So, I have managed to bend both by drag link (slight bend) and my Tie Rod. I have $350 set aside to buy one or the other. I have been reading up on it, but just want to get other folks opinion before I buy. While I will get the next component within the next 3 to 4 months, I will be off roading quite a bit between now and then and have a 3-day trip over thanksgiving at Super Lift Off Road Park.

Help!

 

Not much to look at both bends are pretty mild. The jeep still drives ok... just a question of which one I should fix first. I was thinking the tie rod as it is more exposed to additional damage and the drag link later. But, how bad is a slightly bent drag link?

 

that's what im thinking. if they're not giving you grief, just make whatever adjustments you need and call it a day until they do start giving you grief. if anything, the tie-rod might be what you will need to replace first but only because it may cause things like your steering stabilizer to hit the track bar mount and interfere with your steering.

also, are you sure that your drag link is bent? because, they are bent a bit right from the factory and if you didn't know as much, you might think that the bend is new.

 

Yes... pretty sure it is. I had to re-center my steering wheel after the incident. I managed to get my wheel stuck against the pin of the lower sway bar link on the passenger side when I came off a rock. I had initially thought I broke my tie rod, but the bend in the drag link was pretty dramatic. Once I managed to unstick the wheel, the drag link straitened out a bit but not all the way.

For those wondering...that is Gilmer Texas.