I had a similar thread about a year ago looking for steering for the same jeep with a 6.5" rough country lift, but I'm now installing notch flares and lowering it down to 4.5" on better parts (I've also got longarms now). The last thread ended with me deciding on Iron Rock Offroad steering that is beefy, but no alignment shop will touch it, as well as it being noisy and loose-feeling.

Really looking for whatever would be best for a daily driver that's used on the highway around 75-80. I'm considering Serious or JCR 1 ton, but I've been reading mixed reviews about inverted-T and tie rod roll. Is it really that bad? Crossover seems to be the overall best option, but I technically have that now and it's not that great. It's also expensive to do right.

I'd do a WJ swap, but it's not in my budget right now.

I'd like to stay UTK, unless it's necessary to go OTK. I'm capable of installing a track bar bracket, but I'd rather not shell out for a new track bar, when I have a nice one already.

Hoping someone with more knowledge will be able to help me out.

 

i have the jcr over the knuckle and i like it. i am at 5.5 inch lift and have a little bit off bump steer but its not bad. If you lowerer it down to 4.5" i would go with under the knuckle to prevent bump steer.

 

Did you relocate your trackbar? I thought OTK was supposed to have less bumpsteer due to the flatter, more parallel angles?

 

Look at offroadonly steering. I've been running it for a few years and have nothing but good things to say. It's a little more spendy but I love not having bumpsteer!

 

The Currie steering kit is fantastic on-road, I have personally driven in a rig with one and it felt leaps and bounds better than my stock rebuilt system.

I have also ridden in a rig that had the Serious UTK kit and it also felt direct with minimal play. Not as great on-road as the Currie, but still really good.

The Offroadonly U-turn kit is also highly regarded, but I don't have any experience with it.

 

No but I plan on building a front axle and will fix it then

 

I thought the Currie kit would be nearly maxed out at 4.5". The Serious UTK is probably what I'm going for. Since you can make it OTK without too much extra work. I'm just concerned about "tie rod roll" causing a dead spot. I find that odd though since newer Ram HD trucks use a similar inverted-T steering setup and my suburban also has the tie rod end connected directly to the drag link instead of the knuckle. Neither have a serious dead spot.

I'm fairly sensitive to steering (I can't stand to drive a new car with electric power steering), so I definitely want to choose right this time. Any more info would be greatly appreciated.

 

There's no difference between OTK and UTK as far as bump steer is concerned. Bump steer is purely based on your drag link and trackbar being parallel and ideally the same length.

 

I'm at 4.5", adj lca, adj sway bar links, zj tie rod, zj pitman, had a cheap adj trac bar but just went to heavy duty drop and heim joint and it helped a ton.

Cheap setup and all you need for upto 33 tires and 4.5"

Get everything lined up good and this setup has been great, biggest tires Ive had were 33's for a bit tho, handles great on and off road, I can take 45mph corners at 60 smoooth and tight.

Oh I also have a new steering box and frame brace and that helped a lot.