Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

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Scotty54
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Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by Scotty54 »

Having trouble finding all the parts I need. Looking at BJ's, TGW, and Rock Auto. There is some difference in terminology and that may be part of the problem. 77 Cherokee S, 100k miles.

I want to replace both tie rod ends, and TGW has the complete end to end assy.
https://teamgrandwagoneer.com/tie-rod-a ... 1974-1991/

BJ's has the short end, and the short piece that connects to the pitman arm (what the TSM calls the "end assembly.").

None of the three show a replacement drag link, or what the TSM calls a "connecting rod." But that has a joint that should also be replaced, correct?
20230310_120229.jpg
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Last edited by Scotty54 on Fri Apr 07, 2023 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
1977 Cherokee Chief 401 QT
Northeast Tennessee
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tgreese
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by tgreese »

First thing I would do is look up the Jeep Corp part numbers and see if these parts are available through regular retail channels. The '74-80 factory parts book is available on CD-ROM for under $25 from RockAuto and others.

Jeep 8123316 for the connecting rod. Looks like Crown made it for a while, now discontinued. RockAuto shows it from two suppliers, out of stock. You might enlist your local friendly auto parts store and see if they can find one as one of those part numbers.

Ah, the joys of owning an old car! :)
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
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mattv
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by mattv »

I’ve been looking also (wide track)
Found drag link with adjuster and both tres at “Jeep hut”
23 3/8”
Haven’t measured mine yet
And never heard of jeep hut but I’ll probably order it

mattv
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by mattv »

I’ve seen a post by ‘rocklaurence” about his fabrication of tie rods with a removable tre on both ends for wide tracks
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Scotty54
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by Scotty54 »

Tim - thanks for the parts book reminder. I have seen you post that before and I just ordered it. Local shops don't seem very interested in hard to find parts but I will give it a shot. I always do before buying online.

Mattv - I checked Jeephut but couldn't find it. Do you have a link or part number? Mine is a narrow track but still want to see what they offer.
1977 Cherokee Chief 401 QT
Northeast Tennessee
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tgreese
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by tgreese »

Narrow track should be easier. 8123315, same as a Wagoneer.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=8123315
Compare length, given in Delphi part info.

You might be able to make a longer "turnbuckle" for the WT app and use the Wagoneer parts. Expensive part is the taps (LH and RH) to make the thread. Local 4x4 shop?

Not to take anything away from our specialty retailers, but much of their merchandise is aggregated from regular retail channels. You can often find a specific item if you have the Jeep factory PN. Ie, the Wagoneer long tie rod that TGW is selling, Jeep 8124816:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=8124816
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.

mattv
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by mattv »

My J 20 is 29” from zerk to zerk
So jeephut must be narrow track at 23 3/8”
Listed MPN J5352163
Hope that helps

rocklaurence
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by rocklaurence »

Yes, I have One Ton replacement kits for WT and NT. Plus, I have a One Ton drag link for each. True, the initial purchase of my kit is more expensive but after that all the TRE's are the same and only cost <$50 ea.
https://rocklaurencevintageautoparts.co ... t-cherokee
https://rocklaurencevintageautoparts.co ... 20cherokee
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Scotty54
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by Scotty54 »

Rocklaurence - your front end assy is awesome but I am afraid it's also a little rich for my wallet. I sure appreciate the effort to make heavy duty parts for our FSJ's.

Mattv - the J5352163 is NOT available at the Jeep Hut. They are out of stock and have no date for availability. However, Summit Racing has it, same PN and same manufacturer - Crown. They say the part is 26" in length (not 23) which matches my NT Cherokee. Summit does not have any in stock but says they will in a week. We'll see! My local parts store actually found it on Summit's website.
1977 Cherokee Chief 401 QT
Northeast Tennessee

Mopar_guy
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by Mopar_guy »

Be careful of Summit. They do that all the time. They're just drop shipping it from someplace else so if it's available, you should be able to find one. Call Summit to verify that they can get it before ordering it. It's happened to me and a number of friends before. I rarely ever buy from them after getting burned by that.

From the quick search I did, nobody has them in stock and some places list it shipping from the manufacturer at the end of the month. Meaning that's when the boat from China shows up unfortunately....
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akguy09
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by akguy09 »

Rocklaurence any mods needed to run your 1 ton stuff?
1979 Jeep J-10 304/T-18
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letank
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by letank »

Always some good resources on this forum!

I had to replace my tie rod when the thread shredded*.... in 2002, not too sure how I got the address, I ordered one from drivetrain specialists in Las Vegas (business no longer at the same address), same part reference 5352665, for $88

* took a right turn a bit on the speedy side, on a city street, heard a sound and the steering was a bit unprecise... one wheel pointing in a different aim than the other... I managed to move to a safe parking spot... rethread the slip joint to return home after a trip to a drugstore to get some visegrips!
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)

rocklaurence
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by rocklaurence »

akguy09 wrote: Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:03 am Rocklaurence any mods needed to run your 1 ton stuff?
Nope, its been confirmed to fit OEM and lifted FSJs. However, if your running a 5-6" lift you'll need the offset TRE at the pitman arm. No added expense just let me know when you order.
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Scotty54
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance

Post by Scotty54 »

Mopar Guy - I was suspect about Summit as you were, and they just rescheduled the ship date to May. I checked Crown's web site and they have several SJ steering parts listed but not the drag link. I also found one at another Jeep parts site that said "in stock" but it wasn't. For now I will give Summit some time, looks like no other choice other than the Rock Laurence setup.
1977 Cherokee Chief 401 QT
Northeast Tennessee
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Scotty54
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by Scotty54 »

Much to my surprise, today I received a new Crown drag link (connecting rod) from Summit Racing. If you have been waiting for them to get back in stock, I would grab one now. Not sure if other vendors are getting them as well. My initial ship date was March 23, then changed to May 15. Then out of the blue one shows up on my doorstep.
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1978J10REDWHITE
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by 1978J10REDWHITE »

Yes, "Crown" means made in chinna, and the switch out is a bit unknown why so, As I seen the trucking industry is so under maned labor to drive and get stuff .
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tgreese
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by tgreese »

Crown is a distributing company that is located in the United States. They focus on specific (underserved?) markets - ie our Jeeps - and commission these parts. I presume they purchase from manufacturers wherever they can get the best price, import them if made overseas, then distribute the parts under their brand. They have a warehouse within a half-hour's drive from me in Massachusetts. If you live in Massachusetts, they can sell to you directly. Otherwise, by agreement with their retailers, you can only buy their parts through the retailers. Quadratec is the largest retailer of Crown stuff nationally.

If you have questions about specific Crown parts, you can call the warehouse and (usually) talk to a rep. If you have an issue with a specific part, that's a channel you could direct your criticism to. IME they are responsive to such input.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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why_rick
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by why_rick »

Ran across a video on this topic today and the builder got some parts from rareparts.com
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77 Cherokee Chief Wide Track Levi Edition, stock 360 (for now)
65 Chevy C10, 350, 700R4
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Greg72
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by Greg72 »

why_rick wrote: Tue Apr 11, 2023 7:02 pm Ran across a video on this topic today and the builder got some parts from rareparts.com
Link to video?

About to start a complete front end refresh (tie rod ends, draglink ends, balljoints) and would prefer to use high-quality OEM parts vs. cheap Chinese knockoffs. Any tips to find nice Dana/Spicer type stuff would be awesome.

:-bd

-G
1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer - !! NEW !!
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tgreese
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Re: Front End Rebuild Assistance - UPDATE!

Post by tgreese »

Suggest you read the factory parts book and search by Jeep part number. Parts support is limited for these vehicles.
Tim Reese
Maine beekeeper's truck: '77 J10 LWB, 258/T15/D20/3.54 bone stock, low options (delete radio), PS/PDB, hubcaps.
Browless and proud: '82 J20 360/T18/NP208/3.73, Destination A/Ts, 7600 GVWR
Copper Polly: '75 CJ-6, 304/T15, PS, BFG KM2s, soft top
GTI without the badges: '95 VW Golf Sport 2000cc 2D
Dual Everything: '15 Chryco Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, ECO Green
Blockchain the vote.
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