another tie rod post

[NAILER341]

i didnt want to steal the other guys post, so i'll start my own. what are the suggested ways to get a stronger tie rod on a spring under yj? i never see anything for the yj on the net.
i was thinking of flipping it to the top of the knuckle with the big daddy tie rod, but the steering stabilizer would disappear. [do i really need this?] and have a big daddy drag link as well...
any suggestions for beefing up the steering on my spring under yj?

[Jeff Weston]

Erik,

Have you bent the stock YJ tierod? The stock YJ tierod is solid and fairly strong. The stock draglink is hollow and is the weaker link. For that, you could use an aftermarket TJ tierod and shorten it, either cutting one end and re-tapping it or cutting in the middle and sleeving it. My dad had one built by the 4XDoctor. It's basically a shorter version of his TJ tierod.

[Scott Evans]

http://www.partsmikeparts.com/tre_kit.htm

I think this stuff should work. You can get a bracket for the steering stabalizer.

I added some 1x1x.25 angle iron to mine. Kinda booty fab but so far it has held up. It's cheap to.

[blkTJ]

Erik, if you want to try cutting down a stock TJ drag link you can use mine.

[John]

Back when the front of mine was SUA I had the tie rod flip stuff from Goferit and ran a Rusty's tie rod and drag link. Did the trick for me, worked great and was pretty much bullet proof.
I used to have some pics of that set up, let me know if you want them and I can dig them up.

[NAILER341]

Originally posted by John
Back when the front of mine was SUA I had the tie rod flip stuff from Goferit and ran a Rusty's tie rod and drag link. Did the trick for me, worked great and was pretty much bullet proof.
I used to have some pics of that set up, let me know if you want them and I can dig them up.

some pics would be great!
is this the deal with the inserts you put on the existing knuckle? i have been thinking about that way. i think i like it.
also... did you continue to run the steering damper?

thanks all of you for your input

[John]

Yes, you drill the knuckles out with a 3/4" drill and weld in the inserts. I haven't run a steering dampener in a long time

pics here

[NAILER341]

thanks very much!
do you drive your jeep on the street at all without hte damper? just curious if it handles any differently. it is not my daily driver, but i do like to take it for a drive now and again.
this looks like a pretty good way to go. any real weakening of the knuckles with those inserts?

[John]

Prior to tearing the guts out of it for the engine swap this was my daily driver for years. I never noticed the lack of the stablizer either.
the only thing with the flip is that you eiter need a different tie rod to attach the drag link to (why I have the Rustys) or you need a third insert to fix that.
As for strength, I never broke it

[Jeff Weston]

Erik,

I'd be more concerned about having the stabilizer on the rocks than the street. In addition to it possibly being harder on your arms when you hit a rock, it may be harder on your box without a dampener?

Anyway, it you go with an aftermarket tierod you can use the bolt on mount. I think I have an extra mount that came with a Currie steering kit if you need it.

[NAILER341]

sure, jeff. i'll take it. let me know what you want for it. at least this way i have a choice to use it or not.
in the mean time, i'll be looking for the rest of the parts to do this.