advice on building a trackbar

[GrimmJeeper]

It's time to build my trackbar, I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice as far as materials, what to avoid, etc. I'm thinking heims on both ends and a straight bar will make it easy to dial in but are there any downfalls to that type of setup? I'm building a double shear mount for the frame side, and the axle side mount is fully boxed in 3/16ths plate with the area around the holes plated with an additional layer of 1/8th inch plate.

I need to order materials and get started on this thing, i'm tired of the jeep being immobile and it needs to be driveable so I can go smog it and get the registration back up to date. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm on a pretty tight budget and I need to do this right the first time

 

[jeepme]

this is what used.
http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/1.25-X-.281-Wall-DOM-Tubing-p-503.html

The 281 wall is plenty strong and is the perfect size to tap for 3/4-16 hiem ends. No drilling needed. Cut to legnth, run a tap on both ends, screw in heim.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

I was thinking of that, after talking with skullver backchannel he informed me that the trackbar most likely couldn't be straight as it could interfere with the diff cover at full stuff. i'll have to pop the coilovers loose again tomorrow and cycle the suspension fully with flat stock bolted in place of the trackbar to check it out.

for the frame side mount though I noticed this on poly's website http://www.polyperformance.com/shop...p-XJ-Track-Bar-Bracket-Brace-Kit-p-25582.html looks like a pretty good deal and is similar to what I was going to have made anyway. thoughts?

 

[GrimmJeeper]

for reference here is my setup as it sits right now, with a piece of 1 x 1/8th flat bar stock bolted into the axle side to try and get my angles right for the frame side mount measurements.

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

i run a straight trackbar and there is no interference with the diff. granted it is an RE HD bracket and joint at the frame end. but since youre look at a bracket in a more or less stock style orientation, i dont see why a straight one would be a problem

 

[GrimmJeeper]

i run a straight trackbar and there is no interference with the diff. granted it is an RE HD bracket and joint at the frame end. but since youre look at a bracket in a more or less stock style orientation, i dont see why a straight one would be a problem

What are you running for a diff cover? I have that ring gear guard on there and it sticks out about 1/2 more than the stock cover. you wouldn't happen to have a pic of your setup handy would you? as it sits my tie rod comes within 1" of the diff cover guard at full steering lock.

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

i am actually running the stock cover at the moment. i didnt think about that. i have a few pictures of my steering, not sure how much theyll help out though

i can take some more pictures in a day or two at full lock and flex and what not if that will help

 

[GrimmJeeper]

thanks for the pics, I'm working with a lower axle side mount than you so our angles are different. i'm trying to keep the trackbar as long as possible to help avoid steering changes as the suspension cycles.

here are some more pics of my axle side setup

these pics are before I lowered the front end by about 4", i'm finally trying to dial the height in, instead of just putting the dual rate springs on the coilovers and dealing with wherever they put me.

thanks for the input, I appreciate the pics.

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

yeah i wouldve liked longer, but i didnt want to go through the trouble of making a custom bracket, mine is just a JKS bracket. the only way i can really see you encountering a problem is if you stretch the front some making the diff more directly under the frame side trackbar bracket. im not sure if yours is pushed forward at all.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

It's about an inch forward, once I have some money saved up for adjustable arms i'll worry about getting the wheelbase where I want it. DOM is cheap enough if I can find a scrap, maybe I'll just give the straight bar a shot and cycle the suspension to see where it puts me. :dunno:

 

[GrimmJeeper]

I emailed Dan @ Ruff Stuff asking about dimensions on the 3/4" heims, wondering if I could fit one in the axle side mount since it only has a 1 5/8" space to work with. He replied that the 3/4" heims with misalignments has a 2" width, but I should be able to put the heim in there and use a piece of tube cut down to take up the slack, since the trackbar should see less than 5° of rotation it shouldn't be an issue. Looks like I'm going to be ordering up some heims come payday

Thanks Dan! :wave1:

 

[whitexj98]

I emailed Dan @ Ruff Stuff asking about dimensions on the 3/4" heims, wondering if I could fit one in the axle side mount since it only has a 1 5/8" space to work with. He replied that the 3/4" heims with misalignments has a 2" width, but I should be able to put the heim in there and use a piece of tube cut down to take up the slack, since the trackbar should see less than 5° of rotation it shouldn't be an issue. Looks like I'm going to be ordering up some heims come payday

Thanks Dan! :wave1:

I am using 3/4'' ruffstuff heims with misalignment spacers on my track bar. I ran into the same problem, having access to a mill I just milled off 3/16 off each misaligmnet and they work well. Could you have them do that at ruff stuff? If you use a piece of tube you will have to center it with washers/spacers or something.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

I am using 3/4'' ruffstuff heims with misalignment spacers on my track bar. I ran into the same problem, having access to a mill I just milled off 3/16 off each misaligmnet and they work well. Could you have them do that at ruff stuff? If you use a piece of tube you will have to center it with washers/spacers or something.

I was going to use tube with the same ID as the bolt and cut my own spacers out. That's what I had to do to center the coilovers in themounts since I'm running bilsteins and they use smaller heims on the ends.

 

[DieselSJ]

i am actually running the stock cover at the moment. i didnt think about that. i have a few pictures of my steering, not sure how much theyll help out though

Please...please...please...double-shear that pitman arm end of your drag link.

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

is it more prudent i do that due to the fact that it is drilled out to run heims or just good practice in general? because this is mainly a DD that sees very occassional go fast stuff and crawling.

 

[Cache96]

My pitman arm is the same way, what advantages does double sheering the pitman arm have?

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

it will make it much stronger. that long bolt creates more leverage than a standard TRE. i had not heard of many people doing it though, aside from racing and what not.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

OK, well I got my rod ends, now it's time to order up some tube. I'm planning on going with .250 wall DOM. I need a 1" ID so that puts me at 1.5". Is this a good plan or should I go with thinner material?

 

[Fryphax]

1.5" quarter wall DOM is a good material for Trackbar and steering.