'88 Jeep Comanchee - Replacing tie rod vs connector rod

Mar 09, 2005 4 Replies
C

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


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M

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

Cl>

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C

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

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M

It is worth looking at for sure. You are right, it really is no fun when one wheel wants to go it's own way all by itself....

Tie rod ends for the steering usually fail in an up down kinda way, the twisting is ok but the track bar is the likely cause in my mind.

Mike

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

Cl>

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