Has any one ever flipped the rugged ridge steering kit? I got a kit from a tj for free.since my rustys kit has a bent tie rod. I could just bolt it up n go but I don't want to crush a rock again and bend it so I got some inserts for otk. Upon looking at the rugged ridge kit it came to my attention if i flipped the tie rod the drag bar end would also need to be flipped with an insert. Not a big deal considering I'm a machinist an can make one but I'm worried about the geometry. Has any one done this before? Tips would be awesome.
Xj otk with rugged ridge kit help!!
- Thread starter Colin
- Start date
Fabrik8
Overcomplicator
- Joined
- May 27, 2015
- Location
- Huntersville
I'm assuming you've likely got a lift of some sort, so your outboard drag link end is lower than the pitman end of the drag link when compared to the stock geometry (unless you have a dropped pitman). If this is the case, moving OTK will raise the outboard end of the drag link closer to the level of the pitman end of the drag link, which will reduce bump steer. So you're actually improving the steering geometry by going OTK, generally speaking.
BUT the other component to this is the track bar and how it aligns with the drag link. Conceptually, the track bar and drag link should be more-or-less parallel, so the change in angle of the track bar and drag link is the same when the axle moves. If they're not parallel, the arc can be different and you can get relative motion which can amplify bump steer. The track bar will make the axle move in a different arc than the outboard end of the drag link, and the track bar and drag link are also different lengths, which will compound the difference in motion and make it want to steer (bumpsteer).
So if going OTK makes the drag link less parallel with the track bar, you may be making things worse. This depends a lot on what angle they both start at, because you're already starting out pretty badly for geometry if your track bar and drag link are not horizontal. This is why the stock geometry starts out with the track bar and drag link pretty horizontal, and also why the track bar and drag link outboard ends are at the same vertical height from the ground. You'll be moving one of those points.
There are times when having the track bar not parallel with the drag link can still work very well and have everything travel in the same arc, but that range of axle motion will be very small before things go out-of-whack on either side of that point.
You could be making the geometry worse or better depending on where you're starting out. Are you lifted, and do you have a dropped pitman or dropped track bar mount?
If vehicle dynamics and suspension geometry doesn't make you confused, you're doing it wrong.
BUT the other component to this is the track bar and how it aligns with the drag link. Conceptually, the track bar and drag link should be more-or-less parallel, so the change in angle of the track bar and drag link is the same when the axle moves. If they're not parallel, the arc can be different and you can get relative motion which can amplify bump steer. The track bar will make the axle move in a different arc than the outboard end of the drag link, and the track bar and drag link are also different lengths, which will compound the difference in motion and make it want to steer (bumpsteer).
So if going OTK makes the drag link less parallel with the track bar, you may be making things worse. This depends a lot on what angle they both start at, because you're already starting out pretty badly for geometry if your track bar and drag link are not horizontal. This is why the stock geometry starts out with the track bar and drag link pretty horizontal, and also why the track bar and drag link outboard ends are at the same vertical height from the ground. You'll be moving one of those points.
There are times when having the track bar not parallel with the drag link can still work very well and have everything travel in the same arc, but that range of axle motion will be very small before things go out-of-whack on either side of that point.
You could be making the geometry worse or better depending on where you're starting out. Are you lifted, and do you have a dropped pitman or dropped track bar mount?
If vehicle dynamics and suspension geometry doesn't make you confused, you're doing it wrong.
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I have a 6" long arm kit from tnt and a pitman arm drop bracket and track bar bracket from rustys. Here's the kit I'm trying to otk. The drag bar has to be flipped if i do it as you can see. It's facing outward. Where the drag bar end mounts it has a slight angle tward the rear of the vehicle. So flipping it otk will change the angle tward the front which I can compensate with a insert forward then weld it into place. I think it will work but not 100%
Loganwayne
#BTL
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Location
- Clyde, North Carolina
Jcr off-road makes the kit your wanting to build with one ton ends
Loganwayne
#BTL
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2013
- Location
- Clyde, North Carolina
Do you have a straight on picture of your steering with the jeep sitting flat, that will tell if flipping it is going to mess anything up with the trained eyes of the guys on here. Also your only going to gain around 4 inches flipping all this. The rugged ridge stuff is alot better built. Personally I wouldn't worry about it and run it.
Fabrik8
Overcomplicator
- Joined
- May 27, 2015
- Location
- Huntersville
The kit you have now is perfectly suited for doing OTK because it's threaded on both ends. The kit you just got is not. Your geometry is pretty good right now except for the drag link and track bar being non-horizontal. No one cares about that though, even though it's really not that great.
If that Rugged Ridge kit looks pretty stout, why not just bolt it up and let 'er eat?
I'm not sure if your tie rod is heat treated or not, which would rule out having it heated and straightened obviously.
If that Rugged Ridge kit looks pretty stout, why not just bolt it up and let 'er eat?
I'm not sure if your tie rod is heat treated or not, which would rule out having it heated and straightened obviously.