What ends do you recommend for custom track bar?

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

I'm going to be changing to something other than stock rubber track bar ends on both ends of my custom track bar soon and am wondering what you all suggest. Large RE joints are what I'm leaning towards, but if the small RE joints will work fine, they will probably fit better. I don't want to go with Heims. I'll be redoing both the axle end bracket and the frame end bracket to fit whatever ends I go with. Jeff

 

[Rock Yacht]

We use the small RE flex joints on both ends of custom track bars with very good results. Needs to be a straight track bar though...

Bob

 

[Paul S]

Why not rod ends? I've built mine with JJ's, rod ends & a combo of the 2, I much prefer the rod end on both sides version.
With rod ends you can get much needed extra a length out of the TB, it makes it much easier to squeeze the frame TB bracket between the tierod & pumpkin on full stuff full turn, & it makes it easier to clear the axle end mount on full turn without having to mount the TB directly over the axle, thus interfering with your UCA mount.
+ they last forever, make no noise, need no maintenance & with left/right threads adjustments are simple.

Paul

 

[FarmerMatt]

Why not rod ends? I've built mine with JJ's, rod ends & a combo of the 2, I much prefer the rod end on both sides version.
With rod ends you can get much needed extra a length out of the TB, it makes it much easier to squeeze the frame TB bracket between the tierod & pumpkin on full stuff full turn, & it makes it easier to clear the axle end mount on full turn without having to mount the TB directly over the axle, thus interfering with your UCA mount.
+ they last forever, make no noise, need no maintenance & with left/right threads adjustments are simple.

Paul

X2... Clean simple strong small package. I've used them both on my JD & on the CAT. Road noise seems to be minimal if that's what you're worried about.

 

[C-ROK]

X2... Clean simple strong small package. I've used them both on my JD & on the CAT. Road noise seems to be minimal if that's what you're worried about.

But they may eventually stretch and/or compress the teflon liner allowing for some movement.
I developed a little case of wobbles due to an almost indetectable amount of slop in my axle end rod end.
Of course replacing it was fast, cheap and easy.

 

[88rockxj]

i prefer to have a heim on one end rubber bushing on the other end, the rubber absorbs the vibrations and takes the hard impacts which makes your heims last twice as long. i prefer the same thing on my control arms , heims do not give like rubber does, well they do but they wont spring back lol.

 

[mgfabpd]

Anybody run heims on both ends of the trac bar, tie rod, and drag link?
Alot of vibes, or what? On the street?

 

[Jes]

But they may eventually stretch and/or compress the teflon liner allowing for some movement.
I developed a little case of wobbles due to an almost indetectable amount of slop in my axle end rod end.
Of course replacing it was fast, cheap and easy.

My FK rod ends in my panhard only lasted about 20,000 before they were completely shot.
Looks like replacing them will be a once a year deal.

 

[Jes]

i prefer to have a heim on one end rubber bushing on the other end, the rubber absorbs the vibrations and takes the hard impacts which makes your heims last twice as long. i prefer the same thing on my control arms , heims do not give like rubber does, well they do but they wont spring back lol.

The problem with rubber is if you actually wheel they might only last a couple of weeks before they're sloppy.
When I had the stock style 4 link front suspension my UCA bushing would last two runs through the Rubicon before they were split and giving me mad axle wrap.

 

[Jeff 98XJ WI]

Why not rod ends? I've built mine with JJ's, rod ends & a combo of the 2, I much prefer the rod end on both sides version.
With rod ends you can get much needed extra a length out of the TB, it makes it much easier to squeeze the frame TB bracket between the tierod & pumpkin on full stuff full turn, & it makes it easier to clear the axle end mount on full turn without having to mount the TB directly over the axle, thus interfering with your UCA mount.
+ they last forever, make no noise, need no maintenance & with left/right threads adjustments are simple.

Paul

I have no upper control arm on the passenger side. Anyway, if consensus is that a small RE end will hold up, that is what I'll run since it'll fit in my system with minimal changes. So, will the small RE units hold up ok? Jeff

 

[88rockxj]

The problem with rubber is if you actually wheel they might only last a couple of weeks before they're sloppy.
When I had the stock style 4 link front suspension my UCA bushing would last two runs through the Rubicon before they were split and giving me mad axle wrap.

the stock control arms are too short to use rubber on both ends with lots of flex so thats not a very good comparison, and i may not be in the naxja clique but yes i do "actualy wheel" and im quite hard on parts. the track bar is much longer and has alot less twsiting involved, its mostly pushing and pulling on the track bar . i use the rubber on the axle side of the track bar and a heim on the frame side, if you know where to buy them you can get the rubber bushings for a couple dollars.

 

[Jes]

the stock control arms are too short to use rubber on both ends with lots of flex so thats not a very good comparison, and i may not be in the naxja clique but yes i do "actualy wheel" and im quite hard on parts. the track bar is much longer and has alot less twsiting involved, its mostly pushing and pulling on the track bar . i use the rubber on the axle side of the track bar and a heim on the frame side, if you know where to buy them you can get the rubber bushings for a couple dollars.

I wrote "stock style 4 link" I did not write "stock". My experience came with Rubicon Express control arms with a Super Flex joint on one end and a rubber bushing on the other.
I never got used to the sloppy steering that a bushing gives in the panhard bar so on my new suspension I went with heims.
What is this "naxja clique" you speak of? Perhaps I can join some day?

 

[FarmerMatt]

What is this "naxja clique" you speak of? Perhaps I can join some day?

No, we're not worthy of your pressence all mighty magazine god...

Jeff,
The small joint should probably work just fine if it fits your needs. I believe RE uses it in their own HD trackbar & mount combo. I haven't used it or dun it personally so take that for what it's worth...

 

[Roxtar]

I use the small RE joints in mine and haven't had any problems with them.


Wow, it's nice to be able to say that about something.:banghead:



edit: Make sure you use gr 12.9 bolts, though.

 

[xj92]

I have a small RE super-flex joint on the frame end and it has held up well. It still had slop in the rubber bushing on the axle end though, so I upgraded it to poly but it still wasn't as stiff as I wanted. So I then drilled out the poly to 63/64", got a small section of 1" DOM tube (1/4" wall) and pressed it into the poly. I then drilled the holes on the axle mount to 1/2", and put it all back together using a grade 8 1/2" bolt & nut. It now only has a thin layer of polyeurethane so it doesn't move much, but I haven't noticed any additional road noise or feel since doing it. I'm really tired, I hope that's coherent.

 

[WobblesXJ]

I developed a little case of wobbles

you did what?

 

[C-ROK]

you did what?

It's what the Weebles did.
They wobbled....... bu they didn't fall down.

 

[WobblesXJ]

It's what the Weebles did.
They wobbled....... bu they didn't fall down.

Oh ok just making sure you didn't get a case of THE Wobbles(XJ), as in your junk is broken and you got no time/money to fix it.

 

[meatplow5150]

Has anyone tried using the polyurethane track bar bushings that 4 wheel hardware sells?

 

[ExNews4XJ]

I have the 4-wheel poly track bar bushing on my jeep. They work fine but didn't help reduce death wobble at all. My problem turned out to be a bent rim and crappy tires.