Ok, so I just finished installing new ball joints and TREs. I will finish up with my drag link as soon as it comes in. Will also be replacing my sway bar bushings because I can see daylight when I look through them.
Anyways, my Jeep handles terribly on road now. The steering wheel will not re-center on its own and it feels squirrely on every tiny patch of snow or ice. As soon as it hits pavement again it will lunge in the direction. I am always fighting my XJ and it does not feel safe. It feels tighter now that the ball joints are replaced, but it does not drive well. Is this a caster issue, or would it have something to do with my steering box? Should I try the adjustment or wait to finish my drag link and have it aligned properly?

 

sounds like not enough caster. You probably dont know what kind of ball joints you took out (offset or standard)...did you put in standard?
It could also be the toe is out of spec now. When you replaced the TREs, did you measure the length first and set teh new ones to the same lenght? Sounds like something you changed, not steering box or sway bar bushings. You def. need to get that aligned, preferably after the draglink, but it wouldnt hurt to do it now.

 

I replaced them with standard ball joints. So no offset. I did not measure the length of the TRE though. I don't know if you can see how off the wheels are in this pic, but the lower ball joints were SHOT.

 

What are the ideal alignment specs for an RE 3.5" Superflex?

 

It sounds like toe out with the tires fighting each other. As you hit dry ground with one, it pulls to that side.

 

well yeah, you need to align it, professionally or with a tape measure, thats up to you.

 

It was actually measured. I completely forgot.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what it feels like.

 

Than an alignment will fix it right up.

 

Ok thanks everybody.