HDPursuit

Hey Ya'll, time to go thru and rebuild the steering and put a 1.5 or 2 inch lift on My rig is mostly a street vehicle and used off road on weekends. Dont wont to build a monster just make her off-road capable.

Have been shopping for kits and find a wide range from 130-375 for lift kits and about the same for steering.

SHe's a 2000 Cherokee Sport 4.0 Auto, totally stock except for a Clearwater head.

What do ya think folks? What do you recommend.

Thanks

4.3L XJ

Not sure what you have in mind for steering, but if your tie rod ends are tight just getting a heavy duty tie rod is enough. That will keep your same geometry. That way you will have no headaches with sloppy steering that some of the "heavy duty" kits have that change the geometry

EvanM

I wouldn't put a dome into the factory steering if its steering decent and working well for you. It will be plenty capable with 2-3 lift and 33s
If its sloppy ****ty and needs replaced. Id do this.

https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/R2237.html

I can't convince myself to put money into a steering that has toe changes as suspension cycles. Definitely not cool and has finally been phased out of pickups and jeeps with solid axles

With the ruffstuff kit you will need to drill knuckkes to 7/8" and install tapperd inserts. Or buy the tapper reamer and ream knuckles to 1ton taper. I run the tapperd inserts on mine.

Good luck have fun with it maybe just leave it if its working till your able to actually upgrade. I try to make every fix or repair an upgrade to on everything thats tied to me. Stock sux. Lol

HDPursuit

I agree I always try to go at least 1 better than OEM. I'm a fair wrench but front ends are above me The Girl has had the death wobble at 58/gone at 60 mph now she has clunking in the front end when I go thru the ruts in my driveway, she finally has a 100k on her so it's time to do the front end and I figure a small lift kit as well. Planning on staying with the stock 235 tire size.

I was looking for a complete kit that would give me the parts I need to do the front end and and a 2 in lift kits.

something like this: 1991-2001 Jeep Cherokee Ball Joint Sway Bar Link Tie Rod End Kit - TRQ PSA58672 - - PartsGeek.com

Rough Country 2" Suspension Lift Kit with Premium N3 Shocks | Best Prices & Reviews at Morris 4x4 (morris4x4center.com)

i'm really lost I want to take it up a notch but ya'll do go a little nuts with this stuff

4.3L XJ

Front ends aren't that tough once you understand them. If you have death wobble, figure out what is causing it before you go spending a bunch of money on an upgrade. To figure it out, have someone saw the steering wheel back and forth while you inspect all the joints involved in the steering and knuckle attachment. If something moves, but doesn't cause the part it is attached to move, it needs replacing. Pay particular attention to the track bar attachments since they are the cause more times than not. As far as heavy duty goes, what generally fails in our steering is not the tie rod ends. It is the spaghetti thin tie rod we have. I have never personally broken a tie rod end. Worn them out, yes. But never break. And I have hit some stuff hard enough to bend double tubed housings.

EvanM

I never broke any stock steering stuff either.

That kit probably wouldn't be a had kit stock will most likely work unless you go crazy like all of us.

I agree check everything for free play.. check bolt at track bar axle end.. bolt hole in the axle bracket might be wobbled out.

if your alone. Eye down the side of the fender as you moving steering wheel slightly left to right. If this moves the body then the track bar likely has issues

You can lift 2" and virtually not need to make corrections. But you might ad a shim to lower control arm to bump caster slightly

Hows it drive other than tge death wobble?

HDPursuit

She purrs like a kitty Bought her 5 yrs ago with 55k. Except for the death wobble and clunking she drives fine, no pulling, even wear on tires.

I went to a set of 215's (wimp tires ) because I thought the Wranglers were causing the wobble. It got better, but never went entirely away.

Has been a great truck, except for the cracked head, just my luck to get the one year that wasnt bullet proof.

EvanM

Definitely check out track bar.

Does it death wobble on the same bump at the same speed each time it does it.

HDPursuit

Wobble happens at 58 mph, but doesnt happen every time, steady gas powers thru it. only clunks at low speeds

Asphalt

I’m in process of installing a rubicon express 3.5” and rear disc atm. My has 214k on it