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1997 Wrangler Tire rod end question

920 views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  nelor 
#1 ·
Hello,

This is my first post. I have a 1997 Jeep wrangler SE 4 cylinder.

I have to replace my tire rod ends as they are worn out with over 145,000 miles on them.

I'm looking online for the replacement parts, yet none of the parts I see online seem to look like the tire rod ends I see on my jeep.


My tire rod end on the front passenger side looks more like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Ridge...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XAX3RTSF290CSH03YRFZ

and on the front driver side looks like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Moog-ES3094L...8&sr=8-2&keywords=jeep+wrangler+tire+rod+ends

and though everywhere I see online, it shows most 1997 TJ's have this type of setup: https://www.amazon.com/Moog-DS1430-...8&sr=8-4&keywords=jeep+wrangler+tire+rod+ends
But my jeep has nothing that looks like the Moog DS1430.

I'd include pictures but I don't know how to upload it.

Any help is appreciated!
 
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#2 ·
We need to see pictures to help you out. If you click post reply it will open a new window. Then you will see a little paperclip in the little toolbar above the text box. Click that and attach your photos. You must have some kind of aftermarket setup.
 
#11 ·
Looks like someone may have done the ZJ conversion to it. Look that up and then look up MooG parts for it. Your system looks similar to mine minus the dual locking nuts and I did the upgrade. It just adds larger joints and is stated to cure death wobble I did it on mine because like you mine was warn out. I think the total cost was around $250 to replace everything including steering damper.

Look here:

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f210/zj-steering-upgrade-moog-part-numbers-1596625.html
 
#12 ·
That's not the Rugged Ridge steering you have on there. Look at the passenger outer tie rod. The Rugged Ridge steering has the drag link mounted on top of the tie rod, where as the one you have mounts on the front. Looks more like the ZJ conversion.
 
#17 ·
Problem solved

Just in case anybody was curious, or maybe I can help some unfortunate person who also has this problem.

The kit I had was this

https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Ridge...10&sr=8-11&keywords=rugged+ridge+steering+kit

In my opinion, it's just bad. I heard that it's only "good" if you have a huge lift. My jeep had no lift anyway.

Also, if you have this kit, the cost to replace the tire rods are very expensive roughly 50 - 60 per tire rod. Also, Rugged Ridge Customer support is less than polite and helpful.

I instead did a ZJ conversion with the Crown Automotive Conversation Kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Crown-Automo...rds=crown+automotive+hd+kit+jeep+wrangler#Ask

I'm very happy with the result. Everything looks nice, and if I need to replace any parts, it's considerably cheaper.
 
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