Rugged Ridge | Steering Kit, Tie Rod/Drag Link, Wide Track, HD | 18050.81 | Fits 1982-1986 Jeep CJ-7 & CJ-8 Scrambler

I recently purchased a 1985 CJ-7 with a 3" lift. The steering was not great so I took it to a mechanic shop, one of the fixes the mechanic recommended was installing this kit in order to beef up the tie rod and drag link for the oversized tires. He told me I could probably do the install myself. I am not mechanically gifted and I was able to install the kit with no complications. However you will need to borrow a "pickle fork" from a local auto parts store. My Jeep had the OEM steering damper, which I replaced with a new damper. The existing Jeep damper mounting bracket was not big enough for the larger tie rod. No worries, I found at O'Reilly's Auto Parts Dorman U-Joint Retainer Kit (Part #81004 Ford) fit perfectly on the new tie rod. The Jeep handles much better than before and is no doubt stronger on the front end.

1.25" thick metal! WAY thicker, better and stronger than OEM. If you never go off road, then you don't need this, but if you go once a year, then get it. Very well made AND Best price anywhere!!NOTE:If you use an aftermarket steering stabilizer, you will need 1.25" U bolts, which I had a hard time finding. I did find them in a kit on Amazon for $31 - Rugged Ridge 18040.50 Steering Damper Bracket. I also found them cheaper at broncograveyard.com.Do not use the non hardened ones found at the local hardware store!

I bent my stock tie rod and upgraded to this. No problems whatsoever and I run big tires, a v-8, and a front locker. bolted right in and I did a hillbilly alignment with a tape measure and it tracks straight and tires wear well. I've hit rocks with it and it just leaves a scrape mark with no dent whatsoever. Probably not as strong as the heim joint options, but I drive on the street alot and I like having the standard style tie rod ends. I would buy this again and recommend it to friends.

I bought the steering set after wrapping my stock one around the axle on a fairly straight-forward hill climb. I was just trying to make my steering more reliable but was shocked at the improved steering. I realized how much the stock linkage had been flexing in normal driving.This is a great upgrade. Fits perfectly. Is easy to install and adjust.One note: If you have never separated a ball joint, there is a tool for doing it. It is inexpensive and is a must for the job.

This was a lot better than the stock steering linkage. The stock steering tube would flex to where this one didn’t. Only disappointment was I was shorted two cotter pins and grease fittings.

Great fit and look. You will need a bigger steering stabilizer bracket and U-bolts if you run the factory configuration to go around the bigger diameter rod. I just fabbed one and got bigger U-bolts.

Nice quality, but the tie rod at it's shortest length with the ends cranked all the way in is still 1.5" too long- completely unusable for my application (1978 Jeep CJ7).

They look very stout, and I'm sure they'll hold up fine. But, the description reads that it has a 1 1/4" INTERIOR diameter. If you do the math like I did, you add the 1/4" wall thickness twice to the I.D. to achieve the OUTSIDE diameter. That gives us an O.D. of 1.75" Well, my digital caliper says the O.D. is 1.268" . The I.D. is probably .75" (not that that really matters). But now I have the stock stabilizer bracket which is too narrow and the new one that is too big. Somewhere in the description the manufacturer should state the actual momma bear OD --NOT the incorrect ID.