Wandering

[B192734]

So it's been a while that my 2000 XJ has been somewhat wandersome. Just feels like the tire want to grab and turn when hitting bumps. I replaced to steering damper about a year ago, so that shouldn't be bad yet. I was told by numerous people that it would probably be the trac bar, steering box, or pittman arm. So I was under the jeep this afternoon changing the oil, and took a quick look. There was no play that I could find in the pittman arm, or the trac bar. The steering box though I wasn't sure. I could grab hold of the column and if I twisted, I could feel a little play in it. almost like it was bumping back and forth slightly. Could this be the problem, or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

[MudderChuck]

I usually jack mine up put the front on jack stands. Clamp a block of wood to the pitman arm and the drag link (or whatever is handy) to make the pitman imoble. Twist the steering wheel, check for column and steering box play.
Grab a tire at 9 and 3 O'clock and twist it back and forth (better to have a fiend do this) and check every joint for play. Grab the tire at 12 and 6 O'clock and twist to check for hub play. Put a three foot piece of 2X4 under the tire and lift to check for ball joint play. Measure the front inside rim edge to inside rim edge front and rear as close to the horizontal center line of the rim as you can get to check for toe. Sounds primitive, but will tell you if you are very far out. GoJeep. com has a good writeup on this.
Take the block and clamp off put it on the ground and have a friend push the fender to the side (rock the XJ side to side) look at both the upper and lower trac bar joints, mounts and bolts.
Check the steering box for shift, you can often see rub marks if the bolts are loose, check the frame for cracks around the steering box.
Lock the brakes and have somebody push on the rear bumper with there foot, get it to rock some (a three person job). Look closely at the upper and lower control arm bushings for play.
Go around to the back and do the same for the front spring bushings and shackles.
I do this every spring when I rotate my tires and grease. I always find something.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

How much lift do you have?

Sounds like either an alignment problem, or bumpsteer induced by poor steering/trackbar geometry.

 

[B192734]

I noticed it after not really having driven it for a while. I have 2" lift on it. I was going to have the alignment done soon here, but my concern with it was that it sounds like there's a clunk sound everytime I hit a bump, small or large. I'm thinking right now about starting to pull things apart to replace ball joints and trac bar and all that good stuff. Not that I know what I'm looking for since it's as of yet undiagnosed. Do you think that having bad alignment could cause odd noises to occur?

 

[B192734]

And along with that, I've never taken any of those things apart before. I've done some reading about how to do them, but does anyone have any tips on that subject?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

If you're going to throw parts at it, start with a new track bar and then test drive it.

Did you have an alignment after the lift install? I'd recommend running the caster all the way out if it hasn't been aligned, and setting the toe-in.

 

[B192734]

Ok, so I'm looking at ordering one oof the trac bars from Rusty's, and there's the kit that comes with a frame stiffener. Is that worthwhile or no? Also, beyond that, having an issue with these being out of adjustment, could that cause the clunking noise that I've been hearing?

 

[TwistedCU]

Ok, so I'm looking at ordering one oof the trac bars from Rusty's, and there's the kit that comes with a frame stiffener. Is that worthwhile or no? Also, beyond that, having an issue with these being out of adjustment, could that cause the clunking noise that I've been hearing?

If you plan on doing trails then I would say it is a wise investment (the reinforced mount).

Your stock trackbar has no adjustment. The clunking is likely the trackbar, but more because the joint is worn and now at a new angle after sitting in the stock position for all those years. The replacement should cure that and your new adjustable trackbar will allow you to re-center the front axle under the Jeep.

Don't forget the alignment, I'd bet $$$ that the reason you have bumpsteer is because you haven't done it yet after lifting the XJ. Might as well do it the same day you install the trackbar.

 

[B192734]

Is the Stiffener something that I am going to need to drill for or is that something that is just an easy bolt on to a part that already exists?

 

[TwistedCU]

Is the Stiffener something that I am going to need to drill for or is that something that is just an easy bolt on to a part that already exists?

I misunderstood you. I thought you were referring to Rusty's heavy duty frame mount for their trackbar. Personally I'd pass on the stiffener, but the heavy duty mount for their trackbar is worth the $$$

 

[B192734]

I'm looking at ordering it relatively soon, but do I need to get the new bushings along with it, or do the kits come with them, or is it something that you really don't need? Or are they something tat should be canged each time you have the chance?

 

[B192734]

Figured it out! Finally! So I took it in and we had the whole thing torn apart. Got my alignment done, and it turns out that part of the problem was that I was REALLY toed-in. Got that taken care of. The whole clunking and bouncing thing was because my sway arm mounts were totally worn through. Every little bump it hit, they would slap against the frame. Put some new ones on, everything back together, and it's running like a beast again. Took it out over last weekend to a place called Lost Lake up in the Cascade range and tore around for a couple hours. Put it through a couple pretty nicely rutted trails, and she took it all in stride. I am stoked, because now I'm not really worried anymore that my front end is gonna fall off on the trail I hit.

FINALLY!!!