how to adjust front track bar

[Stoodty]

i have a short arm lift and i just got 1 inch bigger springs and get a death wobble! i had an alignment after spring install and checked all torque on evey thing i am wondering if the 1 inch would throw my adjustable front track bar off and cause this wobble when i am above 50 and hit a bump! it is a serious death wobble!!!!! so i guess questions is how do i adjust my track bar?? what do i adjust it to lengthen / shorten how do i know the proper length???? thanks guys

[SavageSun4x4]

You didn't say what lift you went from-to. I assume you went from a 3-3.5" - 4-4.5" of lift since you have a short arm set up. That said, the extra 1" should not be the problem.

However in the world of DW almost ANYTHING can be the root cause of it.

I am also going to assume that you did nothing to the track bar (adj). However as you lift the Jeep the front axle moves sideways toward the drivers side. Lets say that the TB you have is like most and it uses a tie rod end to attach to the frame on the drivers side.

The added lift would move your TB and at the same time move/change the angle (perhaps) of the bolt that goes thru the "C" bracket that holds the tie rod end in place. Be sure to check the torque on that bolt. If I remember it is 55 lbs or so????

The TB is so often the origin of DW. Since it the TB holds the axle assembly in place and it does so with one single bolt, bolted to the frame. The tie rod end get loose rather quickly from use, abuse, larger tires, extreme droop by the front axle and steering effort being put on it while off roading. And therein frequently lies the problem with the TB.

You can mitigate this by replacing your track bar or the tie rod bush if it is replaceable. This effort will continue until you are tired of spending money and look for a better way. At that time you might want to try this for a remedy: http://web.mac.com/donpryor/iWeb/SavageSun%204x4/TJ%20Track%20Bar%20Install.html

At the other end of the stick there are several things to check for:
1) The bolt that attaches the axle end has not wallowed out and made the hole larger.

2) The cushioning material has not deformed, rotted or otherwise is not retaining its shape.

3) The bolt is too small for the hole size of the bushing.

You can remedy by replacing the bushing, using the largest size bolt that will fit into the bushing and either drilling out the axle side bolt support hole or plating it and putting in a new bolt hole if the original is wallowed out. This solution most often has a good life cycle to it before you need to repeat.

[xFallen]

i have a short arm lift and i just got 1 inch bigger springs and get a death wobble! i had an alignment after spring install and checked all torque on evey thing i am wondering if the 1 inch would throw my adjustable front track bar off and cause this wobble when i am above 50 and hit a bump! it is a serious death wobble!!!!! so i guess questions is how do i adjust my track bar?? what do i adjust it to lengthen / shorten how do i know the proper length???? thanks guys

Far too little information here. Is this a stock track bar or aftermarket, for starters.

What was the caster when the alignment was done? If you don't know, ask them. Most reputable places list it on the computer generated listing. If they didn't measure it or set it, get it set. You may have been at the edge before and exceeded the threshold with the last lift. Look for 5 to 6* maximum but less than 3.5* and DW can occur even when everything else seems right. It can also be a combination of things.

Verify that the lower track bar bushing is not damaged in any way and that the correct torque has been applied to the fastener using a torque wrench. Tight enough nonesense is not "tight enough". It needs to be at the correct torque. Also check the frame side. That cast in bracket can crack at the frame. The TRE can also wear out over time. Verify there is not excessive movement in it. Aftermarket brackets can crack and become loose.

DW has a few consistent causes and is almost always easier to chase down than most people think, because most people do not check what is suggested to them. This is born out time and again. You'll get it eventually if you are methodical.


Barry

[Stoodty]

hey guys thanks for the info i have checked and rechecked and had other people chk all that stuff out everything was torqued i have an aftermarket adjustable track bar and i'm going to replace it, hope that fixs it, thanks for the info on the caster i didnt know that and i'll go back and ask they said they would do my alignment again for free just to make sure they didnt cause this!

[SavageSun4x4]

hey guys thanks for the info i have checked and rechecked and had other people chk all that stuff out everything was torqued i have an aftermarket adjustable track bar and i'm going to replace it, hope that fixs it, thanks for the info on the caster i didnt know that and i'll go back and ask they said they would do my alignment again for free just to make sure they didnt cause this!
Yep, caster can certainly be an instigator in the DW search and rescue effort. In fact everything attached to the axle assembly is a candidate.

You can check and set your own caster with a few tools and a good flat spot: http://web.mac.com/donpryor/iWeb/SavageSun%204x4/TJ%20Caster%20Adjustment.html

Wrestle this creature down and give us a report back on what it was. I can always learn a bit more on this subject.

[Stoodty]

i shall report any findings! thanks for the help

[Stoodty]

ok just installed another after market track bar (RE heavy duty) and currie heavy duty steering ( drag link and tie rod) got alingment pretty close going to take it in to a shop today but wobble is still there! i'm going to ask them what the caster is and work that issue next! saga continues!

[DesertRat]

ok just installed another after market track bar (RE heavy duty) and currie heavy duty steering ( drag link and tie rod) got alingment pretty close going to take it in to a shop today but wobble is still there! i'm going to ask them what the caster is and work that issue next! saga continues!

I also just installed the currie heavy duty steering but there were no instructions in the box and there was no bracket for the steering stabilizer.
Did yours come with these :confused:

[Stoodty]

yes came with everything needed i think i still have directions if you need them! although pretty much same explanitory same as factory i just measure factory and then set curries same distance and it gets you almost right on! stu also has a good right up on this product!

[DesertRat]

yes came with everything needed i think i still have directions if you need them! although pretty much same explanitory same as factory i just measure factory and then set curries same distance and it gets you almost right on! stu also has a good right up on this product!

Thanks but I did use stus site to install. I have tried to call 4Wheelers but no awnser....not sure if anyone else would carry the bracket in town?
did you get yours from 4Wheelers?

[Stoodty]

i bought the currie sys through 4wheelers and it had everything with it! hhmmmm call simon and let him know or send him a pm!

[DesertRat]

i bought the currie sys through 4wheelers and it had everything with it! hhmmmm call simon and let him know or send him a pm!

Ok thanks,
Been calling all morning but no answer. Maybe they are closed...
Guess I will have to run without the steering stabilizer for now :eek:

[lancetkenyon]

Simon is online a lot, PM him, he will take care of you.

[DesertRat]

Simon is online a lot, PM him, he will take care of you.

Ya, I spoke with him. I am good until they open on Tuesday :)
thx

[YGOHOME]

ok just installed another after market track bar (RE heavy duty) and currie heavy duty steering ( drag link and tie rod) got alingment pretty close going to take it in to a shop today but wobble is still there! i'm going to ask them what the caster is and work that issue next! saga continues!

for caster issues, I'd take it to someone who actually knows jeeps and alignment. The best places I know of is at Absolute Offroad or 4 Wheelers Supply.

I'm betting the problem your having is caster. I recently installed some taller coils in the front of my jeep (and I tried keeping the .5" spacer in front too). But the lift was too much and caused the top of the axle to rotate too much forward.. outer knuckles basically went from this / to this |. So any little bump in the road causes uncontrollable wobble. I took out the extra .5" spacer and the wobble never returned.

you need to either increase the length of the front lower arms a little to get back to / or else lower the lift height at the front of your jeep a little. A stabalizer won't help... the knuckles would still be like | and you'll still get alot of wobble.

I don't have a front stabelizer for my currie steering either, but I want to get one... not to correct any wobble but to help in the rocks on the trails. Simon says he can get that for me, I just need to stop by there.

[Stoodty]

ok so after changing diff fluids i decided to chage my upper controls arm bolts to real grade 8 bolts in sted of those bolts with the tang thingy! and when i replaced them i couldnt get the holes to line back up!!!!!!!! so i figured since i upgraded springs it rotated my axle FWD and hence getting the death wobble, but i was sure, so i just adjusted my lower control srms just a little and on my drive home it was harded to get it to wobble and i coulg go of 60 now, hmmmm well i get home and get on here just to read YGOHOME's post and yes in deed what he said was happening to me! so i ran back out to garage and 7 full turns later on my lower control arms the dredded death wobble is no more! thanks for all who helped me figure this mess out so i went wheeling @ the coves yesterday! what a blast! thanks again

[Stoodty]

here are 2 pics just glad wobble is gone so i can drive to the trails!

[ob1jeeper]

Bottom line is your LCA adjustment added more caster to get rid of DW...:cool: ;)

[Wayco]

Nice looking Rubi., Glad you got it back on the trails.
Thanks for sharing. :)