So, not that i will be doing any of it myelf, but i have to wait 2 weeks for jeep to see it and am curious. Round about how much? my "driveway mechanic" says its not the whole bar just the end pieces. These are replacable, or do i have to get a whole new bar? stupid thing has like 2 inches of play from front to back .... left without a ride...
99 gr. cherokee

Not sure about the GC, but with the Wrangler you can drive w/out sway bar links. Get the disconnectable ones and take it off while trail riding. The links break pretty quick when they're left connected doing lots of 4 wheeling. Again, I've got a TJ. The GC may be different.

must be way different.... you can almost feel it in the steering wheel when driving... but then when i brake its all over the place... especially at higher speeds!! (you can wiggle the stabilizer bar back and forth like 2 inches) and everything else in there is pretty solid ... brakes work like a dream just that the front end bounces all over the place! ..its pretty scary actually...

that sounds more like a track bar.

hmm.... i just know what i'm told? haha it's a bar that is connected just behind the wheels ... on the forward end of the car .... take the wheel off and it's like right there and thats all i really know .... i could show it to you but not name it lol <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

sounds suspiciously like a tie rod.
& you cant drive grand cherokee or a cherokee at speeds with the disconnects off. LOL hard to handle they are

Can you describe what the bar connects?

Does the bar connect the steering box pitman arm to the passenger side wheel? (Drag Link)

Does the bar connect the drivers side wheel to the Drag Link right over by the passenger side wheel? (Tie Rod)

Does the bar connect the axle to the chassis? (Track Bar)

Or does the bar connect to the chassis via 2 bushings, and then on the ends connect down to the front axel on each side via a couple of sway bar links? (Sway Bar)

I found this pic on another site that gives a pretty good view, you cant see the sway bar, just the links though.

http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/alignment/alignment01.jpg

Sean

I have to agree with el d m. on this. Steering stabilizer bars go up and down and are tied to the front suspension assembly usually with a plate under the springs and the frame. If it has 2" of play other than up or down, you got a serious problem unless you got disconnects. The connecting rod for your steering moves left and right with the steering wheel and moves the tires for steering. It is actuated by the steering wheel down thru steering shaft to the the steering box and a pitman arm. The play could be from any of these three items. The steering box could have wear not so obvious as its internal. The steering shaft has two joints in it that may wear out or break. The connecting rod has two ends, tie rods, that can be replaced fairly easily. Again if you have 2" of play here, you have serious problems and I wouldnt be driving it at all. If what your talking about looks like a shock absorber, thats also called a steering stabilizer and absorbes the bumps and bounces from the road that makes keeping a straight track harder. This is less dangerous if it has 2" of play but will definately make your steering squirrelly especially at high speed. Check for broken parts on both ends of it and replace if necessary. Good luck with it and be careful driving your ride around with that much play in anything on the front end. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

wow i never thought it would be that hard! lol anyway, description:
straight bar with (give or take) 8ish inches on each end where it looks like the ends should come off. both ends are connected front and center directly inside the wheels.
where its connected looks like two round metal things that look like they've been smashed a bit ... when i wiggle the bar it goes front to back almost in a rocking motion (not up and down) ... tie rod?

p.s. yes the stupid thing is a MAJOR b*tch to drive at high speeds .... i've stopped driving it till it gets looked at