Improving the stock steering

[Chippy]

Hi everyone,

I have a 100% stock 2005 with 45k that I have been refreshing before hitting the beach and doing some cruising this winter. I have been looking to improve steering feel. It tends to wander a bit on the highway and just feels sloppy and numb. Is this just normal for these cars?

That being said, I am 100% stock height and stock suspension. All original rubber bits, bushings, ball joints etc.

What would be the easiest way to improve my steering? New ball joints? Currie currectlync? Keep in mind I am stock height for now and most of my driving is on-road. I'm making this thread because most threads I've looked up relating to this are for people with lifts or doing more serious wheeling.

New to this so I'd love some opinions! Thanks!

 

[MikekiM]

There is no reason your jeep should drive & steer like a dream. I have a 2000. Admittedly I have replaced everything up front.. JKS track bar, JKS control arms, all new ball joints, CurrectLync kit, good alignment and proper tire pressure (likely the first place you should check). I keep tires at 26psi and you'll find most folks here are somewhere between 24 & 28. It handles and steers as good as my 2006 Liberty and 2021 Cherokee.

What's the tire pressure? Too high and you're going to be a really rough ride and will be super darty.

Don't buy into that "it's a Jeep.. it should be that way" BS.

 

[bbaldwin237]

While many of those parts may be worn and tired, it could also be related to tire pressure or alignment. For factory 30" tires on a Rocky Mountain Edition, you might try around 28 psi (maybe a little more or less, you'll have to play with it). Lastly, you can buy (or make) some tools to do a driveway alignment on a TJ. There are numerous threads here showing how to do it.

Thread 'How to align your Jeep Wrangler TJ' https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-align-your-jeep-wrangler-tj.85/

But making sure that your toe is properly set will ensure that you aren't chasing the wrong problem. These two are the easiest things to check/fix first.

 

[JMT]

Hi everyone,

I have a 100% stock 2005 with 45k that I have been refreshing before hitting the beach and doing some cruising this winter. I have been looking to improve steering feel. It tends to wander a bit on the highway and just feels sloppy and numb. Is this just normal for these cars?

That being said, I am 100% stock height and stock suspension. All original rubber bits, bushings, ball joints etc.

What would be the easiest way to improve my steering? New ball joints? Currie currectlync? Keep in mind I am stock height for now and most of my driving is on-road. I'm making this thread because most threads I've looked up relating to this are for people with lifts or doing more serious wheeling.

New to this so I'd love some opinions! Thanks!

The parts are 20 years old. That’s the main thing you can correct. As you called it: a refresh.

 

[Chippy]

Thanks everyone. Tire pressure is at 29psi cold in my garage. I’d imagine driving around in the heat it gets to 32ish. Might try dropping it down a bit.

That being said this is my first jeep. I don’t expect it to handle like my mustang but I just feel like mine has a good amount of play in the steering.

I just got these tires on not too long ago with an alignment/balancing

 

[bbaldwin237]

Thanks everyone. Tire pressure is at 29psi cold in my garage. I’d imagine driving around in the heat it gets to 32ish. Might try dropping it down a bit.

That being said this is my first jeep. I don’t expect it to handle like my mustang but I just feel like mine has a good amount of play in the steering.

I just got these tires on not too long ago with an alignment/balancing

Then you've essentially ruled out both of those. Time for the parts cannon! As JMT said, a refresh is likely in order.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Thanks everyone. Tire pressure is at 29psi cold in my garage. I’d imagine driving around in the heat it gets to 32ish. Might try dropping it down a bit.

That being said this is my first jeep. I don’t expect it to handle like my mustang but I just feel like mine has a good amount of play in the steering.

I just got these tires on not too long ago with an alignment/balancing

There should be very close to 0 play in the steering. Search for how to do a dry steer test, and find out what is loose. As has already been said, after 20 years, a full refresh is probably in order. And don't forget about the track bar - which is also part of the steering.

 

[Chippy]

Might be a dumb question, but is it recommended to raise the front axle to change the steering components, or can you do it with the jeep on the ground?

 

[mrblaine]

Might be a dumb question, but is it recommended to raise the front axle to change the steering components, or can you do it with the jeep on the ground?

Yes

 

[joelachr]

There is no reason your jeep should drive & steer like a dream. I have a 2000. Admittedly I have replaced everything up front.. JKS track bar, JKS control arms, all new ball joints, CurrectLync kit, good alignment and proper tire pressure (likely the first place you should check). I keep tires at 26psi and you'll find most folks here are somewhere between 24 & 28. It handles and steers as good as my 2006 Liberty and 2021 Cherokee.

What's the tire pressure? Too high and you're going to be a really rough ride and will be super darty.

Don't buy into that "it's a Jeep.. it should be that way" BS.

Did you mean shouldn't?

 

[cpwolf]

Hi everyone,

I have a 100% stock 2005 with 45k that I have been refreshing before hitting the beach and doing some cruising this winter. I have been looking to improve steering feel. It tends to wander a bit on the highway and just feels sloppy and numb. Is this just normal for these cars?

That being said, I am 100% stock height and stock suspension. All original rubber bits, bushings, ball joints etc.

What would be the easiest way to improve my steering? New ball joints? Currie currectlync? Keep in mind I am stock height for now and most of my driving is on-road. I'm making this thread because most threads I've looked up relating to this are for people with lifts or doing more serious wheeling.

New to this so I'd love some opinions! Thanks!

You've got great information, but I'll add my few suggestions as a summary.
1. no, it shouldn't drive poorly and wander like that (mine is on 35's, 4" suspension lift, wanders zero.
2. Leave it on the ground like Blaine answered
3. You don't need Currectlync , but you "Can" don't "Need" to do the ZJ steering upgrade, look it up in the How To. Just adds a beefier tie rod, not the hollow one the TJ comes with, all the same otherwise to stock. But all new TRE's, at the Pitman as well for drag link.
4. New ball joints if they are 20 years old, I'd test them, but yes probably change them.
5. I'd look at control arms. If they are stock....that rubber is old and can create looseness. Replacement stock arms are not hard to replace.
6. Track bar bushing I'd look at as well.
7. Learn the toe in home alignment.

That's all stock, if you stay stock, there's no need to add other stuff, in my opinion. Just replace that, and I'd look at rear control arms if they are original.

 

[NDSpeed]

Isn’t there a minimum lift requirement to install the currectlync?

 

[bbaldwin237]

Isn’t there a minimum lift requirement to install the currectlync?

No, they say 0-4" but state the need for 2" of additional bump stop no matter what. Pretty sure there are folks running it with less.

 

[jjvw]

No, they say 0-4" but state the need for 2" of additional bump stop no matter what. Pretty sure there are folks running it with less.

I ran it for years with about 1.25" extension.

 

[jjvw]

Isn’t there a minimum lift requirement to install the currectlync?

It is designed for a 4" spring lift in that the tie rod the will be at the center range of motion at a 4" spring lift. Anything more or less then that will have the TREs off center. To the extent that it matters, I have no idea.

 

[cpwolf]

Isn’t there a minimum lift requirement to install the currectlync?

I was going to type that most sites selling it I see, say "For 4" Spring Lift" , not that some don't say 0-4", but i saw multiple say "for" a 4".

Either way, the OP said they are going to drive on the street, in a stock configuration, and some on the beach. They are in Tampa, FL, a lot like driving on the beach in Texas, it's not jumping dunes, ha. I don't think a Currectlync is worth the spend. He can spend $150 or so and have new steering that is tight.

 

[Chippy]

You've got great information, but I'll add my few suggestions as a summary.
1. no, it shouldn't drive poorly and wander like that (mine is on 35's, 4" suspension lift, wanders zero.
2. Leave it on the ground like Blaine answered
3. You don't need Currectlync , but you "Can" don't "Need" to do the ZJ steering upgrade, look it up in the How To. Just adds a beefier tie rod, not the hollow one the TJ comes with, all the same otherwise to stock. But all new TRE's, at the Pitman as well for drag link.
4. New ball joints if they are 20 years old, I'd test them, but yes probably change them.
5. I'd look at control arms. If they are stock....that rubber is old and can create looseness. Replacement stock arms are not hard to replace.
6. Track bar bushing I'd look at as well.
7. Learn the toe in home alignment.

That's all stock, if you stay stock, there's no need to add other stuff, in my opinion. Just replace that, and I'd look at rear control arms if they are original.

Good info. What about the front swaybar? Worth upgrading or throwing new bushings on?

 

[cpwolf]

Good info. What about the front swaybar? Worth upgrading or throwing new bushings on?

If you're doing this, and it's original, I would say yes.

Personally, I don't think it's the reason you have any wandering.

I would add, someone mentioned a dry steering test. I would do that now, it's super easy, just to see what you see. In the short term, you may be able to tighten something that helps.
Just have someone start it, and turn the wheel back and forth aggressively. Look at all the connections we're discussing, TRE's at the knuckle and Pitman, then both ends of the track bar would be main points that this exposes to me.

We should ask, have you posted any pictures of all of this? Guys here can pick out things I have to double take and go "Oh dam, yeah"

 

[DuckNut]

Run through the checklist above. Then I will add to check your wheels to ensure they are seated evenly and properly.

 

[mrblaine]

2. Leave it on the ground like Blaine answered

Are you sure that is what I said?