
bsldallas said:
Qestion 2: the shop was using the pitman arm pointing straight back, is that center? Just asking.
I have about 3/4 turn left now, and about 2 to the right.
Click to expand...


I wonder if the pitman is installed correctly? I have no experience with TJ's, but i believe on a CJ it is possible to turn the pitman arm in 90 degree increments. that sounds like a likely culprit to me. Like Marsfab said, if your frame was off 2.5 inches, the body mounts would be WAY off.

I would unhook the draglink at the pitman arm. Get inside, and turn the wheel from lock to lock until you can determine where the center is, then go see where the pitman arm is pointed.
 
And while you have the drag link off count how many turns from lock to lock again I believe it should be more like 3 3/4 not 2 3/4. When you turn left and the wheel stops does it feel solid or does it feel like the box is trying to turn but can't because the steering is binding.
 
man, this sucks your having this much trouble. 7 weeks! holy :poop: I just got back to this thread right now.

X2 on getting it to a place that knows 4x4's. MarsFab would be an excellent choice from what I've seen/heard on this board.

at the very least take picks, dosens of picks, of everything underneath. and post em up. (if this hasn't been said already) this has kinda got me thinking wtf too.
 
Thank you for the replies, I'm going today to look at it. Yes u could see a little of the panels bent not bad. But didn't think it was any frame damage. Just the steering wheel was off. Then it was later after we had it I noticed the lt. turn was short. The dang thing didn't side track and the old tires wore flat. I had = turns lt./rt before with drag link off/gear box center straight to back. I did check the pitman arm and it will olny clock every 90*. Since the frame is straight I'm going to recheck about noon. I'll take pic. while I'm there. Marsfab will be my next stop. The frame was out right on the ends. Which means the gear box was pushed over. This has gotten me bent out of shape now. Will post more infor today. Oh the jeep will fit on my other trailer.
Thanks Brad......
 
i'm over here in dallas. if your still confused i'll take a look at it. pm me and i'll give you my number if you dont get it fixed
 
http://s784.photobucket.com/albums/yy129/bsldallas/

Here are a few pic. The only thing I forgot to do is measure the lenght of the trackbar. Well I pick up a old box. They will not charge for throwing parts at it. The axles are in line. The frame is in line. I'm going to let them play with it. Get past Christmas then I will take it to like Mars or something. I'm going to take a rest. Enjoy the next few days with wife and kids. I'll post updates as I get them
Thanks
 
bsldallas said:
The axles are in line. The frame is in line.
Click to expand...


If those are both true, then its almost gotta be the drag link length or (way out of left field here) is there a chance that's either not your stock steering box or the box is spaced away from the rails for a brace or something?

I've got a v8 durango box and had to space it away from the rails a bit because of a slight difference in shape from the XJ/TJ box, I corrected it at the draglink and I'm all good but I wonder if something like that isn't the culprit.

Its also faster lock-to-lock than the standard saginaw box, so that would account for less turns to get from one side to the other...
 
Well I almost think it is the steering gear box. If sitting in the Jeep the dead center of the gear box is 6 o'clock (on my Jeep). Sat. I looked at a 97 TJ the pitman arm was about 7 o'clock. Factory/stock set up, the draglink had about 1-1.25 inches on the sleeve (in between the drag and tierod end at pitman arm). If that that is so, then somehow my box has been into/replaced, ect... Because that will put mine where it should be. The TJ that I looked at had 3 3/8 turn clock to clock. Exact turns left and right from center (1.67 lt/rt.-/+)... but it was equal. So I guess I'll wait until I get the box on to see if that clears it up. If someone has a pic. of a TJ pitman arm or could look and see how it is clocked (centered) that might help. I'll post update asap. Thanks again.
 
The pitman arm should be in a straight line with the frame when the wheels and steering wheel are centered. I have a steering box off an XJ that will bolt right on your TJ also.
 
strange1 said:
I would unhook the draglink at the pitman arm. Get inside, and turn the wheel from lock to lock until you can determine where the center is, then go see where the pitman arm is pointed.
Click to expand...

that sounds like a great starting point. dont pay any attention to the direction the steering wheel is pointed, it may not be right. just make sure the box is centered and start from there.
 
UPDATE!!! Jeep fixed

Just as most of you have said, the trackbar was bent. That is 1 thing I didn't measure to start with. That put it back close. The steering box is still bad. Replaced it everything is right know. I've never rebuilt a steering box myself, just replaced them. I'm going to look in the book and see if you can put it together wrong. Either the input shaft or the output shaft. Thanks for everyones help.
 
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