Tie rod question

[demonworks]

Can anyone tell me if there is a diffrence between 1990 and earlier and 1991 and later tie rod ends? I have a chance to get a complete new front steering rebuild from a friend for about a quarter of the price of new. His is a 1991 cherokee mine is a 1990 cherokee. Any help would be appriciated

[xj4life2]

Sorry to say but the split is 90 and older and 91 and newer, but as to what is different , I don't know off the top of my head but I will say anything can be made to work. My personal favorite is the tie rod assmb off the v8 grand cherokee. much heavier and bolts right in

[demonworks]

Is there a specific year etc of v8 grand cherokee that I should be looking for? Also do I use the tie rod ends for the grand cherokee or do I use ones for my specific year cherokee?

[pingpong]

as for original question.. as far as I know.. no difference.


as for the v=8 grand cherokee.. I think it is all the zj yrs.. cause when they became wj the steering knuckles changed

[demonworks]

I've been researching this further and found that most after market upgrades for the xj use stock sized tie rod ends in there upgraded kits but only list one kit for all years xj 84-2001. Steering knuckles go from 84-89 then 90-2001,All the zj tie rods V-8 included are the same size and part number as 91-2001 tie rods for stock xj's ( this is what I have found ,Please prove me wrong if I am).So from that, there should be no diffrence in tierod ends,etc. Am I wrong ?

[ironmanandy]

You are correct on all accounts. The ZJ uses an ES3096L Rod end which has an m22x1.5 L threading. (.004 smaller than 7/8 fine thread) It is much stronger than the flimsy 5/8 fine thread stock xj ends.
The ZJ long side rod is also made of solid where as the Xj is tubing that is not even 1/8" thick. Yikes.... What was AMC/Chrysler thinking?

I encourage folks to also look into set ups that bump the tie rod up to 3/4" threaded ends such as the es2847r and es2848L these are the dodge dana 44 ends and are fairly cheap. They use the same taper dimensions as the stock ends. Just bigger threading. This is how I do my tie rods.
A.

[4.3LXJ]

Thanks for the info Andy. Not often someone will share trade secrets.