Front end inspection found some looseness

[Valpo Jeep]

Decided to do a front end inspection while doing my oil change today and found some looseness. Drag link the ball joints at both end had roughly 1/8 inch up and down movement, maybe a touch more. Tie rod ends seem to have some up and down play as well. Ball joints and track bar were solid with no movement issues.

My question is how much is considered normal or is ANY up and down bad and needs replaced?

Jeep is stock and will remain stock. Its duty is daily driver and getting towed by the motorhome so no need to upgrade to heavier components.

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[Valpo Jeep]

Moving forward with replacing the drag link and tie rod. Stock Jeep at stock height so not upgrading any components. Just replacing.

Since the control arms are stock I don't think there is any adjustment with alignment there correct?

Just have to worry about the steering wheel being centered and toe-in correct?

Has anyone tried the toe-in brackets and not taken it to a shop for an alignment?

Seen bars that you bolt to the spindles and then measure front and back to set the toe-in. Amazon has them for as little as $20

https://www.vevor.com/toe-plate-c_1...ilBfNsu0FN06DKcqHIrHTPupmDCXTLoxoCoXYQAvD_BwE

 

[Pape]

What you mean by up and down play ?
is it straight up and down or a pivot kind on up and down while twisting ?
Rule of thumb when you play with steering or suspension, alignment is a good thing. At minimum do one yourself.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

What you mean by up and down play ?
is it straight up and down or a pivot kind on up and down while twisting ?
Rule of thumb when you play with steering or suspension, alignment is a good thing. At minimum do one yourself.

Straight up and down movement like the ball is loose in the socket.

 

[Pape]

Indeed if they go straight up not good. Did you feel any looseness in the steering ?

 

[jeepingib]

Rotation of the bar in the joint is okay, any other movement is bad. So when you say up and down, if the end of the bar is moving up and down which should result in a thud or a click, that's bad. But if you were saying that the bar rotates "up and down" that doesn't necessarily constitute a problem.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

I would suggest checking the torque of the nuts too. Some early JL's didn't have the proper torque on the ball joints. I don't recall this also applying to the drag link and tie rods, but it can't hurt.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Moving forward with replacing the drag link and tie rod. Stock Jeep at stock height so not upgrading any components. Just replacing.

Since the control arms are stock I don't think there is any adjustment with alignment there correct?

Just have to worry about the steering wheel being centered and toe-in correct?

Has anyone tried the toe-in brackets and not taken it to a shop for an alignment?

Seen bars that you bolt to the spindles and then measure front and back to set the toe-in. Amazon has them for as little as $20

I've also tried something like these but I made them out of angle iron. Some people love them. But in my experience, it got close but not close enough. If you do end up replacing the drag link and tie rod, I would just get an alignment done professionally if you can afford it.

 

[Zandcwhite]

I've also tried something like these but I made them out of angle iron. Some people love them. But in my experience, it got close but not close enough. If you do end up replacing the drag link and tie rod, I would just get an alignment done professionally if you can afford it.

What do you mean by not close enough? I've never found the toe-in to be that critical. Close enough is good enough generally. At least that's been my experience. I'm assuming you got an alignment after your DIY attempt? How off was it?

 

[yokramer]

What do you mean by not close enough? I've never found the toe-in to be that critical. Close enough is good enough generally. At least that's been my experience. I'm assuming you got an alignment after your DIY attempt? How off was it?

Yea an 1/8" by eye on a tape measure is going to be plenty close enough on an ancient technology front axle steering any day of the week.

 

[Valpo Jeep]

Indeed if they go straight up not good. Did you feel any looseness in the steering ?

Yeah, its a touch squirrely at times.


Been gathering torque specs for this. Please correct anything I have wrong.

Drag Link
Pitman arm nut 77 ft-#
Knuckle end 47 ft-#
Clamp 34 ft-#

Tie Rod
Knuckles 47 ft-#
Clamp 34 ft-#

Toe in set to 1/16" to 1/8"

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