Wrangler steering

Tradarcher

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Creedmoor, NC
Stock TJ's run an inverted Y setup. This means that the toe changes each time the jeep is lifted. Not that big a deal, you just have to correct the toe when you lift. Toe also changes when the suspension compresses though.

I've come into possession of a Rusty's inverted T set up and was wondering what you thought of it.

I currently use a HD tie rod and HD TREs and my drag link is gussetted at the point where the TRE connects. I think the only vulnerable spot left on my exising steering is the point where the adjustment sleeve is on the drag link.

So when comparing these two set ups I think strength is probably equivalent. cost is negligent because I have both. My question is, is the inverted T better than the inverted Y setup? I can do a tie rod flip on both ends and have a pretty high tie rod. I'm thinking that the steering might be more responsive with the inverted T. I know I'd have to move my sway bar connection brackets and possibly move my track bar.

Forgot to mention that I have the 4.5" RE short arm and Extreme duty track bar set up and 33's.
 
Nothing special there - The "inverted T" is just standard crossover steering as you'll find on just about every non-jeep.

And yes, having a rod that actually tie the left and right wheels together is a FAR better setup that that Y-link bullshit Jeep puts on. If I wanted toe changes as the suspension moved, I'd run IFS.. :flipoff2:
 
problem with the T set up is the TREs will tend to roll over, then bind, before you get any steering motion, then reverse when going the other way. This creats a dead center feel..

Because the Y setup goes straight across the knuckle it seems to deal with that rolling better... (just my opinion)
 
yager said:
problem with the T set up is the TREs will tend to roll over, then bind, before you get any steering motion, then reverse when going the other way. This creats a dead center feel..
Click to expand...

I have no steering feel thanks to the overboosted saginaw system, but to help with the roll, I set the drag link at the edges of the TRE's travel, so they are always slightly under tension... FWIW.

Very slight drawback IMO.
 
Here's 2 pics of the system. This first guy has the TRE that connects the drag link to the tie rod on top. Check out that stabilizer. :confused:

Apparently the person I got the parts from also ran it this way because of the orientation of the TRE's. The problem I see with this is running out of travel with that TRE on top. I've tested it in the garage and it binds way before I would expect it to. Here's a pic of the actual system showing the limit on the TRE.

This second guy has his facing frontwards which puts the TRE and zirk in jeopardy. In the article that goes with the pic he complains about the stabilizer mount. Guess he didn't think to put it on the drag link instead. :confused:


Jason West at Jeepin.com replaced the Rusty's conversion after only a few weeks. He also complained about the "dead center" feel. He was using the 1st generation conversion though. I guess there is only one way to figure this out and that's to try it myself. Shouldn't be too hard since all I have to do is pop off (3) TRE's.
 
kevin, try an actual Drag link end on that spot and you should get more 'flex' in that position.

TREs mainly are for turning with some missalingment due to camber and caster changes as a wheel turns. A Drag link is sloted to allow the type droop you need.


And yes the Y does have limits...
 
dono kevin, ive never run one laied horizontal, so no real life experience, I wouldnt worry about damage it it vertical. Id be more worried about keeping the angle as low as possible on the drag link, that will reduce that dead center effect.

with the 4.5RE i woulndt worry about a stock type Y setup. Ive seen some homemades basically duplicating the stock setup with 1ton ends. (see the pbb link) they use the end with the hole in it reamed out to fit another end.. Nt sure of the TJ parts can be reamed that big, but i think there are similer 3/4ton ends too...
 
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