Dana 60 front Trac-bar ???

[grand94jeepxj]

Our 02 Project TJ is set up as follows... I realize its a TJ but being as the front ends are similar to the XJ's I'm hoping you can help.

8" Skyjacker LA
2" body lift
10.25 Visteon rear 5.13s Det. Locked
D60 front 5.13s Electrac

Ok, the problem I have is the upper track bar mount. It come too close to the upper bridge on the D60 where the upper control arm attaches to the axle. I need ideas/pics of what you or others have done to correct this. I've made a custom lower TB and Stabilizer bracket, but the upper is going to contact on full stuff. Ideas???

We are almost done with this build and do not want to trangulate this front. So..any ideas other than that please. Here's a pic, a bad one for reference but you get the idea. Look at the top left of the pic.

 

[vetteboy]

Why not just cut it off and make a new one, maybe an inch or two forward? I doubt you want to keep the TRE-style end anyway.

 

[ashmanjeepxj]

If you did a long arm 3 link rather then a 5link you would not need that bridge. you could keep the track bar as is.

you could use a bracket from ballistic

 

[Goatman]

Why not just cut it off and make a new one, maybe an inch or two forward? I doubt you want to keep the TRE-style end anyway.

I'd ditto this comment. How much clearance do you have between the track bar and the pitman/drag link? Enough to move the track bar forward and miss the bridge? Have you reinforced the stock track bar frame mount, since they are prone to rip off anyway?

The other thing is to limit up travel with bumpstops........which it looks like you haven't addressed yet.

 

[grand94jeepxj]

I have the bumpstops in. thats an old pic and the only one I had to show the set up. I figured on cuttingit off and moving it forward. I was looking for ideas/pics of what others have done before I go cut it off. Any pics would be great of your setups.

 

[grand94jeepxj]

If you did a long arm 3 link rather then a 5link you would not need that bridge. you could keep the track bar as is.

you could use a bracket from ballistic

How does this work?

 

[vetteboy]

Check out this thread that Scrappy just posted; among other things he relocated the frame side track bar mount.

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=902244

On an XJ but the idea remains the same.

I still think you should ditch the TRE-style end anyway.

 

[Matt S.]

Here is what I did on my LJ for a WAY better frame mount. 3/4" hiem mount welded to the frame. hard to see in this photo, but its easily done. The old mount is cast and a PIA to get off, but worth it.

 

[jmop]

Here is what i did. The trackbar ended up a fair ammount shorter then the draglink though.

During compression the frame side mount just fits between the tierod and the side of the bridge. Everthing gets real tight during compression but it works for the most part. I do get some bump steer but it isn't on the road or even street legal anymore so it hasn't been a big issue.

Frame side is a 2.5" JJ and a 2.5" poly joint on the axle side.

 

[Matt S.]

Please dont take any offense to this statement.

Why do it like that if your not going to do it right? Yeah it works, but I am sure you could have made things fit for a better working front end. Right?

 

[jmop]

No offense taken.

What the pictures don't show is that the front end has gone through a few stages of redesign. Orignally I didn't have the high-steer setup or Hydro-assist that is on there now. When I went to Sky-MFG high steer arms it brought the steering up and closer to the axle. The addition of the hydro assist further complicated the issue and took up even more space.

The original mount was in then in the way so I had to relocate it up. The coils limit how long it can be in its current location. The only way I can see to fix the problem would be to move the axle forward or the coils twords the rear, freeing up some space for the trackbar. Or I could run the trackbar in front of all the steering but the power steering box is in the way on the frame side.

Basically without a full redesign I couldn't get the setup that I want. At the time I was working outdoors, without cover, on a gravel driveway, in the beginning of a pacific northwest winter so it was raining almost every day.

Eventually I'll fix the problem but it hasn't hindered me to the point where it has made it to the top of the list of things to do.

 

[grand94jeepxj]

Thanks for the pics and the ideas. :thumbup:

 

[forcefed]

well if you have the option, move your axle forward, its a little less stress on your steering, it may save your oil pan, better weight balance, more clearance, longer arms= smoother ride, longer wheel base. I did it, i pushed it forward 3 ",and i am very happy i did it. I have a similar upper track bar as yours, only mine is lower about 3", it doesnt appear to be welded yet so you can still move it forward if you need too...

 

[grand94jeepxj]

well if you have the option, move your axle forward, its a little less stress on your steering, it may save your oil pan, better weight balance, more clearance, longer arms= smoother ride, longer wheel base. I did it, i pushed it forward 3 ",and i am very happy i did it. I have a similar upper track bar as yours, only mine is lower about 3", it doesnt appear to be welded yet so you can still move it forward if you need too...

We're at the point now that it can't won't move forward anymore. We moved it a bit...but not much.