Recommendations on suspension improvement priority

[deeptread]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, but not new to Jeeps. I'm currently working on a '98 TJ 4.0L I6 sport auto (coming from an XJ and JK). The PO made some curious selections on his lift-- rides well offroad, but on road stability has been a challenge. Money is tight, but I'm saving each month to do one improvement at a time to restore a bit of on road drivability. Given my current situation where should I spend money first? I do all my own work.

Current:
4" lift
Bilstein 5100 shocks
Steinjager crossover steering
Stock control arms
BFG T/A Load E 305/70/r16

The rear axle looks too far forward due to the lift, front looks OK, steering is solid, tracks straight, the jeep wobbles often with some bumps, highway is rather smooth, but still some wobble. The best $0 change I've done thus far is to bring the psi down from 30 to 24. Here's what I'm thinking scenario wise:

1: Upgrade front control arms upper/lower to adjustable
2: Upgrade rear control arms upper/lower to adjustable, pull axle back and rotate into inline position with driveshaft. Will I need to also do SYE at the same time?
3: Delete these tires for load c tires
4: Delete these bilsteins for rancho 5000x
5: Keep stock control arms, and purchase lower height springs

Any tips on what I should do first? I can afford to do one per month (or so).

TIA

 

[Granite]

Howdy and welcome!
I am in a very similar situation. PO took pretty good care of this Jeep. He installed a Rubicon Express 3.5” lift but it’s just springs, shocks, end links, a rear trac bar relocation bracket and he redrilled the front trac bar mount. Stock control arms have the wheels set more toward the center than I’d like.
Tomorrow I am going to start installing the Currie/RockJock 4” kit with Ranchos and JKS end links. We’ll see what I run into and if it makes it better!
Your plan has all the right parts from what I can tell. But there are people on this forum with much more experience than me in the TJ world. Hopefully they chime in!

 

[deadbeat son]

Hi,

I'm new to the forum, but not new to Jeeps. I'm currently working on a '98 TJ 4.0L I6 sport auto (coming from an XJ and JK). The PO made some curious selections on his lift-- rides well offroad, but on road stability has been a challenge. Money is tight, but I'm saving each month to do one improvement at a time to restore a bit of on road drivability. Given my current situation where should I spend money first? I do all my own work.

Current:
4" lift
Bilstein 5100 shocks
Steinjager crossover steering
Stock control arms
BFG T/A Load E 305/70/r16

The rear axle looks too far forward due to the lift, front looks OK, steering is solid, tracks straight, the jeep wobbles often with some bumps, highway is rather smooth, but still some wobble. The best $0 change I've done thus far is to bring the psi down from 30 to 24. Here's what I'm thinking scenario wise:

1: Upgrade front control arms upper/lower to adjustable
2: Upgrade rear control arms upper/lower to adjustable, pull axle back and rotate into inline position with driveshaft. Will I need to also do SYE at the same time?
3: Delete these tires for load c tires
4: Delete these bilsteins for rancho 5000x
5: Keep stock control arms, and purchase lower height springs

Any tips on what I should do first? I can afford to do one per month (or so).

TIA

The cheapest route, which seems most logical to me, is to remove the crossover steering and reinstall OEM steering and see what that gets you in regards to your "wobbles often with some bumps" and "still some wobble" comments. After that, reassess your plan of attack.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Your Steinjager crossover steering reacting badly/wobbling from bumps is likely most responsible for the bad steering, the ride is likely stiff and/or jittery from the Bilstein 5100 shocks. I'd consider a steering fix/replacement as best bang for the buck.

 

[deeptread]

Thank you for the feedback — swapping back to the oem steering linkage is a great suggestion-- this plus the ranchos-- I can do in one go.

 

[Weasellee]

Thank you for the feedback — swapping back to the oem steering linkage is a great suggestion-- this plus the ranchos-- I can do in one go.

Go with the ZJ upgrade

 

[macleanflood]

Or get a Curry CorrectLync.

-Mac

 

[The4bangertj]

Also a huge fan of the oem or currie steering and ranchos in one go. Need the strength then go currie, but definitely keep the style inverted y style. Had 5100 bilsteins and did not like them unless I had so much weight in the back it looked squatted. That was the biggest improvement of a better feeling suspension was going to the rs5000x shocks. I’m on stock control arms still with the exception of savvy rear uppers for the tummy tuck and sye. Stock arms are super nice for what it is till they fold.

 

[RINC]

Or get a Curry CorrectLync.

-Mac

I bent the Currie tie rod.

 

[macleanflood]

I bent the Currie tie rod.

And I thought I broke sh!t...

 

[deeptread]

I pulled the trigger on the rs5000x shocks. Researching steering linkage options now-- thank you all for the feedback.

 

[RINC]

I pulled the trigger on the rs5000x shocks. Researching steering linkage options now-- thank you all for the feedback.

Look into this thread if you have not already found it. https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/what-is-the-best-steering-for-my-jeep-wrangler-tj.2956/

 

[psrivats]

I bent the Currie tie rod.

There is a fix for that.

 

[RINC]

There is a fix for that.

Done!

 

[Jerry Bransford]

There is a fix for that.

True but a press will take care of the bend in the mean time. I've used a press for that a couple times over the years before converting to Savvy tie rod.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Stock arms are super nice for what it is till they fold.

Then you spend $25 each to replace them.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Stock arms are super nice for what it is till they fold.

Folding is not what they're known for.

 

[psrivats]

True but a press will take care of the bend in the mean time. I've used a press for that a couple times over the years before converting to Savvy tie rod.

Have you seen where (and how) @RINC takes his Jeep?

 

[The4bangertj]

Folding is not what they're known for.

What are they known for then? Thought bending,kinking,folding is it’s short coming of the sheet metal which is nice for articulating so ripping mounts isn’t a problem like some people have with solid tube and poly bushings.

 

[jjvw]

Done!

It bends...

...but it will spring right back to where it belongs!