4.3L XJ

Yes, it does look like there is a difference. But neither is beyond what I would expect. I understand your concern, but I see nothing to be alarmed about. As I said, as long as the joints are tight, there is nothing wrong. And remember one is a short threaded tie rod end and the other is forged into the track bar. There can be small differences in the tapered shaft that goes into the steering arm

RocketMouse

Well rat farts... I was really hoping that this could be the answer to the slight pull to the right that I'm experiencing. I love my Jeep but this issue is really ticking me off. It's messing up my tires to the point of needing replacement. And i can't find the root cause.

Does the passenger side NOT look like it needs attention? I mean define tight... just because I can't wiggle it just by hand... it just seems wrong for the boot to look like that being installed and not under "tension/force" like you typically see.

4.3L XJ

Stock height?

RocketMouse

no... a mild 2" lift

4.3L XJ

Did you change the location of the track bar mount? Stock steering?

RocketMouse

Actually I did not.... is that something that is highly recommended with that small of a lift? I didn't have a garage at the time that I did the lift (like I do now)..... so I had to have a 4x4 shop do it.
I was able to sneak in changing out my radiator in the parking lot, because they thought I was just doing maintenance....but pulling suspension apart, they would've figured it out.

The shop I used had a very good reputation in the area.... so if what you said was recommended or required I would've thought they would have done so. They were known for working on Jeeps, But in this world, anything is possible.

Do you really think that could be the issue here?

RocketMouse

oh and yes... stock steering... upgraded to a Redhead box though when the OEM one quit. If I knew then what I know now... I would've gone without a vehicle for a while and had the OEM box rebuilt. EVERYTHING aftermarket is just not the same quality. Redhead is the best of those IMHO, but still not as good as the orig. OEM box.
Ask me how I know.... that's going down a rabbit hole filled with nothing but cold dog poo

4.3L XJ

If you have good alignment, then a shift to the driver side of the front axle, though not much will cause tire cupping. When doing lifts, it is important to do it right. Corners can be cut, but eventually if you want it to be like stock performance you have to get it dialed in. If you make some measurements, you might find out you only need to drill a new hole in the track bar mount to correct it. However that will not correct the pulling to the right. Our Dana 30s come from the factory with a difference of about 1.5°, which causes the vehicle to pull to the right. I don't know the real rational for this decision, but it is what it is. It is correctable by replacing the upper ball joint on the passenger side with an offset ball joint. I think Moog makes them

RocketMouse

Thanks....I'll look into it... the tires aren't actually cupping... it's rubbing the outside edge from the constant correction back left a little bit.

I can answer your question as to the rational behind the 1.5* for the pull to the right.
It's for safety reasons... If you are driving down a road without a centre crown.... and let's say the driver become incapacitated, falls asleep, medical emergency..what have you..... then the vehicle will gradually drift towards the shoulder of the road and not into oncoming traffic from the opposite direction.

I'll tell you something else too... I crawl under my XJ... and you can see from the pictures it makes me very sad.... moving to this new climate... all of that surface corrosion was not there before... it makes me sad. I want my XJ to live for a long time... she's only gone 107k so far in the last 22 years.

4.3L XJ

I had heard that rational, but I have not been able to confirm it. So I remain neutral on that. But you are right, it can be annoying. That is why my new axle is set up with identical castor

RocketMouse

If there's an easy way to cancel that out for it to be just straight down the road Im all for it.

And for the record... that's just what I remember seeing somewhere years ago... I mean it's not like it was chiseled as the 11th commandment on the stone tablets from above... but when I saw it, it did seem to make sense to me as a reasonable explanation.

4.3L XJ

Best advice I can offer right now

MaskedMallard

What happens when the vehicle is RHD / Right Hand Drive? Does the 1.5* shift the other way?

4.3L XJ

YOu should verify your castor before buying. Get a good digital angle finder or you can get a free app for your smart phone so you know for sure

Roler

Now this, this is a good question..
Mine is pulling too, but I forgot which direction..since I haven't driven it for a while.
Will check once back on the road.

TBH, that's a first, hearing it's a safety feature....
I vaguely recall something with having to clear the diff in RHD that caused issues, but I might be wrong.


If mine pulls to the right too, then what.....


EDIT: my XJ