'88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
both.

Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
whereever they want to go?

Thanks,

Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Hi Clint,
The turning into a driveway clunk, is usually just the sway bar
bushing worn enough for the bar to hit the frame.
The tie rod ends should rock back and forth by hand, but using
channel lock like, front end pliers:
http://www.----------.com/frontEndPliers.jpg squeeze the ends down and
wiggle back and forth length wise and there should be not much travel.
Look for any damage to the frame or worn bushings of the track bar,
that's the bar going across the front from frame driver's to passenger
axle side, that's only thing that holds your front end in alignment or
just in front of you. Pictured in this lifted TJ front:
http://www.----------.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
With over two hundred thousand miles I'd be more worried about your
wheel bearings, jack your front wheels off the ground, kick them to move
the brake pads off the rotors and feel for any play, like the sealed
bearings should have zero play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Hi Clint,
The turning into a driveway clunk, is usually just the sway bar
bushing worn enough for the bar to hit the frame.
The tie rod ends should rock back and forth by hand, but using
channel lock like, front end pliers:
http://www.----------.com/frontEndPliers.jpg squeeze the ends down and
wiggle back and forth length wise and there should be not much travel.
Look for any damage to the frame or worn bushings of the track bar,
that's the bar going across the front from frame driver's to passenger
axle side, that's only thing that holds your front end in alignment or
just in front of you. Pictured in this lifted TJ front:
http://www.----------.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
With over two hundred thousand miles I'd be more worried about your
wheel bearings, jack your front wheels off the ground, kick them to move
the brake pads off the rotors and feel for any play, like the sealed
bearings should have zero play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Hi Clint,
The turning into a driveway clunk, is usually just the sway bar
bushing worn enough for the bar to hit the frame.
The tie rod ends should rock back and forth by hand, but using
channel lock like, front end pliers:
http://www.----------.com/frontEndPliers.jpg squeeze the ends down and
wiggle back and forth length wise and there should be not much travel.
Look for any damage to the frame or worn bushings of the track bar,
that's the bar going across the front from frame driver's to passenger
axle side, that's only thing that holds your front end in alignment or
just in front of you. Pictured in this lifted TJ front:
http://www.----------.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
With over two hundred thousand miles I'd be more worried about your
wheel bearings, jack your front wheels off the ground, kick them to move
the brake pads off the rotors and feel for any play, like the sealed
bearings should have zero play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

You have a track bar that is one of the usual clunk points and the sway
bar bushings as bill mentions.

The track bar goes from the passenger side axle up to the drivers side
frame and has a ball joint on the frame end with bushings on the axle
end. The bushings can be replaced but the whole bar has to be changed
if the ball joint is bad.

If you have someone cut the wheels side to side while you watch the
track bar will move if bad.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

You have a track bar that is one of the usual clunk points and the sway
bar bushings as bill mentions.

The track bar goes from the passenger side axle up to the drivers side
frame and has a ball joint on the frame end with bushings on the axle
end. The bushings can be replaced but the whole bar has to be changed
if the ball joint is bad.

If you have someone cut the wheels side to side while you watch the
track bar will move if bad.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

You have a track bar that is one of the usual clunk points and the sway
bar bushings as bill mentions.

The track bar goes from the passenger side axle up to the drivers side
frame and has a ball joint on the frame end with bushings on the axle
end. The bushings can be replaced but the whole bar has to be changed
if the ball joint is bad.

If you have someone cut the wheels side to side while you watch the
track bar will move if bad.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Clint wrote:
>
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced; perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Thanks for the input, you guys. I'll check into some of these things
tonight.My gut reaction is that it doesn't seem particularly safe to drive
till this is rectified, as it seems a failure in the steering system could
have quite a large impact (in more ways than one). Or is this not likely to
fail in a sudden catastrophic event?

Clint

"Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:COvXd.616396$6l.159923@pd7tw2no...
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect
it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced;
perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I
noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint
>
>

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Thanks for the input, you guys. I'll check into some of these things
tonight.My gut reaction is that it doesn't seem particularly safe to drive
till this is rectified, as it seems a failure in the steering system could
have quite a large impact (in more ways than one). Or is this not likely to
fail in a sudden catastrophic event?

Clint

"Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:COvXd.616396$6l.159923@pd7tw2no...
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect
it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced;
perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I
noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint
>
>

Re: '88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod
 

Thanks for the input, you guys. I'll check into some of these things
tonight.My gut reaction is that it doesn't seem particularly safe to drive
till this is rectified, as it seems a failure in the steering system could
have quite a large impact (in more ways than one). Or is this not likely to
fail in a sudden catastrophic event?

Clint

"Clint" <cneufeld@mysocks.shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:COvXd.616396$6l.159923@pd7tw2no...
> Something in my steering is allowing more play than it should when turning
> the wheel, and this morning, when turning into a parking lot, I noticed a
> small "clunk" as I turned the wheel hard left to hard right. I suspect
it's
> either the tie rod or the connecting rod that needs to be replaced;
perhaps
> both.
>
> Any suggestions how I can tell which one is due for replacement? Should I
> just do both while I'm under there? While checking it out today, I
noticed
> that I can twist either of them back and forth with my hand (front to rear
> rotational play, not side to side). Is that normal, or an indication that
> something is going to fall off and leave me with two front wheels going
> whereever they want to go?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Clint
>
>