Steering / Suspension Question

DrTwitch

New Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2019
Messages
24
Location
St Louis
First post on TJForum, I have to say the build pages are entertaining to read.

I purchased a 2000 Sahara 4.0 Auto two weeks ago, and my wife and two kids love it. I can tell this was a great addition to our camping/active family. Arizona jeep, rust free, and besides the garbage radio, it is perfect.

However, at interstate speeds the acceleration sucks (I know I need new gears), the steering can get loose, I feel like I have bump steer, and theres a few inches of slop in the steering as well from 11 to 1oclock. I'm taking it into an independent mechanic that specializes in aftermarket jeep mods next week, but I want to understand what I have underneath and what I can expect to discuss before I go in. I dont want to be blindsided with something I am unfamiliar with.

I'm new to jeeps, but not to modding cars. I've read almost every thread under the TJ guides and how to resources (very well put together, thank you Chris).

Here is what I know it has:
4 inch lift, front and back, and an additional 1 inch aluminum spacer in the front
Ironman 4x4 Fab upper/lower control arms
Ironman double shear front track bar
J&B conversions SYE kit
ProComp 17" wheels with 35" MT2 tires

But thats all I have. I do not know if the drag link or tie rod were replaced, no idea on age of bushings, steering box, etc. It appears that after the lift a bracket may be installed that kept the track bar and DL in parallel.

Here are pics, what do you see? What stands out? Any red flags or advice on what I should replace first to get this steering tightened up?

Any ideas what brand of lift I have?

Thanks!

Twitch

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You have a drop down bracket for the track bar. You need to get rid of that and find a stock mounting track bar. Either currie or JKS. I’d go currie if you have the money for it. Also it appears you have a drop pitman arm you also need to change that back to stock. Could you upload more pictures of the pitman arm to confirm this?You can buy Currie steering which is the best you can get or go the ZJ mod route. Again i’d go currie if you have the money but the Zj mod will be just fine.
 
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Your front disconnects are by Rough Country

Edit: your air intake is a mod off of a Ford Windstar and is pretty cool as far a cold intakes go.
 
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You have a drop down bracket for the track bar. You need to get rid of that and find a stock mounting track bar. Either currie or JKS. I’d go currie if you have the money for it. Also it appears you have a drop pitman arm you also need to change that back to stock. Could you upload more pictures of the pitman arm to confirm this?You can buy Currie steering which is the best you can get or go the ZJ mod route. Again i’d go currie if you have the money but the Zj mod will be just fine.


I was wondering if it was a drop pitman, I saw on the resources guide that there is no need for cross over or drop pitman unless the jeep is uniquely custom. The Currie Currectly is a tie rod/drag link replacement, correct? Do they have a track bar that mounts to the stock location, but also keeps the geometry correct in regards to the parallel need for the drag link and track bar?
 
You have a drop down bracket for the track bar. You need to get rid of that and find a stock mounting track bar. Either currie or JKS. I’d go currie if you have the money for it. Also it appears you have a drop pitman arm you also need to change that back to stock. Could you upload more pictures of the pitman arm to confirm this?You can buy Currie steering which is the best you can get or go the ZJ mod route. Again i’d go currie if you have the money but the Zj mod will be just fine.

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I was wondering if it was a drop pitman, I saw on the resources guide that there is no need for cross over or drop pitman unless the jeep is uniquely custom. The Currie Currectly is a tie rod/drag link replacement, correct? Do they have a track bar that mounts to the stock location, but also keeps the geometry correct in regards to the parallel need for the drag link and track bar?

You are correct and no need for the drop pitman arm. Which you do have. The currie Steering is a tie rod and drag link replacement. Currie and JKs both use stock location mounts.
 
A lot going on here. This particular lift is usually meant for a 4+" lift. The dropped pitman arm and dropped track bar bracket on the frame side usually work together. The coil spacers up front are probably 3/4' or 1" to level the stance. Your bump stop extensions look to be 2", but you have something else going on with the upper jounces. You don't have much up travel, and add Bilstein shocks, I'm guessing the ride is subpar?
 
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A lot going on here. This particular lift is usually meant for a 4+" lift. The dropped pitman arm and dropped track bar bracket on the frame side usually work together. The coil spacers up front are probably 3/4' or 1" to level the stance. Your bump stop extensions look to be 2", but you have something else going on with the upper jounces. You don't have much up travel, and add Bilstein shocks, I'm guessing the ride is subpar?

The ride is rough, and when I hit a bump during a corner, I feel the travel stop abruptly.

I can get more pictures of the upper jounces.

Are you saying I have bilstein shocks, or that I need bilstein shocks?
 
Double Cardan Drive shaft rear no transfer case drop, any vibrations?

No driveline vibrations, and no DW that I've noticed. It is just the steering that is driving me nuts. The wife wants to drive it, but anything above 40mph makes her nervous.
 
You are correct and no need for the drop pitman arm. Which you do have. The currie Steering is a tie rod and drag link replacement. Currie and JKs both use stock location mounts.

If I buy the currie track bar and the Currie Steering (tie rod/drag link), I understand they all attach to the stock mounts and I can get rid of the drop pitman and the drop track bar braket. Will that work with the 4 inch lift geometry (ie, drag link and trac bar in parallel)?
 
No driveline vibrations, and no DW that I've noticed. It is just the steering that is driving me nuts. The wife wants to drive it, but anything above 40mph makes her nervous.
Yeah that set up is the right way to go SYE and DC driveline FTW, most don’t have much good to say about Bilsteins