CJ's MJ Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 I was just looking at location of my steering damper. The previous owner has it connected to the tie rod and the axle. I replaced the damper shortly after buying the truck and mounted it the same way. (Did not have manual at time.) Looking at the repair manual it appears to be wrong. According to it I should have connected it to the center link and frame. I have been driving around for a while with it like it's mounted and after replacing it I noticed improvement. My real question is should I mount as manual states or does it really matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 You have it right. Axle (near trackbar) to draglink. They can only fit one way. I suspect your repair manual is not a FSM and was published incorrectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue XJ Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Axle to draglink sounds correct. However, if you noticed an improvement after replacing it, you might have something else wearing out. If everything is tight and solid on the front end, you shouldn't even need one. I haven't ran a stabilizer for almost 10 years now. I have no shimmy in the steering wheel, no bump steer and it tracks perfectly straight if I let go of the wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Wish I could say the same. Lol. I have new tie rods and ball joints. I still have a lot of play in steering. I want to replace steering gear just haven't been able to find one locally yet. May have to break down and pay the outrageous shipping charges soon. I put on new shocks same time as damper. I was hearing a lot of bumping noise coming from front end when driving on the awful roads we have here. I was thinking bad shocks but it didn't help out at all. I need to replace wheel bearings as well have them ordered but still waiting for them to show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 If your steering shaft is worn you'll have more play than you might think. Just replaced my and all the play is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 I probably need to replace most of the front end. It is just hard to get parts needed here. Been trying to find a Cherokee to use parts off of but everyone selling their's here want around $4,000. Can't see paying that much for a parts car. Living on a island has its down sides at times lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I probably need to replace most of the front end. It is just hard to get parts needed here. Been trying to find a Cherokee to use parts off of but everyone selling their's here want around $4,000. Can't see paying that much for a parts car. Living on a island has its down sides at times lol. Are you a Guam local, or are you stationed there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillithium Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I fixed almost all of my play in my steering wheel, after replacing all of my control arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 I guess I could be considered a local now. Been here almost 10 years. Originally from Texas. Met my wife who is from here and we moved to Guam. We have plans to move back to the states in the next few years. For the most part life is great here. Very relaxed and everyone is friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Don't forget your track bar. You can get play from that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Agreed I'm off tomorrow and will really check out the front end. Make sure everything is tight. When I bought the truck it was already lifted and I don't know if it was done the right way or not. I am considering just buying new parts and just replace everything. That way I know for certain that it's right. Any suggestions on kits? Currently it has a 4" lift on it I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Post pics of the front suspension and steering. That's the only way we can see if it's done correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I guess I could be considered a local now. Been here almost 10 years. Originally from Texas. Met my wife who is from here and we moved to Guam. We have plans to move back to the states in the next few years. For the most part life is great here. Very relaxed and everyone is friendly. I lived there about five years in the 90s, near the NAVCOMSTA in Dededo, during which time Typhoon Paka came through and about leveled the island. We loved our time there and hit all the barrio fiestas every year. Great people, good times. And yeah, post up some pics of what you have up front so we can see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue XJ Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Lay under the front end and have your wife yaw the steering wheel back and forth. Look at each and every joint/connection and look for movement between the two parts. If anything is loose or worn out, you should be able to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 The wife was no help at all. Lol. She is to scared of the truck lol. I can hear a popping sound when turning the wheel by myself but unfortunately that doesn't help me much. I went under and made sure all bolts were secure. Popping sound is still there. I couldn't get pictures done today it was raining again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Image Not FoundImage Not FoundImage Not FoundImage Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Thanks Hornbrod for posting pictures for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 That's all wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Never knew it was wrong until looking at the manual. When I replaced parts I went with how it was set up already. The previous owner had it "modified" this way. At the time I didn't have the manual and assumed it was correct. Lesson learned lol. Previous owner was an idiot. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I guess you know you do not have a sway bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Just discovered that as well. Lol. Hornbrod sent me a picture and noticed it was missing also. I am a bit surprised at the previous owner. Obviously he didn't care about fixing something correctly the first time. I think my best option is just to replace what's there with new parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I think we are beginning to see why your wife is afraid of the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Lol. I agree. She is smarter than I am for sure. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ's MJ Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 I have been considering replacing the front end for a while. From what I am hearing so far it would be the best thing to do. Any suggestions on what are the best kits to get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 You can start by swapping in Jeep ZJ V8 front end parts. Tie rod, drag link, sway bar, and track bar are all beefier and bolt right in with no modifications. The 93-98 ZJ steering gear boxes are a quicker ratio and are also bolt-in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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