[MJBert]

Ok, bear with me, this is a long question....got a 98 5.9, pieced together a 4.5" lift with the help of Kolak; got all 8 JKS adj. arms, RE springs, front and rear adj. trackbars, brakelines, the whole nine yards. I bring it to my local shop, and halfway through they call me and tell me that I have to have a drop pitman arm or the steering links won't connect to the factory pitman arm. Now, this is while it's on the lift (shop lift). He said when he puts it on the ground, it could be connected, but that if I hit some major bumps, or started articulating too much, the steering linkage could break and then I'd REALLY be in trouble if it happened on the road. I find this funny because I've never heard of anyone using a DPA in this situation, nor have I seen one in any manufactured kit. Did I overlook a vital part? Are the mechanics at the shop not adjusting or doing something correctly? I have to go back tomorrow and give them a thumbs up to order or take it down again.
PLEASE shed some light on this for me! Any help is always greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

PS-They also said that I would probably break my front driveshaft too. What do you think?

 

[nathanielaz]

You don't need a drop pitman arm. That would just give you bump steer unless the trackbar mounts are changed. why did they disconnect it in the first place there wasn't any reason to. All they have to do is loosen the adj sleeeve by the pitman arm and lengthen the linkage by about 1/2". I'm at 6" without a drop pitman arm and there isn't any reason to get one without some kind of serious steering conversion or trackbar relocation.

What is with all these moron shops lately.

The only issues you will have with your setup is the steering linkage rubbing the swaybar disconnect and that might not happen with jks discos.


You are going to break the front shaft if it's the cv style at the axle end. Go to a junk yardr a get one that is ujointed at the axle.

 

[Colorado 5.9]

Could not have said it better than nathanielaz. Yes the front CV driveshaft will not last long, so that will need to be changed.

 

[MJBert]

drove my jeep back today, haven't gotten it aligned yet, but I definately feel some vibration going down the road and pull to the right.
The only things left to put on are the steering stabilizer and new tires. I'm guessing I should put them on first and then get the alignment. About the DPA again, though it's not necessary, would it hurt anything to have one or could it only make things better?
And as far as the front driveshaft goes, you said to get one with a u joint at the axle end. I've never heard of a ZJ with that. The only ones i know of are the regular cv jointed ones, and the double cv jointed ones [i think] that come on the 5.9s like i have.
i guess my main question is what do i need to do to have no driveline vibes, and no bumpsteer?

 

[MJBert]

drove my jeep back today, haven't gotten it aligned yet, but I definately feel some vibration going down the road and pull to the right.
The only things left to put on are the steering stabilizer and new tires. I'm guessing I should put them on first and then get the alignment. About the DPA again, though it's not necessary, would it hurt anything to have one or could it only make things better?
And as far as the front driveshaft goes, you said to get one with a u joint at the axle end. I've never heard of a ZJ with that. The only ones i know of are the regular cv jointed ones, and the double cv jointed ones [i think] that come on the 5.9s like i have.
i guess my main question is what do i need to do to have no driveline vibes, and no bumpsteer?

 

[lbrty9]

The Teraflex kit comes with a DPA. THe DPA reduces the angle to ELIMINATE (or at least reduce) bumpsteer, not generate it. If you're at 4" or higher, I'd say it's a good idea.

Greg
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[Colorado 5.9]

I never got a DPA with my S3Z kit. I think your talking about the Tera Kit for the WJ. His is A ZJ. :smile:

 

[nathanielaz]

The ujointed shaft is what you want. Try looking at some older ZJ's or get one from a XJ. Double check the length not sure if its an exact fit or not.

The DPA is a bad idea if it changes the angle of the steering so that it is no longer parallel to the track bar(bolt to bolt). If you change the mounting points of either it can cause more bumpsteer. try it see if it makes it better or worse. I wouldn't mine having one but I'm going to redesign my steering so that everything clears and is stronger and perfectly parallel.

 

[lbrty9]

Yeah, my kit was for a WJ. The DPA was included to try to return the steering geometry back to parallel... of course it didn't get there, but it is closer to the stock angles than it would have otherwise been. I hate to think of how bad the bumpsteer would be without it.

Greg
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[Tommy]

I have had DPA at both 6" and now 7" and have not experienced bump steer. I think it reduced angles a little, and now with kevins trackbar conversion the steering is way more responsive, and much tighter. Could the DPA cause the connecting tie rod end to go bad? I just replaced it.

 

[Timzjatl]

This subject includes more misinformation than Bill Clinton's sex ed class!

Here it is, for all that are confused. When a ZJ comes from the factory, the trackbar and the drag link are paralell. When one lifts it X inches, (any number between 1-10") the trackbar and drag link are still paralell, but not at ideal operating angles. Installing a DPA alone will INCREASE bumpsteer, because the trackbar and drag link will no longer be paralell. Therefore a DPA must also be acompanied by trackbar modifications amounting to the same amount of change as the DPA.

 

[Tommy]

:lol:

 

[lbrty9]

Like say a DPa and a trackbar drop bracket...
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[Colby]

Or Skyjackers setup where the DPA lowers the steering angle and then they relocate the trackbar UP the same amount as the DPA lowers the steering (again decreasing the angle) by mounting the TB to the steering stabilizer location. I actually have these parts laying in my garage. Despite many complaints about Skyjacker stuff, they look fine in quality and like the idea of reducing my trackbar and steering angle, not just lengthening the bar. Since LA setups still retain the front trackbar and steering setup, I figured I have nothing to lose by installing this before I start going more elaborate.

Colby

 

[jwbronco]

just keep the track bar and steering in phase or you will get bumpsteer. So if you lower one lower the other too.

 

[MJBert]

To all of you who replied, thanks for all your help. I think I'm finally getting all the bugs worked out of this lift slowly but surely and I couldn't do it without some advice from experience.

But from what all of you have said, let me make sure I have this straight...since I already have an adj. front trackbar, all I have to do is install a DPA to fix the steering linkage angles, and then get a front trackbar relocation bracket (like the one from Kevin's off-road or similar?) to bring the trackbar and steering back to being parallel. Then everything will be all good again?

 

[Colby]

I installed the SJ DPA and TB last weekend and I am 110% impressed! I will take pics this weekend and post. W/ 3.5" of list (the DPA lowers the steering by 2.5" and the TB is relocated up 2.5") my angles are back to stock (1" over stock is UpCountry height). Nearly 4" of lift and the steering feels like it did when I bought it. The TB has a poly bushing on one side and a heim joint on the other. The combination definitely firms things up. I think the SJ name has ppl avoiding this otherwise very good (and uniquely designed) product!

Colby

 

[MJBert]

Colby, I'm very interested to see/hear more about your modification with the SJ DPA and TB relocation. When you get a chance, please post some pics and more info, or just send them to my email address MJBert@aol.com
Thanks

Mike B.