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[Dave69]

Spent a few months looking into what would be an improvement on the original equipment track rod ends and the inherent weakness with them, since they are made to a budget to keep base costs down. Ive looked into using rose joints (heim joints) but these are still costly for good quality. Even these will wear quicker that o.e. since they are designed to take load in one axis. Jimmy joints are smaller jonny joints but are costly $75+,but these are rebuildable but shipping spares from the states is not cost efficient when shipping is added, also they do work loose which is something you don't want. upgrading to larger o.e. style track rod ends is the better option as the applied load is distributed more evenly. As for what is best the gm tres which are 3/4 or 1 ton rated depending on who you talk to. As for a write up pirate 4x4 comes up tops with a report on someones same investigation into this. This person did it the hard way and bought the stuff for trial. The good thing is they have listed part numbers

Link below

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Steering/Steering_Index/SteeringIndex.htm

[JamesH]

Toyota and WJ metric ones have been used too.

[XJ Fan]

Thanks for sharing the information.

[xr6jeeper]

ive got a big beefy daihatsu fieldman track bar and ends, they make the cj tres look like toys, havent got round to fitting it yet because i need to find the right taper tool for the tre holes, shouldnt be too difficult i just havent had the time

[Dave The Sparky]

Put rose joints on my 6 ages ago now as i didn't like the standard flexible steering tie rod and the hammer it gets with big tyres,ruts and power steering.
I bought the decent lined type and they have given me no bother as yet are cheaper and far,far easier to swap for a new one should they let go.
Once you have drilled the taper out of the arms to take the bolts though, that's it you cant go back....

[Dave69]

any pictures Dave?

[JamesH]

Technically you could go back by welding in taper inserts like the Goferit ones I have on mine but that's just me being a pedant.

[IrishCJ6]

I did a full upgrade on mine a few months back and must say what a difference, I went the whole hog and changed the knuckle for a DJ one which gave me double holes on the LHS. From there I just copied the LHD Jeep setup but did a TRE flip with Goforit inserts and made new linkages with heavy walled CDS tube. I'm sure I did a write up but can send you pics and info if ya want

[Dave The Sparky]

That would be no good with later CJ brakes as the knuckles have the cast bit for the brake calipers to mount to and i presume the DJ knuckles don't have that.

Ill see if i have any pics Dave, if you are going to CF and can wait a month you can see for yourself

[Dave69]

I did a full upgrade on mine a few months back and must say what a difference, I went the whole hog and changed the knuckle for a DJ one which gave me double holes on the LHS. From there I just copied the LHD Jeep setup but did a TRE flip with Goforit inserts and made new linkages with heavy walled CDS tube. I'm sure I did a write up but can send you pics and info if ya want

I am assuming the DJ knuckle is a straight swap. Was toying with replicating the LHD setup mainly because it was simple. But the left hand knuckle would require redrilling if there is enough space.

@Dave i plan to be there next month so will have a look then

[IrishCJ6]

Yep straight swap, but they are only a drum setup, that suited mine as I had a drum to disc conversion on my 6. You then get rid of the doggy TRE on the LHS knuckle and run standard left and right thread rod ends from a RHD jeep.

[Dave69]

damm mines a disc unless the drum can be converted

[Dave The Sparky]

If your calipers bolt on to the hub and not the knuckle (otherwise known as the 6 bolt mount) then you can use Irish CJ6s method. If they are mounted on the two ears cast in to the knuckle then you cant do it without swapping for the earlier brakes as well as knuckles.
Not sure what years did what, so id go have a look Dave you may have the earlier 6 bolt mounts that are similar to the FSJ brakes in which case you will have a number of options.

[j33pky]

12.5" front disks on a 8 lug hub like a j20? That has a beefy steering setup to boot!

[Dave69]

realising the jeep does not have age related parts fitted (not really surprising). Brake calipers are the the drop in type with the anti rattle shim and one fixture bolt. so a hub change might be in order.

i thought the bolt on calipers were the later design (80's yr) which use the same caliper as the cherokee?.

[j33pky]

Xj?  Then assume 84

[Dave69]

back to square one on the thought process

[Dave The Sparky]

Xj style came in with the wide track CJ axle so 82ish.

[Dave69]

yup, got a narrow track axle, and two new unused Cherokee callipers.