Hi folks, I posted a few weeks ago asking for advice on freshening up a low mile LJ and I did all of it! ODPA, TSBs, etc. I then moved on to the suspension as it drives like shit and here is what I've found so far:
I think it has an old teraflex 3" lift kit on it. The springs are unbranded progressives that are adding ~2.5" at the spring on level ground. The upper control arms are stock and the lower control arms are a no longer available "screw" type. It had what looked like new rancho rs5000x shocks on it but it turns out they were for stock ride height! I replaced the shocks with the rancho 2.5"+ rs5000x and it's already a ton better, but it still has quite a bit of bump steer. I think the drag link/tie rod are stock but it appears to have a drop pitman arm. Off roading this weekend I found that when the front left was compressed and the front right was extended the pitman arm would hit the tie rod. It scraped it a bit but no structural damage. I ordered a replacement OEM length pitman arm and I'm going to give that a try.
My question is: How is the drop pitman supposed to clear the tie rod? Am I supposed to have a big enough front bump stop where it's not possible for them to cross? Does this indicted something else is likely messed up in my front steering?
Thanks!
I think it has an old teraflex 3" lift kit on it. The springs are unbranded progressives that are adding ~2.5" at the spring on level ground. The upper control arms are stock and the lower control arms are a no longer available "screw" type. It had what looked like new rancho rs5000x shocks on it but it turns out they were for stock ride height! I replaced the shocks with the rancho 2.5"+ rs5000x and it's already a ton better, but it still has quite a bit of bump steer. I think the drag link/tie rod are stock but it appears to have a drop pitman arm. Off roading this weekend I found that when the front left was compressed and the front right was extended the pitman arm would hit the tie rod. It scraped it a bit but no structural damage. I ordered a replacement OEM length pitman arm and I'm going to give that a try.
My question is: How is the drop pitman supposed to clear the tie rod? Am I supposed to have a big enough front bump stop where it's not possible for them to cross? Does this indicted something else is likely messed up in my front steering?
Thanks!
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