Time to Replace Steering Parts

[NMPirate]

Well after 82k miles on the Jeep, it's time to replace the ball joints. I'm thinking of replacing the tie-rod and drag link at the same time. Might as well get the steering built as strong as the lift. I have a Teraflex 3" lift and was looking at the Teraflex parts and ball joints. Also looked at Steer Smarts. Anybody have any input, good or bad, about these 2 companies? Or even suggestions for others?

I know, this is the JL forum and I'm putting it all on a JK, but I like you guys better!

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[Fonzilla85]

Synergy is a good option. I picked up their knuckles and ball joints so I’m happy with the setup.

 

[Pape]

Well after 82k miles on the Jeep, it's time to replace the ball joints. I'm thinking of replacing the tie-rod and drag link at the same time. Might as well get the steering built as strong as the lift. I have a Teraflex 3" lift and was looking at the Teraflex parts and ball joints. Also looked at Steer Smarts. Anybody have any input, good or bad, about these 2 companies? Or even suggestions for others?

I know, this is the JL forum and I'm putting it all on a JK, but I like you guys better!

Hey a good bunch of us also owned JK :P
Personally on the JK I ran the cheap ball joint. On the JL I will probably go with the Synergy one as aluminum is not super good with multiple replacement.

The best steering mod I did on the JK was a good track bar and track bar reinforcement bracket, I actually got the steersmart frame side on order as I find the JL not great at soaking bump.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

For ball joint opinions, check out: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/heavy-duty-ball-joints.111661/

For the tie rod and drag link, we have the HD TeraFlex on our JK. They are nice because the joints are adjustable:

 

[Deke]

I put Teraflex ball joints on my JL back in Dec. I haven't had any problems with them and I like that they are easy to grease and can be adjusted for wear.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Well after 82k miles on the Jeep, it's time to replace the ball joints. I'm thinking of replacing the tie-rod and drag link at the same time. Might as well get the steering built as strong as the lift. I have a Teraflex 3" lift and was looking at the Teraflex parts and ball joints. Also looked at Steer Smarts. Anybody have any input, good or bad, about these 2 companies? Or even suggestions for others?

I know, this is the JL forum and I'm putting it all on a JK, but I like you guys better!

I would not buy Steersmarts tierod, draglink and trackbar again.

Correction
Steersmarts appears to have changed back to a conventional design of their tierod and draglink rod ends. They should be fine.
The tierod and draglink ends have a flanged tapered bronze bushing that cinching the nut down is supposed to crush the bushing onto the straight, smooth shank of their proprietary, unusual designed, rod end. It works great for a the first use torquing. But with subsequent torquing's the taper bushing exerts less and less clamping force. Eventually, you will have to torque to higher and higher tightness to achieve the necessary retention from loosening the torque while driving/steering. One person overstressed the stud and it failed immediately after they had gone 100mph in the 392 JL, as it pulled into a driveway.

A typical rod end for a draglink or tierod has a tapered shank on the steel stud which fits the taper of the knuckles. It has a long history of staying tight in the taper of the knuckles. I have Metalcloak 4130 tierod and draglink and I'm happy with them after 2 years of street and hard rockcrawling.

The Steersmarts trackbar is a very heavy duty part. It also incorporates a turnbuckle in the middle with large through-bolt clamps to keep it tight. There is always some kind of issue with clearance with these clamps as this is a very tight area between the axle tube, draglink and tierod all in close proximity. It's just too large. I replaced mine yesterday with a Metalcloak.

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