Do I need shocks?

Good news is tie rod is really inexpensive.

You may want to go through everything, starting with the Dry Steering Test. It could be a great excuse to upgrade the steering to the ZJ/currentlync, and do other upgrades while there.

Ya....makes sense, but just got this TJ...before I go upgrading I want to put a few miles on it and be sure of what I want on it. I gots some more reading to do...
 
Upgrade parts when they fail... I 100% identify with this:

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The ZJ tie rod not being a straight piece doesn't mess around with any steering geometry?

The ZJ upgrade I did on mine were just fine. Just do not head butt rocks with it.

Also, look at the rear swaybar bushings. Mine were toast and the new bushings was the greatest improvement early on with my rig.
 
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Just did the dry steering test and the DL seems good. So if I order up an ES3096L tie rod end, a DS1312 centre link/tie rod, and an ES2079S adjuster sleeve I'm in business. Right?
Trying to avoid the 'well, you changed that part, so now you need this part' that seems to go with almost every mod on these..lol
@RINC I checked and they seem fine. PO put poly in there. But the sway bar is about the diameter of my little finger. Can't imagine it does very much?
Interesting. At the start of this thread I was thinking I needed shocks, and maybe I do, but just cuz a garage says it's all good, which I was told two weeks ago, don't mean, uh, poop.
 
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Just did the dry steering test and the DL seems good. So if I order up an ES3096L tie rod end, a DS1312 centre link/tie rod, and an ES2079S adjuster sleeve I'm in business. Right?
Trying to avoid the 'well, you changed that part, so now you need this part' that seems to go with almost every mod on these..lol
@RINC I checked and they seem fine. PO put poly in there. But the sway bar is about the diameter of my little finger. Can't imagine it does very much?
Interesting. At the start of this thread I was thinking I needed shocks, and maybe I do, but just cuz a garage says it's all good, which I was told two weeks ago, don't mean, uh, poop.

Yes, the rear sway bar is tiny. As long as the there is no movement when you push and pull on it then it's just fine.
 
Well I figure I better update this thread. Replaced the bent original tie rod with the ZJ parts upgrade. Aligned using the two long bar method described by Jerry - prior to replacement the toe-in was 5/15", now a shade over 1/8". Replaced the front sway bar links..one was broken. Removed the Terraflex lift spacers as it was pointed out to me they were intended for a JK?!? PO used whatever he had I guess? Installed new BDS 2" lift springs along with replacing the tweaked rebound bumper cups or whatever they are called. Hammered in new rebound bumpers. Put in urethane...Energy Susp....not sure if that was my best option..but it's what I have in there now.
Went for a test drive and it is a night and day difference! Much more stable when you have no broken parts, wrong parts, bent parts. Who'd a thunk it? LOL
Thanks All for your input.
And I never changed the shocks.....yet...but I have a shock question...
When changing out the rear springs I detached the bottom shock bolt as instructed to allow the axle to drop. When I dropped the axle and removed the old springs....the shocks were extended further down than the axle. Was not expecting that.
A little research showed the shocks to be MetalCloak long travel units. I'm thinking they are for a higher lift. Are they safe on my 2" lift TJ? I don't plan on being air-born with it.