Clicking in the drag link?

Speed Freak

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2005
Location
High Point
When I trun the steering wheel back and forth I get a clicking or poping comming from the drag link. I can see that it happens when the steering changes direction and the drag link is rotating back and forth on the tie rod ends. What causes this and can I fix it?
Thanks
Guy
 
I am not very familiar with YJ's so I may be way off base on this, but I know with TJ's the drag link is easy to bend. And when you start adding larger tires it becomes very easy to straighten the bend in the drag link the factory puts in there. This will cause the tie rod to make contact with the swaybar bracket on the passenger side of the front axle. Again, I don't know if this is true for YJ's but it is pretty common on TJ's.

Your tie rod ends could be shot too. HTH
 
Maverick
Thats the crazy thing, I did that already there is no play at all??? The Jeep only has 86,000 miles on it. The bar is flipping back and forth not side to side. Other suggestions?
Thanks
Guy
 
The joints should move with a little force, but should not
be flopping, if its flopping tie rod ends are warnout. Also
the popping sound can come from wheel bearings or ball
joints. Jack up front of jeep an wiggle tires side to side
an up an down, you should be able to tell were play is.
 
some TRE's are actually spring loaded, and you won't feel any slop by hand unles its really bad....

Have a buddy turn the wheels back and forth while you grab the TRE's and feel for slop in them, do each of them individually this way.... The steering motion will put more pressure on them than just grabbing them by hand hoping to feel for slop...
 
My YJ did the same thing before I swapped out the steering. I think its the stabilizer pushing and pulling the links up and down. New rod ends may not even help the problem much. Stock YJ steering is really lame for big tires as we have bent them often on different rigs.
 
I see somebody else recommended checking the ball joints. It reall depends on how much you drive on smooth roads versus rough gravel or washboard roads. You can rent the ball joint press from Auto for free (with a $100 deposit). I have changed them with a huge c-clamp but I learned my lesson after using the right tool with air tools.
 
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