V8 ZJ Tierod Upgrade

mikegronholz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Worth

• Feb 25, 2008

• #1

i have asked a lot of questions and now i'd like to offer up some knowledge i gained i put the ZJ V8 tie rod assembly on this weekend. Bought it all from O'Reilly for $120 with a lifetime guarantee. This thing is HUGE. Bolted right in with no mods. The bar is 1" solid stock !!! The sterring is very different. it is nice. The slop i felt was apparently my tierod flexing (sure enough, the rod was bent when i took it off). These are probably available at the local pick ' pull for about $10 ... if the joints are good, snatch it up. i just can't describe the difference. Well worth the cash.

 

gradon

NAXJA Forum User

Location

DC

• Feb 25, 2008

• #2

That is now somewhere on my to do list(already did the rear disks). Next up is installing the Taurus fan once I buy the relay, thermo, and wiring. I haven't gotten into that WJ knuckle/big brake upgrade yet either.

 

8

89xj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

aston,pa

• Feb 25, 2008

• #3

ive also done the zj tierod swap with 4.5" lift and it made a big difference.

 

C

Caribou Lou

NAXJA Forum User

Location

San Diego

• Feb 25, 2008

• #4

Where did you order it from?

 

5.2poweredxj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Abbotsford, Wi

• Feb 26, 2008

• #5

Got mine from a parts rig that I got the motor from.

 

mikegronholz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Worth

• Feb 26, 2008

• #6

Mine are MOOG from the local O'Reilly's.

 

magimerlin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Flatonia, Tx

• Feb 26, 2008

• #7

mikegronholz said:

Mine are MOOG from the local O'Reilly's.

Click to expand...

Mine are from O'Reillys also. Im kinda bias though as I am management at O'Reillys in Houston(by 45 and 1960 area)
Here are the part # I used for mine. They were all moog parts aswell
1 #DS1312 long tie rod, its solid not hollow
1 #DS1238 drag link
2 #ES3096L short tie rod ends(1 by pitman, 1 by outer driver side)
2 #ES2079S adjustment sleeves

 

Last edited: Feb 26, 2008

X

XJ Bebop

NAXJA Forum User

Location

San Diego

• Feb 26, 2008

• #8

I'm interested in doing this upgrade as well, but was wondering how hard it would be to find a ZJ tierod.
You say you paid $120?
I'm curious how that compares to something like the Currie (rod only-no TRE's) for $85 or the Rusty's HD unit complete for $99?
(these are replacement tie rods only - for the stock setup. Not parts for their steering 'systems')

How hard is it to find the ZJ rods, and what do they normally sell for?

 

oo7ravisXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

San Ramon, Nor-Cal

• Feb 26, 2008

• #9

can you take a picture of the setup for us, is it an inverted y setup or not?

 

magimerlin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Flatonia, Tx

• Feb 26, 2008

• #10

I'll get a pic tomorrow if Mikegronholz doesn't beat me to it. Here are the walk in prices from O'Reillys all moog's
DS1312 $64.99
DS1238 $100.99
ES3096L $35.99 each
ES2079S $20.99 each

total of $279.94 to do it all (1-DS1312, 1-DS1238, 2-ES3096L, 2-ES2079S)
total of $121.97 with out the drag link setup (1-DS1312, 1-ES3096L, 1-ES2079S)
plus tax if applicable

 

B

Blaine B.

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Northwest Indiana

• Feb 26, 2008

• #11

Are ZJ draglinks any different too?

 

IllianaXJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Southwest IN

• Feb 26, 2008

• #12

magimerlin said:

Mine are from O'Reillys also. Im kinda bias though as I am management at O'Reillys in Houston(by 45 and 1960 area)
Here are the part # I used for mine. They were all moog parts aswell
1 #DS1312 long tie rod, its solid not hollow
1 #DS1238 drag link
2 #ES3096L short tie rod ends(1 by pitman, 1 by outer driver side)
2 #ES2079S adjustment sleeves

Click to expand...

These part numbers should be the same at Advance Auto as well, just in a TRW box. Little bias here as well :wave:

 

mikegronholz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Worth

• Feb 26, 2008

• #13

oo7ravisXJ said:

can you take a picture of the setup for us, is it an inverted y setup or not?

Click to expand...

Factory replacement, just bigger ... way bigger ... here are pics ... my hand is there to give reference in bar thickness ...

http://picasaweb.google.com/mikegronholz/XJUnderside/photo#5171288895813902994

http://picasaweb.google.com/mikegronholz/XJUnderside/photo#5171288900108870306

also, as for price, i grabbed one for a buddy at the pick 'n pull yesterday for $12.65 out the door. TREs were ok.

 

Last edited: Feb 26, 2008

Cox89XJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

TN

• Feb 26, 2008

• #14

I have a 89 Limited. What year ZJ will fit?

 

mikegronholz

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Fort Worth

• Feb 26, 2008

• #15

any V8 ZJ

 

magimerlin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Flatonia, Tx

• Feb 26, 2008

• #16

Cox89XJ said:

I have a 89 Limited. What year ZJ will fit?

Click to expand...

Mine is an 89 aswell. So just use the p/n I listed.

 

magimerlin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Flatonia, Tx

• Feb 26, 2008

• #17

Blaine B. said:

Are ZJ draglinks any different too?

Click to expand...

Mine needed replacement at the same time so I got the ZJ one. They (my original and the ZJ) looked the same.

 

8

89xj

NAXJA Forum User

Location

aston,pa

• Feb 26, 2008

• #18

89xj said:

ive also done the zj tierod swap with 4.5" lift and it made a big difference.

Click to expand...

forgot to mention, this was on my 89.

btw, it doesnt matter what year(87-01)xj you have, they all have the same steering components.

 

S

SgtJCJ

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Tacoma, WA

• Feb 26, 2008

• #19

Anybody that's done this have any calipers? What diameter are the ZJ bars?

 

magimerlin

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Flatonia, Tx

• Feb 26, 2008

• #20

SgtJCJ said:

Anybody that's done this have any calipers? What diameter are the ZJ bars?

Click to expand...

The tie rod is 1" thick and is solid not hollow. is is on a 3" lift(not that it will matter what size lift you run) Here are my pics and yes I know I need a new oil pan. I'm replacing it when I do the rear main seal.