Currie Track Bar vs. JKS Track Bar for 2" Lift?

[Mike_H]

How patient are you, @Chris? I'm going to be mounting my JKS up in a couple weeks, and I have the Dana 44 front axle. More than happy to take pics. It may even be as soon as this weekend...

 

[glwood]

Well, technically I probably don't. I'm just really OCD like that. I think even if I knew my axle was off center by 1/4", it would bother me. Crazy OCD, haha!

OCD can be expensive!

 

[JamesAndTheSahara]

Currie, MetalCloak, JKS... they are all run by local members in our Jeep club. They are all quite stout. JKS is the bargain if you want JJ’s in your life, I have the metalcloak rear trackbar so I’m not 100% convinced of durotrak bushings yet (Currie JJ in the front). Metalcloak gets the one up on bling factor though .

I don’t run JKS but they will be your best choice here.

Oh and x2 to adjustable front and rear trackbars. I’m at 3” of lift and should have gone adjustable rear the first time around.

 

[skrelnik]

On my previous TJ that was lifted with the 4" Currie lift, the Currie track bar was excellent. This time around, since I'll only be doing a 2" to 2.5" lift, I'm considering the JKS track bars, only because I hear that they provide better clearance for the Dana 44 diffs and require less bump stop on smaller lifts.

However, I don't have any real world evidence of this. Only what I hear people repeating on the internet, which is hard to provide assign any credibility to.

I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has a 2" lift with either Currie or JKS track bars. I'm curious how much extra bump stop you had to add with either of these track bars, and if you have any issues with the track bars hitting the diffs (this applies to people with Rubicon D44s only, as their diffs obviously stick out more).

Thanks in advance!

Hi Chris - I installed the DPG Ultimate kit a few months back, so that is a 2"-2.5" lift with the JKS rear (and front) adjustable track bars. The kit came with 2" extended bump stops, both front and rear. Rears were metal and placed on the upper perch, whereas the fronts were hockey pucks on the lower perch. If you need any specific pics let me know as my Jeep is currently on some jack stands.

 

[Chris]

Hi Chris - I installed the DPG Ultimate kit a few months back, so that is a 2"-2.5" lift with the JKS rear (and front) adjustable track bars. The kit came with 2" extended bump stops, both front and rear. Rears were metal and placed on the upper perch, whereas the fronts were hockey pucks on the lower perch. If you need any specific pics let me know as my Jeep is currently on some jack stands.

Do you have a Dana 44 front end?

 

[lovemachine]

So after reading this thread, I have come to the conclusion that @Chris would be much better off if he went with the 4” Savvy/Currie lift again

 

[Chris]

So after reading this thread, I have come to the conclusion that @Chris would be much better off if he went with the 4” Savvy/Currie lift again

Sheesh, it would sure be easier... though much more expensive.

 

[lovemachine]

Sheesh, it would sure be easier... though much more expensive.

That’s no excuse! Think of the money you already saved by not buying that JKU!

Do eeettttt man!

 

[lovemachine]

You have, what, $2k in the front bumper and lights now?

You can’t spend less than that on the suspension!

 

[skrelnik]

Do you have a Dana 44 front end?

I do not, only the rear has the 44. The front is a 30.

 

[Chris]

To be honest, this time around I think it would be fun to do a Metalcloak lift just to see how it compares to my old Currie lift.

 

[Chris]

I do not, only the rear has the 44. The front is a 30.

Oh yeah, that won't work then, because I'm concerned about if the track bar will come in contact with my Dana 44 front end, as the diff on it sticks out more than the Dana 30. Bummer!

 

[JamesAndTheSahara]

To be honest, this time around I think it would be fun to do a Metalcloak lift just to see how it compares to my old Currie lift.

Metalcloak is definitely solid. Nearly everyone local to me runs their arms/trackbars. Let us know what you decide, remember if you go metalcloak buy it when they have free shipping!!

 

[JMT]

Oh yeah, that won't work then, because I'm concerned about if the track bar will come in contact with my Dana 44 front end, as the diff on it sticks out more than the Dana 30. Bummer!

We ought to just have someone measure how much the Dana 30 sticks out and someone the Dana 44, then we would know for sure.

Also, @b0xcar is having the MC 3.5" suspension kit installed I believe the week of Feb 1. so here comes someone. There may be others.

Also, just call Currie, JKS and MC and see what they say about your setup and trackbar clearance. It'll be interesting...

 

[JamesAndTheSahara]

We ought to just have someone measure how much the Dana 30 sticks out and someone the Dana 44, then we would know for sure.

Also, @b0xcar is having the MC 3.5" suspension kit installed I believe the week of Feb 1. so here comes someone. There may be others.

Also, just call Currie, JKS and MC and see what they say about your setup and trackbar clearance. It'll be interesting...

They will all say it will work, the answers he needs are physical measurements. I don’t mind measuring my diff to provide a measurment on the hp30 clearance for a tb. My peer with a rubi 44 will stock covers would also easily provide this. Just set a baseline measurement point.

 

[Chris]

They will all say it will work, the answers he needs are physical measurements. I don’t mind measuring my diff to provide a measurment on the hp30 clearance for a tb. My peer with a rubi 44 will stock covers would also easily provide this. Just set a baseline measurement point.

That's right. Everyone will just tell me it will work, I'm pretty darn sure of that. As James mentioned, I need measurements and photos to see what I'm dealing with. It's also going to depend on what length the control arms are, what steering someone is running, etc.

But I may just order stuff and measure later... haha

 

[skrelnik]

We ought to just have someone measure how much the Dana 30 sticks out and someone the Dana 44, then we would know for sure.

Also, @b0xcar is having the MC 3.5" suspension kit installed I believe the week of Feb 1. so here comes someone. There may be others.

Also, just call Currie, JKS and MC and see what they say about your setup and trackbar clearance. It'll be interesting...

If you throw me in the right direction I can take some pics as I will be under the car in a little bit. Headed to the parts store but took two quickies. That is a JKS adj trackbar.

 

[JamesAndTheSahara]

That's right. Everyone will just tell me it will work, I'm pretty darn sure of that. As James mentioned, I need measurements and photos to see what I'm dealing with. It's also going to depend on what length the control arms are, what steering someone is running, etc.

But I may just order stuff and measure later... haha

Well my buddy with the rubi 44 has a high steer setup and rubicon express LA so those measurements probably won’t be the most helpful.

Buy and measure later, I like the way your wallet thinks.

 

[David Kishpaugh]

I can conclude it....

Use a rough country FORGED adjustable with a jeepwest stock pitman weld on frame bracket. Both brackets rc provide require 3" bumpstop extension.

Its alot of work tho for only being a half inch off center thst only needs a 1/4" longer bar to fix....

Long travel suspension thats bumpstoped at 2" or less over stock have to be set up a 1/2" off center to clear everything up front fully articulated

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Thunderhead]

So just dipping my toe in here. @Chris your putting in 2 inch springs yea ? Why wouldn’t you go OM on the track bar/ panhard bar?
Or better yet how much did I cheat with putting 2 inch B.B. and no other mods down there. It’s all stock