Tie Rod & Drag Link

[Roky]

Steersmart. Awesome, no frills and tough.

Had steersmarts drag link and it worked great right up until it didn’t….. 15k and it shit the bed…I know shit wears out, but that was a tad early imo….That didn’t bother me as bad as the replacement part being 200.00, half as much as a whole new bar….. went to aluminum, like it way better, I’m done with SS…. YMMV…..good luck….

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[roaniecowpony]

Had steersmarts drag link and it worked great right up until it didn’t….. 15k and it shit the bed…I know shit wears out, but that was a tad early imo….That didn’t bother me as bad as the replacement part being 200.00, half as much as a whole new bar….. went to aluminum, like it way better, I’m done with SS…. YMMV…..good luck….

I think Steersmarts stuff is ok, except that stupid idea to use straight shank rod ends with tapered bushings to lock into the knuckles. That's where my tierod would loosen. Once those tapered bushings have been compressed to a certain point, they won't hold and the nut backs off when the steering is moved and the rod end rotates. Then the joint is loose and steering is loose. It sucks. I just went to MC chromoly. Happy as a clam with MC tierod and draglink.

 

[Roky]

I think Steersmarts stuff is ok, except that stupid idea to use straight shank rod ends with tapered bushings to lock into the knuckles. That's where my tierod would loosen. Once those tapered bushings have been compressed to a certain point, they won't hold and the nut backs off when the steering is moved and the rod end rotates. Then the joint is loose and steering is loose. It sucks. I just went to MC chromoly. Happy as a clam with MC tierod and draglink.

Yeah, and be sure not to leave that sleeve in the aluminum knuckle if you’re changing knuckles, ask me how I know…

 

[roaniecowpony]

Yeah, and be sure not to leave that sleeve in the aluminum knuckle if you’re changing knuckles, ask me how I know…

$30 ea for a "one time use" part.

 

[Hucke_250]

@longfiredragon I am not sure if you have a lift on your jeep or not but some drag links will require the jeep to be lifted due to clearance issues and can’t be shortened enough for stock length. As for the tie rod, some manufacturers are not comparable with the stock wheels due to how big the joints are.

 

[longfiredragon]

@longfiredragon I am not sure if you have a lift on your jeep or not but some drag links will require the jeep to be lifted due to clearance issues and can’t be shortened enough for stock length. As for the tie rod, some manufacturers are not comparable with the stock wheels due to how big the joints are.

@Hucke_250

Thanks for the info. My lift is right at 2 1/2"s. I have the full Clayton lift up front, and am only lacking the control arms out back. And I am running 285x70x17 cooper STT Pros. Also I have the Fox ATS steering stabilizer.

I do know to get the ones to fit my stock sport, length etc. And my wheels have 4.75 backspace so I should be good there.

Thanks again, now I just need to fit whichever tie rod and drag link into my budget.

 

[Adv_aw8s]

I pulled the trigger last night on the apex chassis aluminum steering kit and their front and rear track bars. Now I'm debating if I should do a steering box brace. Ugh it's never ending!

 

[engineXI]

I have looking over the different options and trying to determine which is the right one for me.
1 thing I came across was on the RPM website. They have an option for Reid Racing Knuckles version.
Does that mean, if I upgrade the knuckles, I would need to change out my TR and DL, like a 2nd time.

Sort of made me think that I should hold off on an upgrade until I'm certain exactly what I want to do.

btw: started a little spreadsheet on it

Brand	link	price	diameter	material	Tie END - R	Tie END - L	drag END - R	drag END - L	notes	clamp?
Rusty's	Rusty's Aluminum HD Steering System - JL Wrangler / JT Gladiator – Rusty's Off-Road Products (rustysoffroad.com)	$971.00	1.825	7075 T6 aluminum	$91.00	$91.00	$91.00	$91.00	1.25" threads	no
TMR	2.5 TON Jeep JK Steering Kit 7075 ALUMINUM - TMR Customs	$999.99	1.75	7075 aluminum					?	no
CAV FAB	2.5 Ton Steering System JL/JT/JLU - BOLT ON | CavFab	750	2	7075 aluminum	100	100	100	100	1.25" threads	no
APEX	https://apexchassis.com/collections...aluminum?your_rig=true&variant=40645407572129	$1,050.00	2	7075 T6 aluminum	120	120	120	120	?	no	<<--$90
RPM	Jeep JL Steering Upgrade - Aluminum Steering Kit (rpmsteering.com)	$1,089.98	2	7075 T6 aluminum					1.25" threads	yes	has a reid knuckle version

 

[dlong1119]

I have looking over the different options and trying to determine which is the right one for me.
1 thing I came across was on the RPM website. They have an option for Reid Racing Knuckles version.
Does that mean, if I upgrade the knuckles, I would need to change out my TR and DL, like a 2nd time.

Sort of made me think that I should hold off on an upgrade until I'm certain exactly what I want to do.

btw: started a little spreadsheet on it

Brand	link	price	diameter	material	Tie END - R	Tie END - L	drag END - R	drag END - L	notes	clamp?
Rusty's	Rusty's Aluminum HD Steering System - JL Wrangler / JT Gladiator – Rusty's Off-Road Products (rustysoffroad.com)	$971.00	1.825	7075 T6 aluminum	$91.00	$91.00	$91.00	$91.00	1.25" threads	no
TMR	2.5 TON Jeep JK Steering Kit 7075 ALUMINUM - TMR Customs	$999.99	1.75	7075 aluminum					?	no
CAV FAB	2.5 Ton Steering System JL/JT/JLU - BOLT ON | CavFab	750	2	7075 aluminum	100	100	100	100	1.25" threads	no
APEX	https://apexchassis.com/collections...aluminum?your_rig=true&variant=40645407572129	$1,050.00	2	7075 T6 aluminum	120	120	120	120	?	no	<<--$90
RPM	Jeep JL Steering Upgrade - Aluminum Steering Kit (rpmsteering.com)	$1,089.98	2	7075 T6 aluminum					1.25" threads	yes	has a reid knuckle version

I'm pretty sure the Reid option you're referring to is only if you're using the flipped, high steer version of their knuckles, but those also require ~4.5" of lift. Reid also makes a standard set of knuckles that should work with any steering kit.

 

[jhern88]

Steersmart. Awesome, no frills and tough.

WITH THE NEW VERSION OF DRAG LINK AND TIEROD WITH NO TAPER SLEEVES, CAUSE IS BUILT IN,
WHAT IS THE NEW STEERSMART VERSION TORQUE SPECS ?
WHTA IS THE TORQUE?
DRAG LINK BOLTS AND CLAMPS BOLTS
TIEROD BOLTS AND CLAMPS BOLTS

 

[GaryToo]

Thinking ahead I went with Currie's Currectlync drag link when I needed just the DL . Later I bought their HighSteer knuckles and the rest of their kit being it could be used with a minimum of 2.5" of lift unlike others and make the geometry much better .

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