xjustinx Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I recently leveled out my truck that is SOA rear and 4.5 springs. I added ACOS spacers and then tried to reconnect the draglink to the pitman arm and this is what I ended up with: My passenger side TRE is seeming to be maxed out and it leaves me about 3 inches short from the pitman arm. Am I missing something or is it time for inverted T setup? I want to stay UTK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Did you get a drop pitman arm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 From the pic it looks like you TRE at the pitman arm and adjuster sleeve are adjusted way in. It looks like you still have plenty of thread to adjust it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Here is a pick of the TRE. Look how long the thread is and look how much you have exposed. You should have about the same amount of thread on the drag link as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 So you think it's the tie rod holding it back? To me it feels like the drag link joint at the knuckle is what's keeping it from going up any higher. I did buy a drop arm but I'm leery about putting it on cause of the side affects I have read about the drop arms. I want to do it the right way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Is the axle centered? I don't see a track bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 So you think it's the tie rod holding it back? To me it feels like the drag link joint at the knuckle is what's keeping it from going up any higher. I did buy a drop arm but I'm leery about putting it on cause of the side affects I have read about the drop arms. I want to do it the right way. What side effects? You will want to keep your drag link as parallel with your track bar as possible. I would think if a drop pitman arm fixes this then it is a good thing. If anyone else has an opinion please chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 I put a track bar on after the pic was taken. It's an iron rock adjustable with 3/4 drop bracket. The pitman drop arm I got is about a 2.5 or 3 inch drop from crown auto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zackcj7 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 If it was mine this is what I would do. Keep the Iron Rock track bar and drop bracket. Lose the Crown 2.5-3 drop pitman. Grab a pitman arm off a ZJ box and run it instead. It has about a 1 inch drop. Also if you can find a V8 ZJ grab the steering box and drag link and tie rod as well. They are much better parts than the MJs and are bolt in. You want your drag link and track bar at the same angle. If you have a 2.5-3 inch drop pitman and a 3/4 drop track bar mount I don't see them at the same angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zackcj7 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Also, the adjusting collar on your drag link is almost all the way in. You have alot of room left to adjust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Found this on the net. Figured it might help someone. From Left to Right, stock CJ pitman (straight) arm, a stock YJ/TJ arm (2.5" of drop),a stock XJ arm (3.5" of drop), and finially an aftermarket XJ arm measureing at 4.5".This aftermarket one is from rusty's and should be pretty close to the drop from a ZJ arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche1 Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 U have room to adjust I'm at 6.5 and still have oem steering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 U have room to adjust I'm at 6.5 and still have oem steering When I adjust it will it put the steering wheel out of wack or will I be able to keep it centered without playing with the other tie rods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 U have room to adjust I'm at 6.5 and still have oem steering When I adjust it will it put the steering wheel out of wack or will I be able to keep it centered without playing with the other tie rods? Put the wheels straight, center the steering box and adjust the drag link adjuster until the TRE seats in the pitman arm. That should get you close. If the truck sees lots of street use it will need an alignment. Remember to maintain close to equal amounts of thread on both sides of the adjuster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Ok thanks. Ill have to fiddle with it on my day off. I figured that the stock steering could reach but for some reason to me it just seemed like there was no more up travel left in the joint where the drag link connect to the knuckle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnkyboy Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 There really isn't, that's why I ditched the stock steering on mine. It all adjusted out and drove fine but the angle on that joint always bothered me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHEEP Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Ok thanks. Ill have to fiddle with it on my day off. I figured that the stock steering could reach but for some reason to me it just seemed like there was no more up travel left in the joint where the drag link connect to the knuckle. You are close to the limits of the stock steering. A pitman arm with a bit of drop would help take some stress off the joint. If you are going to wheel your MJ you might want to upgrade to something stronger like ZJ steering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 I was thinking about getting the Serious Offroad UTK 1-ton steering kit. Seemed like a very nice kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comanchedude Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 at 6" lift and above ..If you want the steering system to perform well, last and not limit your front suspension travel, not fail when your off road. just ditch the factory setup. don't try to use zj or any other factory stuff. if you really want a solid system go after market. sure you can use factory stuff but it don't work correctly and its always binding up and limits your front travel its really a bad deal. do some research and get a good setup that will work right and hold up. I run a hi steer knuckle adapter (JB4x4) and after market hd steering parts. best thing i did with the steering after trying other band aids. there are good options, my 2cent http://www.jb4x4.com/store/jbrsb.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinx Posted April 17, 2013 Author Share Posted April 17, 2013 I got it situated for now. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 Good job. I ran stock steering with 6.5" springs and no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted April 17, 2013 Share Posted April 17, 2013 at 6" lift and above ..If you want the steering system to perform well, last and not limit your front suspension travel, not fail when your off road. just ditch the factory setup. don't try to use zj or any other factory stuff. if you really want a solid system go after market. sure you can use factory stuff but it don't work correctly and its always binding up and limits your front travel its really a bad deal. do some research and get a good setup that will work right and hold up. I run a hi steer knuckle adapter (JB4x4) and after market hd steering parts. best thing i did with the steering after trying other band aids. there are good options, my 2cent http://www.jb4x4.com/store/jbrsb.htm Got pics of this installed, sounds interesting, first I seen heard of this setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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