XJWheelie said:
Stupid Question Time!
Why would you have to change the point where your track bar is mounted on the axle? Does this go along with raising the drag link or is it the result of an increase in lift? I'm at about 4" and my track bar has been changed to an adjustable unit, but I haven't moved the mount. If I did would what would change and would bumpsteer enter into the picture?
What would life be like without this forum! :wow:
Robert
Nah, not a stupid question! Basically, there are a couple of reasons to raise the track bar. First one already mentioned is to get the steering geometry back in sync when lifting the rig - usually associated with lifts over 6". Secondly, when lifting an XJ over 6", the lower the track bar is away from the frame mount, the more it binds and limits the down travel of the passenger side of the axle. By moving the track bar up on top of the axle, you restore it's travel span and eliminate the bind.
Picture it this way: On a stock XJ, looking at the track bar position, you'll see that the track bar is nearly horizontal to the axle. When you drop the axle by moving the body up and away from it, the track bar extends down in a slight arc. You'll actually see the axle move to the driver's side just a bit when it's at it's maximum drop. Well, that maximum drop is now what you've just done by adding a lift kit. So, the manufacturers of lifts have designed longer and adjustible track bars to compensate for this, but they can only do so much when the factory mounting locations don't change with the lift in relation to the geometry of the axle's new location. With your lift at 4", you won't need to do these modifications - actually you shouldn't do them - until you get "inchitis" and go bigger!
This is why it's a good idea to purchase a heavy duty track bar bracket like Rubicon Express sells. It lowers the body mount position for the track bar and gives it a strong mounting place. When this bracket is installed, it reduces the track bar angle again - closer to stock. When you go over 6" of lift, you're again dropping that track bar. So, the ORGS Over Axle Bracket helps bring that track bar angle back up - closer to stock.
Now, doing this kind of modification will usually bring with it another can of worms. Your stock steering configuration is way maxed out now. Usually, this is fixed by buying or making a "cross over" steering setup. There's a few different designs that work well - like Goatman's pictured in this thread, or the one Mark Hinkley designed that is in the same pics on ORGS where the install of the Over Axle Bracket is found. Another is the one made by Phatjeeps.com. It's called the "Canyon Crawler Cross Over steering system" and I just bought that yesterday.
Hope this helps! :guitar:
Troy