I'm getting ready to set up my high-steer on my dana 44 on my cj7. How close can I mount the tie rod to the ball joints on the knuckles. If I run two seperate steering links each having their own hole on the steering arm my tie rod will be 5 1/4" from the center of the ball joint. Is that too close?

Hodie

the tie rod distances relation to the ball joint doesnt matter, its the drag links distance that will determine the steering ratio. so as long as your pitman arm and draglink mount distances are correct the steering should be fine as i see it. i hope that made sence, kinda hard to explain. of course as long as at full lock your tire rod doesnt swing into anything, though i doubt you have much in the way, but mabie a hydro ram ect.. 5 1/4 seems fine.

Thanks, would that set up work with just the stock steering box?

What does the stock steering box have to do with anything?

As was said, the length of the pitman arm is relative to the distance from the balljoint to the attachment point of the draglink.

Several different pitman arms will attach to the stock steering box.

I was wondering if the stock power steering box would be able to push well enough with the tie rod so far back. I wanted to make sure that there was enough leverage with this set up and that it wouldn't be harder to steer.

Hodie

my tie rod sits about 2" behind my drag link and it works fine

your tie rod is more or less "just along for the ride" your drag link will determine all the leveage issues and turning ratio.

Ok cool, thanks guys. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of a cross over steering set up vs. an inverted T-link set up?

Have you checked out BV's Steering tech article yet?

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

Yes, I've seen that article. Very helpful.

Ok cool, thanks guys. Are there any advantages/disadvantages of a cross over steering set up vs. an inverted T-link set up?

longer draglink = less bumpsteer

your tie rod is more or less "just along for the ride" your drag link will determine all the leveage issues and turning ratio.

Not really. The distance from the ball joint to where the drag link hooks on provides the leverage on only the wheel the drag link hooks to. The opposite wheel, whether it is being pushed or pulled, depending on which way you are turning, is very affected by how far from the ball joint the tie rod connects, on BOTH wheels.

Think of trying to push or pull that opposite wheel by pushing on the tie rod by hand, with the tie rod 1" from the ball joint, or 1' from the ball joint. Which would be easier? Good ol' leverage.

That's what's nice about the double arms, which place the tie rod behind the axle. The steering arm acts like a big lever and the kingpin or ball joint is the fulcrum. You really get some leverage going there.

ill have to check that out. but with the length diff. we are dealing with here, will it really matter?

ill have to check that out. but with the length diff. we are dealing with here, will it really matter?

Probably not, especially with power steering, but basically the closer the drag link is to the ball joint/kingpin, the quicker the steering, and the further the tie rod is from the ball joint/kingpin, the easier the steering.

My turning radius should be good. My pitman is the same length as from the center of the ball joint to where the drag link mounts on the highsteer arm. I think that was about 7.5". Then my tie rod would be 5.25" from the center of the ball joint. Sound good to you guys?