Drag link/steering wheel advice

[MSFTMatt]

I spent the last few days installing Metalcloak Baller Joints, Steer Smarts sector shaft brace, RPM 2.5 ton tie rod/drag link and Falcon steering stabilizer. Overall very happy so far, barely driven it. Took for alignment. How do we like my numbers? Also, steering wheel is still a bit crooked, the drag link cannot adjust any farther towards the pitman arm (guess I didn’t center the drag link very well). Would my fix be to drop one side of drag link, disconnect the rod end from the drag link, thread the bar much farther to passenger side then reattach everything which I think would give me ample threads to play with on each side? Hoping to get advice prior to attempting. Thanks!

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[MSFTMatt]

Maybe a dumb question but I’ve made this mistake years ago building a YJ. Did you mark the position of the pitman arm to the splines on the gearbox when you installed the Yeti? If the reused old (not recommended) or new pitman arm is aligned correctly you should be able to adjust your linkage to get the steering wheel to center. If the pitman is misaligned then its not possible to center the steering wheel. I dont know if the new gearbox has keyed splines.

I have also had a steering assembly that had the knuckle going onto the gearbox from the steering wheel misaligned by a shop. They tried to say it was my lift but after checking everything the knuckle was the only thing left. I’ve also had a gearbox slip internally but that was after a fairly rough rock crawling adventure.

I’m not a mechanic but my understanding is this. All that being equal if you cant adjust the linkage to center the steering wheel its very likely either an incorrect draglink or misalignment from the draglink to the steering wheel with the pitman arm being the usual suspect.

I did not. I used a tie down on the steering wheel to make sure it didn't wander during the install process and prior to finalizing everything I checked to make sure I had equal number of turns to full lock both to the left and right. I feel like if I could rotate my drag link more towards driver I could correct the steering wheel.

 

[kevman65]

You have plenty adjustment available, it's just on the wrong end of the drag link.

Need to loosen both jam nuts, run the passenger side in as you run the driver side out.
When exposed threads are equal on both ends, tighten jam nut on passenger side and adjust driver side until wheel is straight.

 

[MSFTMatt]

You have plenty adjustment available, it's just on the wrong end of the drag link.

Need to loosen both jam nuts, run the passenger side in as you run the driver side out.
When exposed threads are equal on both ends, tighten jam nut on passenger side and adjust driver side until wheel is straight.

So no need to disconnect anything to run it to passenger side? To my non-mechanical mind it seems it would move the steering wheel, or if both jam nuts are loose the link will just travel between the 2 without effecting anything?

 

[kevman65]

So no need to disconnect anything to run it to passenger side? To my non-mechanical mind it seems it would move the steering wheel, or if both jam nuts are loose the link will just travel between the 2 without effecting anything?

With the style you bought, yes you will have to disconnect.

So, do as I described above. Once you have the passenger jam nut tight, tie the steering wheel so it won't spin, take the driver side drag link end loose from Pittman arm, set steering wheel to straight and tie down again, run driver side in/out to match Pittman arm, reinstall to Pittman arm, tighten driver side down (ball joint and jam nut) and untie steering wheel.

With the style of drag link you have, minor adjustments are a pain because you have to drop an end to do it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Why would you disconnect the pitman arm at all? You answered your own question as far as the fix. Drop the axle side and thread in the tie rod end. Optimally your drag link would be centered with equal amount of threads showing at each tie rod, but that's not critical. They should be within a few threads at least.

 

[MSFTMatt]

great, thanks for the help guys. I need to add this to my 'things to do ' list

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