Tie rod ends unequal? Sanity check before alignment

[dance_party]

Today I swapped out the drop Pitman arm installed by a PO for a stock arm. Everything went very smoothly.

Steering wheel is leaning slightly left, but the drag link can't get any shorter than it already is.

I was planning to adjust the toe, with the hopes that then I could get the steering wheel centered.

But before I adjust the tie rod, I noticed that the ends have an unequal amount of thread showing. Do I need to adjust the tie rod ends before I can do the alignment?

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Measure between the fronts and rears of the tires to see how far off they are toe-in-wise. Then see if you can rotate the tie rod enough to get the toe-in where it needs to be. If you can leave it as is. If not remove the tie rod and thread it on evenly.

 

[dance_party]

Measure between the fronts and rears of the tires to see how far off they are toe-in-wise. Then see if you can rotate the tie rod enough to get the toe-in where it needs to be. If you can leave it as is. If not remove the tie rod and thread it on evenly.

Thank you, Jerry. Great advice.

 

[Feralkid]

Thank you, Jerry. Great advice.

Jerry is incapable of not giving great advice

 

[Goatman]

As long as you have enough threaded in, dosen't matter if they are off by a few turns. But you need to have t
the steering wheel dead nutz centered. If this means you need to adjust the track bar a bit off of center, then that's what must be. Sounds like you may have gotten a mismatched track bar ( one for 4-6" lift but you only have 2" lift).
I would make an adjustment then a short test drive, make an adjustment and short test drive, etc. That way I know my ruler and my Jeep agree with each other. Having the trackbar moved an extra thread or two is worth it to be able to get the steering centered.

 

[dance_party]

As long as you have enough threaded in, dosen't matter if they are off by a few turns. But you need to have t
the steering wheel dead nutz centered. If this means you need to adjust the track bar a bit off of center, then that's what must be. Sounds like you may have gotten a mismatched track bar ( one for 4-6" lift but you only have 2" lift).

Thanks. I'll definitely be taking a look at where I can make adjustments to get the steering wheel centered. It appears I might be able to gain a few threads on one side of the drag link, since the adjustment sleeve wasn't quite centered either. After that, I'll get the alignment dialed in and see where that leaves me, and if there's still adjusting to do look at the track bar, as you suggest.