Bent tie rod. Maybe bent drag link
06-02-2014, 02:32 AM
#1
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
So I bent my tie rod at Rausch creek this past weekend. And my drag link may be bent too but it's hard to tell. It certainly looks like it has curvature now as well. Likely going to buy the synergy tie rod. I can't decide whether it's worth it to get the drag link from them too. I'm on a 2.5 budget boost and 33's. The drag link works non-flipped with wheel spacers. Thing is, it drives perfectly still. And my steering wheel is fairly straight, at one o'clock or so. Thoughts?
Last edited by AirJordan613; 06-02-2014 at 06:20 AM.
06-02-2014, 03:09 AM
#2
JK Junkie
You can't go wrong with Synergy. However, if your tires are tracking straight (not toed in or out) and your not getting any shaking or wobble I would keep running what you have for the time being.
06-02-2014, 06:18 AM
#3
JK Super Freak
So I bent my tie rod at Rausch creek this past weekend. And my drag link too may be bent but it's hard to tell. It certainly looks like it has curvature now as well. Likely going to buy the synergy tie rod. I can't decide whether it's worth it to get the drag link from them too. I'm on a 2.5 budget boost and 33's. The drag link works non-flipped with wheel spacers. Thing is, it drives perfectly still. And my steering wheel is fairly straight, at one o'clock or so. Thoughts?
06-02-2014, 07:58 AM
#4
JK Jedi Master
Unless it's bent really bad, or it's contacting other parts during use, you can just adjust the tie rod and the drag link to take out any alignment problem. 1/16-1/8" toe in on the tires, and center the steering wheel. Fifteen minute task easily accomplished even on the trail (as we did at 4:04 in this video).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLkNU8d8w-c Do be aware that once bent, it's easily bent again, so while you can certainly drive with it for a while, it's a good idea to get it replaced before too long and you end up with it really mangled up (say, catch a tire in a rock crack while wrenching the steering wheel). It's also a good idea to make certain you know the various facets of the ESP disable button--if it bends enough, you may find that your Jeep has the nasty habit of removing the gas and applying the brakes on one side every time you try to accelerate on the Interstate with your steering wheel ****ed 90 degrees off (as happened to us a few years back).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLkNU8d8w-c Do be aware that once bent, it's easily bent again, so while you can certainly drive with it for a while, it's a good idea to get it replaced before too long and you end up with it really mangled up (say, catch a tire in a rock crack while wrenching the steering wheel). It's also a good idea to make certain you know the various facets of the ESP disable button--if it bends enough, you may find that your Jeep has the nasty habit of removing the gas and applying the brakes on one side every time you try to accelerate on the Interstate with your steering wheel ****ed 90 degrees off (as happened to us a few years back).
06-02-2014, 08:06 AM
#6
JK Super Freak
Thread Starter
Unless it's bent really bad, or it's contacting other parts during use, you can just adjust the tie rod and the drag link to take out any alignment problem. 1/16-1/8" toe in on the tires, and center the steering wheel. Fifteen minute task easily accomplished even on the trail (as we did at 4:04 in this video). YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLkNU8d8w-c Do be aware that once bent, it's easily bent again, so while you can certainly drive with it for a while, it's a good idea to get it replaced before too long and you end up with it really mangled up (say, catch a tire in a rock crack while wrenching the steering wheel). It's also a good idea to make certain you know the various facets of the ESP disable button--if it bends enough, you may find that your Jeep has the nasty habit of removing the gas and applying the brakes on one side every time you try to accelerate on the Interstate with your steering wheel ****ed 90 degrees off (as happened to us a few years back).