Topic: Options for a new steering system??

[N8whitie]

Hey everyone, Hope everything has been going well for all of you. I am looking to get my steering system dialed in as my next step in my YJ rebuild and was wondering if anyone here has any advice or experiences to share?? I want to get everything from the tie rods up to the steering wheel. I already have a Grant wheel so I'm set in that department but as for everything else I'll explain what I'm looking for. This jeep isn't going to be a super hardcore crawler but I would like it to be able to handle some fairly difficult off camber steep, windy trails and have some road manners at the same time if thats possible. I plan on driving to the trail head, running it and camping for a few days or whatever then driving home, I don't want a trailer betty. Now, I've done a fair amount of research and have seen some great builds on this site so anyone that has the experience and knowledge please throwdown some advice as it would be greatly appreciated. I work ALOT and don't get a chance to come on this site much anymore but I'm giong to cut back on OT so I can get this future monster built up so I can get out there and attempt to slap some trails around with the old lady.

 Thanks in advance for any contributions to this thread. The knowledge on this forum has already helped me out of a good sized list of issues my Jeep tends to create for me.

 Theres no such thing as a free ride on a Jeep... you're definitely putting your work in to ride that bad boy but I love it to death.

[sharpxmen]

WJ knuckles, flipped tie-rod (WJ tie-rod and right hand drive passenger side ball-joint if it doesnt clear your diff cover), there's a writeup on jeepforum i think for this with part numbers, there are some inserts you can use to flip the tie-rod or you can use heims and make your own but again that's if it clears the diff cover. Since you have 4.5'' lift will give you a much better draglink angle (less) and it's a nice brake upgrade as well.

[Jeffy]

I would like it to be able to handle some fairly difficult off camber steep, windy trails and have some road manners at the same time if thats possible.

Well the only real concern is bump-steer and how much you can live with.  Since you have a dropped pitman arm, you could flip the tie-rods so they're on top of the knuckle mounts instead of below.  This will raise the back up about 2".  That would be the cheapest option.

WJ conversion would be more expensive but then you're also upgrading the brakes from one to two pot.  The only downside is making sure you have enough room to clear the larger calipers.  You'll also want to make sure you using the right wheel bearing so the discs are centered in the calipers. ('01 hubs.)

If you're still running your track bar you will need to make sure that is still parallel with the drag-link or it will bind and fight the steering.

[sharpxmen]

You'll also want to make sure you using the right wheel bearing so the discs are centered in the calipers. ('01 hubs.)

can you expand on that, what's the difference between the '01 and '95 bearings?

[Jeffy]

can you expand on that, what's the difference between the '01 and '95 bearings?

Offset is different.



JKS does make a 1/4" hub spacer though.  http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=FAB_930&Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=FABParts

Another thing I forgot was the discs will need to be drilled for 5 on 4.5" if he wants it to match his rear axle.

[sharpxmen]

Offset is different.



JKS does make a 1/4" hub spacer though.  http://store.jksmfg.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=FAB_930&Store_Code=JKS01&Category_Code=FABParts

Another thing I forgot was the discs will need to be drilled for 5 on 4.5" if he wants it to match his rear axle.

Explorer sportrac has front rotors that are 5x4.5 and work with the WJ calipers (same outside diameter and offset.

I didn't know the '01 had different offset, i welded the spacers on the knuckles, if i knew probably would have gotten some j/y bearings instead

EDIT: looking at that picture, not sure if the inside face of the bearing race is also offset which is what you're after to have the u-joint on the D30 axle shaft lined up with the ball joints, i assume the one on the left is the '01 but to me it looks like only the hub is offset, however is hard to tell without looking at the bearing itseld

[Jeffy]

The one of the left is the older one.  They're referred to as composite while the other is one-piece.  The 3 bolt flange is in the same location.

[sharpxmen]

The one of the left is the older one.  They're referred to as composite while the other is one-piece.  The 3 bolt flange is in the same location.

what you're interested in is the distance from the 3-bolt flange mounting plane to the face of the inside race on the bearing, in WJ is 1/4'' more inwards than TJ/YJ and that puts the axis of the shaft u-joint off by the same amount so that's why that spacer is needed. by the looks of it the '01 hub/bearing is just offset at the wheel mounting surface so you still need the spacer, i don't think the '01 knuckles were any different than the earlier years on TJ.

[N8whitie]

Thanks for the replies. Would a heavy duty tie rod make a huge difference? Rugged Ridge has them for about 200. I've been looking at some of those hydraulic assist kits but they seem to be solely for off road use. As for the track bar, I ditched that when I changed my suspension and sh!t canned the 3" body lift the Jeep came with. Also, I'll be swapping the D30 for a D44 here in the very near future so I probably wouldn't need to do the JK swap.. but correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jeffy]

Thanks for the replies. Would a heavy duty tie rod make a huge difference? Rugged Ridge has them for about 200. I've been looking at some of those hydraulic assist kits but they seem to be solely for off road use. As for the track bar, I ditched that when I changed my suspension and sh!t canned the 3" body lift the Jeep came with. Also, I'll be swapping the D30 for a D44 here in the very near future so I probably wouldn't need to do the JK swap.. but correct me if I'm wrong.

Worth it?  Wel that depends.  Have you had problems with your existing setup?

Really even with the WJ steering, you're going to have your tie-rod out in the open.  You want highsteer to get rid of the bumpsteer which is more important if you're going to be driving it daily anyway.

You aren't going to need hydraulic assist for 33's.  Even when you go bigger, unless you're rock crawling you won't really need it till you get to 38's.  Check out Art's build.

If you have plans on installing a D44 sooner then later then I wouldn't spend any money on the D30.

[N8whitie]

Thanks Jeffy. I plan on getting the D44 within the next month or so. It seems like the best option for a front axle. as for the problems with my existing set up, it's just all over the road. I know its a Jeep and thats just the way it is but it there has to be a way I can improve the handling. I want to get a new steering column too, I like the CJ or older Chevy style columns. They're simple and clean. Does anybody know of a company that makes them for YJ's? or can I just swap the whole system?? for example put an entire Chevy steering system in? seems like it would work with a D44 up front as that is a pretty common axle.

[chardrc]

I want to get a new steering column too, I like the CJ or older Chevy style columns. They're simple and clean. Does anybody know of a company that makes them for YJ's? or can I just swap the whole system??

the yj steering column is pretty basic and clean, just has a column with a blinker that can activate high beams and has wiper controls, only thing simpler than that is one that can only do blinkers with non of the wiper controls or high-beam activation. the yj column is actually a gm style column (heck the key for my yj even says gm on it). you could probably find a simpler one somewhere but then you have the hassle of requiring controls for wipers and what not.

[Jeffy]

the yj steering column is pretty basic and clean, just has a column with a blinker that can activate high beams and has wiper controls, only thing simpler than that is one that can only do blinkers with non of the wiper controls or high-beam activation. the yj column is actually a gm style column (heck the key for my yj even says gm on it). you could probably find a simpler one somewhere but then you have the hassle of requiring controls for wipers and what not.

+1 it's a GM column.

If you really want a older column then it would work but like he said, you'd lose a lot of your functions.