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Post by Jon W on Apr 2, 2006 15:16:14 GMT -5
So... Rocks @ Carnage Hill: 1, Stock Inverted-Y Steering: 0...   And after a little work to get it out...  The tires were a little worse for wear in the front from driving home from the trail with the toe-in from the bend in the tie-rod. JW |
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Post by smileyfish on Apr 2, 2006 15:38:30 GMT -5
that hurts!!!! are you going curie or stock?
mark
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Post by Kevin W. on Apr 2, 2006 15:52:54 GMT -5
Holy nuts... that's a good bend! I bent my stock one once only about 4-5 inches up.... I drove home on the mass pike and really damaged the outside lugs of my tires. Time for an upgrade  KEV |
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Post by Scott on Apr 2, 2006 18:06:31 GMT -5
Isn't that the U-turn system  |
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Post by johnsxj on Apr 2, 2006 18:17:31 GMT -5
Too bad there isn't a way to keep both the bend and proper toe-in. Talk about a high clearance system!!!!
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Post by beaker on Apr 2, 2006 19:51:53 GMT -5
Ouch. I didn't look closely, but it might be Carnage Hill 2, Stock Inverted Y Steering 0.
-mike
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Post by Jon W on Apr 2, 2006 21:42:05 GMT -5
The drag link looks OK... Didn't bend... The steering stabilizer is totally trashed.
As far as a replacement goes, I'm not very interested in Curry's kit... It is heavier than stock, but it keeps the inverted-Y geometry which I don't really like.
I'm going to look around this week.... I like the ORO U-Turn kit and the Alumiflex from Toys by Troy (too bad it is just a tie rod).
Anyway... I'm going to do some more research.
JW
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Post by ZAEDOCK on Apr 3, 2006 5:48:23 GMT -5
Consider mounting a YJ tie rod and drag link over the knuckles. You'll be able to do away with the Y setup. |
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Post by Kevin W. on Apr 3, 2006 6:20:56 GMT -5
Jon,
TBT has a whole new cross over system for about 1000 bucks.... I think it gives you new knuckles, but not sure.
Alot of people LOVE the U-Turn steering, so it may be worth it...
KEV
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Post by Jon W on Apr 3, 2006 12:02:55 GMT -5
Kev -
I didn't see that the first time... I called TBT and talked to them about their TJ kit. They say the kit can be modified to fit an XJ with a stock linkage. They were going to see if they have some pics they can send me so I can see what it looks like.
It is a bit more money than I wanted to spend, but it may be worth it if the solution is basicly bolt-in... One of the reasons I really like the ORO kit...
Doesn't cost anything to explore it anyway... Looks like you have to send back your stock D30 knuckles after you install the kit, so they must modify them somehow.
I looked at several other high-steer conversions... They are expensive and require modification to the swaybar brackets and/or track bar brackets. TeraFlex has a kit that replaces the knuckle on one side, which may be a good one. Is less expensive (I think I saw it for "only" $500) and requires minimal modification of other brackets.
If I am going to have to spend $1k maybe I should look and see if I can find a used D44 built for an XJ w/ locker + 4:56 gears instead... ;D (Ok, I'm kidding, but...)
Joe -
Have you done something like that before? Were you thinking of using different knuckles?
JW
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Post by ZAEDOCK on Apr 3, 2006 12:41:10 GMT -5
Joe - Have you done something like that before? Were you thinking of using different knuckles? JW I've been meaning to do this, but just haven't found the time. You keep your knuckles and drill them out strait, buy the goferit kit that has tapered sleeves(that fit in the hole you just drilled), and zap them on. Then the tie rod just bolts on with their supplied lock nut. The kit is like $70 and keeps your tie rod out of the way. If you used a YJ tie rod, you wouldn't require an alignment if you ever change your lift height. If you spend $1000 to fix your steering, then you hit more than just your tie rod on that rock.  You may find more XJ specific info on NAXJA or Pirate for other solutions. |
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Post by Jon W on Apr 3, 2006 15:04:09 GMT -5
I've been meaning to do this, but just haven't found the time. You keep your knuckles and drill them out strait, buy the goferit kit that has tapered sleeves(that fit in the hole you just drilled), and zap them on. Then the tie rod just bolts on with their supplied lock nut. The kit is like $70 and keeps your tie rod out of the way. If you used a YJ tie rod, you wouldn't require an alignment if you ever change your lift height. If you spend $1000 to fix your steering, then you hit more than just your tie rod on that rock. You may find more XJ specific info on NAXJA or Pirate for other solutions. I looked up the Goferit kit... Interesting idea. From what I've read about other high steer kits the resulting tie rod position (above the knuckle) has sway clearance problems which would require adjusting the height/locations of the swaybar mount, track bar and/or steering stabilizer brackets, which is a total PITA. The inserts also require welding... I have a drill press so I could bore out the kuckle... and a welder I borrowed, but probably not enough confidence in my skill to do it exactly right. Smacking an expensive new kit on a rock has occured to me several times today.... and I don't like the idea, but not much I can do about it (other than try not to hit rocks with the tie rod, which I try do to anyway). My wallet is already used to making sacrafices on the alter of the Jeep Gods (so to speak). I'm kind of leaning in the direction of the ORO kit and buying an extra full-width tie-rod or inverted-Y setup I can carry as a spare. I think I can get the alignment adjustments right, or at least good enough to get it to a garage... JW |
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Post by Kevin W. on Apr 3, 2006 15:24:39 GMT -5
Since its not a daily driver, why do you care so much about the inverted Y-steering?
If I was you, I would spend 359 bucks and get a currie set up to your door...
Alot of people really do beat on these things.
I think they are "tougher" then the U-turn steering, based on the number of bent U-turrns that have shown up on the internet.
I think 650 bucks plus shipping (so twice the cost of currie) is kinda crazy for a weekend beater...?
I guess my question is, how is getting rid of the Y-steering going to help you at all?
KEV
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Post by Kevin W. on Apr 3, 2006 15:29:03 GMT -5
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Post by jpnjim on Apr 3, 2006 15:55:08 GMT -5
Nice job ;D I've probably bent 10 of them, but NEVER that bad  I keep running the stock crap, as long as I have a few spares. Not too hard to swap on the trail, and if both spares go, you can straighten it out, and sleeve it with the high lift handle to get home. I bought this alumiflex drag link last year www.macromotive.com/shopping/goShopping.cfm?tag=4.0.0.0.3572.22780#Applications but it's almost impossible to screw the TRE's into. I can do them individually in the vice (with a ton of lube & a stillson wrench), but I CAN NOT turn both at the same time on the Jeep, to do the alignment. I'm always tweaking the lift, and would hate to have to pull it off every time I need to adjust the toe. I thought about doing the YJ swap, with GoForIt inserts www.goferitoffroad.com/products.htm But the YJ stuff's not any beefier, and you have to raise the swap links, and track bar mount. FSJ Grand Waggy linkage would be a better bet, it's alot beefier, is TRE over knuckle already, and if there's anough meat in the knuckle, you wouldn't need an insert (small diameter of the TRE is the same size as XJ/TJ's big diameter). The Currie's alot beefier than stock, but it still has the upper TRE as part of the tie rod, so when it wears, you have to replace the whole tie rod ($$$) |
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