The tie rod and drag links will twist to the movement limits of the ball
and socket joints. If the tube twists more, it needs to be tightened.

You need to watch out for up and down movement more than the twist.

Mike

Eric wrote:
>
> Nope.. caster/camber (can't remember which) is good. I'll jack it up and
> check to see if I can get movement.
>
> Are the tierod and drag link supposed to twist? I can grab it and twist it
> (imagine a motorcycle throttle) quite a bit.
>
> Eric
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:42513900.A7684DCF@sympatico.ca...
> > Ok, so if you stand up front and look at the front wheels, do either one
> > of them tilt in or out at the top or bottom?
> >
> > If so, you could have a dead ball joint. You will need to jack the
> > weight off the wheel and pry with a bar to see if you can get any
> > movement in it.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > Eric wrote:
> >>
> >> BTW -- just found a pic of the ujoints. Can't imagine those are making
> >> the
> >> noise...
> >>
> >> Eric
> >> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> >> news:4250A700.D9794112@sympatico.ca...
> >> > Well besides the pump itself there are u-joints at the ends of the
> >> > front
> >> > axles right behind the wheel. To make a noise when not spinning they
> >> > would have to be seriously seized. You can cut the wheels to the side
> >> > and inspect them. If they are flopping or show tons of rust... Well I
> >> > guess you could just get down there and listen while someone else turns
> >> > the wheel...
> >> >
> >> > Mike
> >> >
> >> > Eric wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > You can make a grinding noise with the engine off and stopped and
> >> >> > rocking the steering wheel?
> >> >>
> >> >> YES!! That's the problem!! More obvious when the motor is running,
> >> >> as I
> >> >> can turn the wheel further (33x12.50 MTs don't turn to easily without
> >> >> power
> >> >> assist!)
> >> >>
> >> >> Eric
> >> >>
> >> >> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> >> >> news:424FF944.6CDFC0E7@sympatico.ca...
> >> >> > On the matter of the drag link, it does not come apart. You have to
> >> >> > buy
> >> >> > the whole $120.00 or so part.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > They don't 'grind' when bad, the steering wheel just flops loose
> >> >> > side
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > side.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > You can make a grinding noise with the engine off and stopped and
> >> >> > rocking the steering wheel?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Have you check the power steering fluid?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Mike
> >> >> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >> >> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Eric wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the
> >> >> >> point I
> >> >> >> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other
> >> >> >> end
> >> >> >> could hear the grinding.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag
> >> >> >> link
> >> >> >> was
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of
> >> >> >> mine
> >> >> >> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to
> >> >> >> me,
> >> >> >> I'd
> >> >> >> probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> cake.
> >> >> >> Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> >> >> >> it
> >> >> >> out
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod end
> >> >> >> and
> >> >> >> can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the tie
> >> >> >> rod.
> >> >> >> After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> >> >> >> that's
> >> >> >> making
> >> >> >> the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it out!) and
> >> >> >> wonder
> >> >> >> if
> >> >> >> the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could be the joint
> >> >> >> at
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to). I know if
> >> >> >> you
> >> >> >> shoot
> >> >> >> grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust boot.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck
> >> >> >> like
> >> >> >> that?
> >> >> >> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good
> >> >> >> leverage.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Eric
> >> >> >> 99 TJ SE

 

The tie rod and drag links will twist to the movement limits of the ball
and socket joints. If the tube twists more, it needs to be tightened.

You need to watch out for up and down movement more than the twist.

Mike

Eric wrote:
>
> Nope.. caster/camber (can't remember which) is good. I'll jack it up and
> check to see if I can get movement.
>
> Are the tierod and drag link supposed to twist? I can grab it and twist it
> (imagine a motorcycle throttle) quite a bit.
>
> Eric
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:42513900.A7684DCF@sympatico.ca...
> > Ok, so if you stand up front and look at the front wheels, do either one
> > of them tilt in or out at the top or bottom?
> >
> > If so, you could have a dead ball joint. You will need to jack the
> > weight off the wheel and pry with a bar to see if you can get any
> > movement in it.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > Eric wrote:
> >>
> >> BTW -- just found a pic of the ujoints. Can't imagine those are making
> >> the
> >> noise...
> >>
> >> Eric
> >> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> >> news:4250A700.D9794112@sympatico.ca...
> >> > Well besides the pump itself there are u-joints at the ends of the
> >> > front
> >> > axles right behind the wheel. To make a noise when not spinning they
> >> > would have to be seriously seized. You can cut the wheels to the side
> >> > and inspect them. If they are flopping or show tons of rust... Well I
> >> > guess you could just get down there and listen while someone else turns
> >> > the wheel...
> >> >
> >> > Mike
> >> >
> >> > Eric wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > You can make a grinding noise with the engine off and stopped and
> >> >> > rocking the steering wheel?
> >> >>
> >> >> YES!! That's the problem!! More obvious when the motor is running,
> >> >> as I
> >> >> can turn the wheel further (33x12.50 MTs don't turn to easily without
> >> >> power
> >> >> assist!)
> >> >>
> >> >> Eric
> >> >>
> >> >> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> >> >> news:424FF944.6CDFC0E7@sympatico.ca...
> >> >> > On the matter of the drag link, it does not come apart. You have to
> >> >> > buy
> >> >> > the whole $120.00 or so part.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > They don't 'grind' when bad, the steering wheel just flops loose
> >> >> > side
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > side.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > You can make a grinding noise with the engine off and stopped and
> >> >> > rocking the steering wheel?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Have you check the power steering fluid?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Mike
> >> >> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >> >> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Eric wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the
> >> >> >> point I
> >> >> >> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other
> >> >> >> end
> >> >> >> could hear the grinding.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag
> >> >> >> link
> >> >> >> was
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of
> >> >> >> mine
> >> >> >> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to
> >> >> >> me,
> >> >> >> I'd
> >> >> >> probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> cake.
> >> >> >> Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> >> >> >> it
> >> >> >> out
> >> >> >> of
> >> >> >> the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod end
> >> >> >> and
> >> >> >> can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the tie
> >> >> >> rod.
> >> >> >> After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> >> >> >> that's
> >> >> >> making
> >> >> >> the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it out!) and
> >> >> >> wonder
> >> >> >> if
> >> >> >> the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could be the joint
> >> >> >> at
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to). I know if
> >> >> >> you
> >> >> >> shoot
> >> >> >> grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust boot.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck
> >> >> >> like
> >> >> >> that?
> >> >> >> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good
> >> >> >> leverage.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Eric
> >> >> >> 99 TJ SE

 

ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
to get off...how do you get it on?!


"Eric" <gymrat@baileyscorner.com> wrote in message
news:1rL3e.17996$ij5.8284@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the point I
> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other end
> could hear the grinding.
>
> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag link was
> the culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of mine
> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to me,
> I'd probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
>
> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece of
> cake. Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> it out of the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod
> end and can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the
> tie rod. After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> that's making the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it
> out!) and wonder if the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could
> be the joint at the top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to).
> I know if you shoot grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust
> boot.
>
> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck like that?
> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good leverage.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>

 

ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
to get off...how do you get it on?!


"Eric" <gymrat@baileyscorner.com> wrote in message
news:1rL3e.17996$ij5.8284@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the point I
> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other end
> could hear the grinding.
>
> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag link was
> the culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of mine
> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to me,
> I'd probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
>
> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece of
> cake. Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> it out of the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod
> end and can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the
> tie rod. After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> that's making the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it
> out!) and wonder if the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could
> be the joint at the top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to).
> I know if you shoot grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust
> boot.
>
> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck like that?
> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good leverage.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>

 

ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
to get off...how do you get it on?!


"Eric" <gymrat@baileyscorner.com> wrote in message
news:1rL3e.17996$ij5.8284@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the point I
> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other end
> could hear the grinding.
>
> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag link was
> the culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of mine
> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to me,
> I'd probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
>
> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece of
> cake. Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> it out of the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod
> end and can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the
> tie rod. After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> that's making the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it
> out!) and wonder if the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could
> be the joint at the top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to).
> I know if you shoot grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust
> boot.
>
> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck like that?
> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good leverage.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>

 

ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
to get off...how do you get it on?!


"Eric" <gymrat@baileyscorner.com> wrote in message
news:1rL3e.17996$ij5.8284@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> My TJ's been making a lot of noises when steering lately. To the point I
> could hold my cell phone out the window and the person on the other end
> could hear the grinding.
>
> After much checking, it seemed that the tie rod end at the drag link was
> the culprit. To be honest, I can't seem to finger it, but a buddy of mine
> crawled under there and swore that was the one. If it were left to me,
> I'd probably have to replace all of the ones on the passenger side.
>
> Anyhow, getting it out of the drag link just took a minute. Piece of
> cake. Loosened the retainer. Again, easy stuff. The problem is getting
> it out of the tie rod. I've got a pretty long pipe-wrench on the tie rod
> end and can't get it to come loose. Seems like the end is stuck in the
> tie rod. After playing around with the end itself, I just can't see how
> that's making the noise, though. I put it back (since I can't get it
> out!) and wonder if the noise isn't another ball joint. I think it could
> be the joint at the top of the knuckle (the part the caliper attaches to).
> I know if you shoot grease into that zerk it comes right out of the dust
> boot.
>
> Any thoughts? How do you get a tie rod end out when it's stuck like that?
> Honestly, this could be a lack-of-muscle issue, but I had good leverage.
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>

 

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/front...nt-track08.jpg
http://www.darksiderz.co.uk/technica...010037_JPG.jpg
http://www.----------.com/pitmanTool.jpg
http://members.***.net/rough-riders/...ucklebench.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Steve wrote:
>
> ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
> off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
> to get off...how do you get it on?!

 

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/front...nt-track08.jpg
http://www.darksiderz.co.uk/technica...010037_JPG.jpg
http://www.----------.com/pitmanTool.jpg
http://members.***.net/rough-riders/...ucklebench.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Steve wrote:
>
> ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
> off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
> to get off...how do you get it on?!

 

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/front...nt-track08.jpg
http://www.darksiderz.co.uk/technica...010037_JPG.jpg
http://www.----------.com/pitmanTool.jpg
http://members.***.net/rough-riders/...ucklebench.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Steve wrote:
>
> ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
> off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
> to get off...how do you get it on?!

 

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/front...nt-track08.jpg
http://www.darksiderz.co.uk/technica...010037_JPG.jpg
http://www.----------.com/pitmanTool.jpg
http://members.***.net/rough-riders/...ucklebench.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:--------------------

Steve wrote:
>
> ok...you guys are talking about using some good force to get these things
> off...I'll admit I didn't research it...but bear with me! If it's so hard
> to get off...how do you get it on?!