What is the best steering for my Jeep Wrangler TJ?

Just picked up an 06 TJ stock with 68k miles. Death wobble kicked in. She has bad ball joints on the right side so I’m pretty sure that’s what’s causing it. But figured what the hell might has well update the steering. After reading a couple of treads here I’m going with Dana spicer ball joints and crown hd steering kit w/steering damper. My question is about the crown front track bar, what are your thoughts on it? What track bar should I pair with the crown hd steering kit?
 
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Just picked up an 06 TJ stock with 68k miles. Death wobble kicked in. She has bad ball joints on the right side so I’m pretty sure that’s what’s causing it. But figured what the hell might has well update the steering. After reading a couple of treads here I’m going with Dana spicer ball joints and crown hd steering kit w/steering damper. My question is about the crown front track bar, what are your thoughts on it? What track bar should I pair with the crown hd steering kit?

The Crown track bar is fine as it’s just a replacement factory track bar. Unless you are lifted and need an adjustable track bar, then the Crown one should be just fine.
 
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I will add a +1 for the Currie Currectlync (CE 9701) on my 05 Rubicon / 5.5" lift / 35" tires. I do run a steering damper with it, but overall my steering is probably as close to perfect as it could be.

I may start thinking about replacing my power steering though, as a preventative measure (due to its age). I don't want it failing on me while on a narrow, slippery, winding trail 5,000 feet up the side of a mountain.
 
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I realize the need for different types of steering setups when you go to full width axles, JK axles, etc. However, if you're intending on keeping the stock TJ axles, the Currie Currectlync is truly the best setup you can get. No reaming, no changing the steering geometry, etc. It just bolts right on, it's beefy as hell, and you're good to go.

The crossover steering setups for the stock TJ axles are a waste of time and money. They're trying to solve a problem that in my mind doesn't exist. People also seem to run into more issues with those setups as well.
 
for 99% of us TJ owners, the best upgraded steering system out there for the TJ (and I can attest to this as I own one) is the Currie Currectlync.

It fits exactly like factory and probably takes an hour tops to install (mine took less). In addition to that, it keeps the factory style steering setup and won't give you any adverse side effects that you'll get with some of those other high steer setups.

you're saying that there are no potential issues with interference with other components with this upgrade, assuming I'm replacing stock?

Couple other questions, are there any additional parts I'd need for this upgrade or does it come complete (the Amazon listing has a "frequently bought together" suggestion for a Omix-ADA Pitman Arm), and is this something someone with modest mechanical abilities can do?
 
you're saying that there are no potential issues with interference with other components with this upgrade, assuming I'm replacing stock?

Couple other questions, are there any additional parts I'd need for this upgrade or does it come complete (the Amazon listing has a "frequently bought together" suggestion for a Omix-ADA Pitman Arm), and is this something someone with modest mechanical abilities can do?

You need nothing other than the Currie Currectlync, that’s it. It’s designed to work with 4” or more of lift. It will work with smaller lifts, but you’ll typically need to add even more bump stop on smaller lifts.

This is a bolt on affair and doesn’t take long to install. However, like any other suspension or steering component, you should cycle your suspension after installation to make sure that nothing contacts. If it does, you need to adjust your bump stop accordingly.

So what I'm saying is that there may or may not be interference with other components. When you put on a new lift or larger tires, the most important thing you do is adjust the bump stop so nothing makes contact.

The same thing goes for installing a new steering system. You'll need to cycle your suspension, make sure nothing is contacting, and adjust your bump stop accordingly. For me with a 4" lift, 33" tires, and a Dana 44 front axle, I had no issue with anything contacting, but I still cycled my suspension first to check, as should you.

In most cases if you have a 4" lift and your bump stop is already set correctly, you'll likely be okay, but you still need to check just to be sure.
 
You need nothing other than the Currie Currectlync, that’s it. It’s designed to work with 4” or more of lift. It will work with smaller lifts, but you’ll typically need to add even more bump stop on smaller lifts.

This is a bolt on affair and doesn’t take long to install. However, like any other suspension or steering component, you should cycle your suspension after installation to make sure that nothing contacts. If it does, you need to adjust your bump stop accordingly.

So what I'm saying is that there may or may not be interference with other components. When you put on a new lift or larger tires, the most important thing you do is adjust the bump stop so nothing makes contact.

The same thing goes for installing a new steering system. You'll need to cycle your suspension, make sure nothing is contacting, and adjust your bump stop accordingly. For me with a 4" lift, 33" tires, and a Dana 44 front axle, I had no issue with anything contacting, but I still cycled my suspension first to check, as should you.

In most cases if you have a 4" lift and your bump stop is already set correctly, you'll likely be okay, but you still need to check just to be sure.

Thanks for the detailed reply. I have a 3 inch lift & 2 inch bump stop extensions (I learned the hard way what bump stops are & why they're important :D). Having to cycle the suspension though will preclude me from doing this at home, while I think I can install the parts myself I'm unable to then cycle it here. Probably wouldn't want to try a do-it-yourself alignment either so I'd likely just take the whole thing to my mechanic & have him set it up when the time comes

Edit: the time has come - just pulled the trigger, I think I got a pretty sweet deal from Amazon all in at $413 delivered; should be here within a week
 
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Thanks for the detailed reply. I have a 3 inch lift & 2 inch bump stop extensions (I learned the hard way what bump stops are & why they're important :D). Having to cycle the suspension though will preclude me from doing this at home, while I think I can install the parts myself I'm unable to then cycle it here. Probably wouldn't want to try a do-it-yourself alignment either so I'd likely just take the whole thing to my mechanic & have him set it up when the time comes

Edit: the time has come - just pulled the trigger, I think I got a pretty sweet deal from Amazon all in at $413 delivered; should be here within a week

Wow, $413, seriously? That's a STEAL!
 
Wow, $413, seriously? That's a STEAL!

yup, funny story how I ended up at that price. Yesterday on Amazon it was $483.00 + about $29.00 tax, total of $512. Today when I logged back on the price was $511.00 for a total of over $540 with tax :mad:, wtf? I hate when they pull that shit, seems like they know you're looking at it & when you don't pull the trigger right away they jack the price up. Still the price was lower than buying it directly from Currie or places like Quadratec, their 'pre-tax' price is $550 & up.

I then looked at the 'other sellers' section on Amazon & there were a few at $490 with free shipping, just not under Prime, & when I popped one in my cart they automatically applied an "Amazon Discount" of $30, I've never seen that before. Then, you know that annoying 'apply for an Amazon credit card' tab that's always flashing up in the corner, well this one was waiving around a $70 instant discount so I finally said fuck it & grabbed one, that's a nice little chunk of change for doing nothing. Anyway when all was said & done it brought the price down to around $390 so even with tax it only crawled back to $413, I'm pretty happy with that. It's scheduled to arrive between Thursday & the following Tuesday which is fine, my current one is functional & I'm heading to the mountains this coming Saturday which is sooner than I'd be able to get this thing on there even if it showed up tomorrow...
 
yup, funny story how I ended up at that price. Yesterday on Amazon it was $483.00 + about $29.00 tax, total of $512. Today when I logged back on the price was $511.00 for a total of over $540 with tax :mad:, wtf? I hate when they pull that shit, seems like they know you're looking at it & when you don't pull the trigger right away they jack the price up. Still the price was lower than buying it directly from Currie or places like Quadratec, their 'pre-tax' price is $550 & up.

I then looked at the 'other sellers' section on Amazon & there were a few at $490 with free shipping, just not under Prime, & when I popped one in my cart they automatically applied an "Amazon Discount" of $30, I've never seen that before. Then, you know that annoying 'apply for an Amazon credit card' tab that's always flashing up in the corner, well this one was waiving around a $70 instant discount so I finally said fuck it & grabbed one, that's a nice little chunk of change for doing nothing. Anyway when all was said & done it brought the price down to around $390 so even with tax it only crawled back to $413, I'm pretty happy with that. It's scheduled to arrive between Thursday & the following Tuesday which is fine, my current one is functional & I'm heading to the mountains this coming Saturday which is sooner than I'd be able to get this thing on there even if it showed up tomorrow...

Ahhh, that makes sense! That’s a damn good deal I would say. You’re going to be really happy with it!
 
Ahhh, that makes sense! That’s a damn good deal I would say. You’re going to be really happy with it!

Looking forward to it, & I'm also going to walk back my comment about not doing the alignment myself; after reading Jerry Bransford's thread it looks like a no-brainer, so the new plan is to do this entire job myself. Might even pick up a set of those Longacre toe-in plates which seem to make it idiot proof, something I could sure benefit from, though I'm sure I'll be back with questions once everything is apart & laying all over my garage floor :D
 
Looking forward to it, & I'm also going to walk back my comment about not doing the alignment myself; after reading Jerry Bransford's thread it looks like a no-brainer, so the new plan is to do this entire job myself. Might even pick up a set of those Longacre toe-in plates which seem to make it idiot proof, something I could sure benefit from, though I'm sure I'll be back with questions once everything is apart & laying all over my garage floor :D

Alignment is so easy on these TJs that you’ll wonder after doing it why you would ever pay anyone else. I’ve aligned my TJ probably close to 100 times over the years, and it’s ridiculously easy.
 
Alignment is so easy on these TJs that you’ll wonder after doing it why you would ever pay anyone else. I’ve aligned my TJ probably close to 100 times over the years, and it’s ridiculously easy.

Just so I'm sure, the adjustment is made to the tie rod itself by loosening the adjusting bolts & spinning the rod either way to increase or decrease its length?
 
did the alignment after work today, took about 7 minutes; I'm embarrassed to admit I paid someone $60 to do this, three times no less :mad:, there's a buck-eighty pissed into the wind I'll never see again :cursing2:. But it's all good, won't be making that mistake again

Love these plates too (I was just setting them up in the picture, I had them centered when I actually took the measurements. I was surprised that I could adjust it so easily with the tires on the ground and all that weight, that Currie bar spun effortlessly moving those tires in & out...):

IMG_7112.PNG
 
So I baptized the Currie yesterday, was on a very rocky trail & it was pouring rain so everything was nice & slippery & visibility was for shit; had both front wheels up on two separate rocks at a very steep incline & the back slid a little into a trench & as I bumped it a little to break free the entire Jeep slid laterally off the two rocks I had the front on & bam, full weight right on the tie rod. Wiggled free & when we got to the top of the climb I crawled underneath & found the small gouge where it made contact with the rock. Other than that it's straight as an arrow, no doubt I would have bent the stock rod even worse than it already was; really happy I have this in there.
 
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This has been a great thread!
Figured I'd add my 2 cents... I decided on the ZJ upgrade. I wheel moderately hard and tend to be a crawl wheeler, never slammed my steering in 20+ years (so far!). When making the upgrade I decided on MOOG parts and off Amazon picked the whole set up for around $220 and with a Limited Lifetime warranty they'll be the last set I buy (unless I bend them) for the life of the Jeep.
I stole this parts list from some blog out there if you're looking to make the change:
  1. TJ drag link DS1430
    (I read somewhere the ZJ had a different angle on the steering stabilizer and could cause issues and the diameter is the same)
  2. Driver's side tie rod end DS1312
  3. Left Hand Thread tie rod end ES3096L
  4. Tie Rod end adjustable sleeve ES2079S (one time buy)
 
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did the alignment after work today, took about 7 minutes; I'm embarrassed to admit I paid someone $60 to do this, three times no less :mad:, there's a buck-eighty pissed into the wind I'll never see again :cursing2:. But it's all good, won't be making that mistake again

Love these plates too (I was just setting them up in the picture, I had them centered when I actually took the measurements. I was surprised that I could adjust it so easily with the tires on the ground and all that weight, that Currie bar spun effortlessly moving those tires in & out...):

View attachment 46205
yeah the plates are nice because you don't even have to jack the TJ up!
 
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did the alignment after work today, took about 7 minutes; I'm embarrassed to admit I paid someone $60 to do this, three times no less :mad:, there's a buck-eighty pissed into the wind I'll never see again :cursing2:. But it's all good, won't be making that mistake again

Love these plates too (I was just setting them up in the picture, I had them centered when I actually took the measurements. I was surprised that I could adjust it so easily with the tires on the ground and all that weight, that Currie bar spun effortlessly moving those tires in & out...):

View attachment 46205

I'm searching for the link to those plates and can't seem to find it... I need to order a set though! Mind sharing the link with me?

Are they really that easy? You don't need to jack it up or take the wheels off to align it and set the toe-in?
 
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