Banejosiah

So I recently had to replace the drag link because there was a lot of play where it connects to the pitman arm because about a month ago my xj started pulling to the left hard, only way to keep it driving straight was to fight with the steering wheel. It doesn't do it all the time just every so often, I thought replacing that would work but just yesterday it started again, I got an alignment already and I've gone underneath and checked everything and nothing has any play yet this is still happening. Has anyone else experienced this before or has any idea what it might be? Also whenever it starts doing this there's always a burning smell and I believe its the driver side tire being dragged on the road because I can see the start of uneven wear.

JonRedcorn

could be ball joints, could be a brake caliper locking up and dragging.

agreen

Burning smell.... pulling to one side...

Yep. It's the driver's side caliper. Replace it before you get stranded. Matter of fact, do both. And your pads are cooked, probably have overheated rotors too. It's reeeealy common on Jeeps. TJ/XJ/YJ/WJ/etc, they all have the same calipers.

fb97xj1

What they said, Also check the knuckle, just because. Check both sides, in fact. The knuckle wears down where the pads ride pads and the caliper cant move freely.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/doe...-right-257281/

ElMartillo

If it has the original flexible brake lines, I’d put money on that being the culprit. They deteriorate internally over time and can hold pressure. This has happened on two of my XJs. Go ahead and replace the caliper if you want, but you may as well replace the flex brake line(s) while you’re at it. Crown Auto makes a good kit of stainless braided, extended length brake lines.

Cheers!