JKS COM rear track bar bearing / bushing

[freedom_in_4low]

If you weren't following the JKS Rear trackbar questions thread, it got somewhat hijacked by another topic that deserves it's own thread.

JKS is no longer providing their rear track bar with a Johnny Joint. Not sure what other components they used to provide a JJ for that they've stopped.

Their new joint is something they refer to as a "COM Bearing". No idea what this means, but it looks a lot like a heim joint. So far I haven't found anyone to have taken it apart and examined it. Their website listing for the part describes a "Spherical urethane bushing" which seems to refer to the JJ but is outdated. Their replacement parts diagram also shows Johnny Joint parts but the links are dead.

However, their JK track bar has the following info regarding the COM bearing.

While we have earned a stellar reputation over the years for building a top quality adjustable track bar for the 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK there is a need for more less bushing deflection and more bind-free articulation in long travel suspension applications. With this need present in the market we are pleased to announce we are offering heavy duty versions of our adjustable track bar for the JK redesigned with a COM bearing at the axle mount for improve offroad performance....
At the axle mount the machined end on the HD Track Bar features a large heavy duty COM bearing for bind-free articulation capable of more misalignment for long travel suspensions. The COM bearing uses a self-lubricating, injection molded race rated for 42,000lbs of static load for long life and reliable performance. Along with the COM bearing a pair of high-angle misalignment spacers are supplied to maximize angular travel of the COM bear end allowing for vast improvements for offroad performance under your Jeep JK.

Photos of the joint in this post with the misalignment spacers in position, and in this one without them.

I had an email exchange with JKS support, where they could not provide any additional technical information on the joint and indicated that it would not be possible to retrofit a JJ into this housing, nor are the old JJ housings still available.

We use a sealed com bearing that does not require a grease zerk now. We have found these to last just as long without the normal greasing needed to keep them quiet

I do not have a brochure on this com bearing that we are using. We have been using this style for around 4 years now, and a few years before that with product testing and development. You are far from a “guinea pig” and we would never use customers as test mules

I am also unsure of what website you are looking at, as our website and instructions are all showing the track bar in its current and correct state, with no grease zerk.

The JKS Warranty covers wearable items for up to 1 year from the date of purchase, as it always has, even when we were using the JJ.

The current end can not be converted, as it is machined differently for the current joint. Also, we do not have the previous joint/end available for purchase anymore.

Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions

I responded asking for warranty period failure rates for both joints to compare but acknowledged that he probably wasn't allowed to provide it, if it even exists.



I think a number of us are interested in anyone's experience with this joint and it's reliability. I don't like the idea of the joint getting loose or starting to squeak in a year and a half after the warranty is over, but I just dropped over $3k rebuilding my axles, locking, and regearing and am now doing a SYE so my Jeep budget doesn't have room for the $200 premium on a Currie bar.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

just a brief update from my correspondence with JKS.

I can assure you that I have processed way less warranty failures with the COM bearing, than I did with the JJ. We were seeing a lot more deflection with the JJ which was proving a lot more failures in the field. The com bearing is a Spherical ball encapsulated in an impregnated nylon, which keeps it sealed and provides unrestricted movement and has proven itself over and over again.

 

[eastbloc]

Would be nice to have more data on those failed JJ.
If those failed JJ were from rigs that were offroading more than onroading, then of course JJ would be more problematic in their books.

I was about to invest into adjustable track bar, and from my reading, JKS was the way to go due to JJ without Currie out of space prices. So now, if desirable JJ is no longer a part of the equation, then what is the point of choosing it over something else?

 

[06TJ35's]

Currie is the superior Rear trac bar. We don’t know hardly anything about Jks “Com Bearing” . All we know is that they have tested for “4 years”.

I never read about a JJ making noise. Jks says it doesn’t need to be greased often but I call it bluff. I assume you will need to grease it eventually like a JJ.

 

[rasband]

Thanks for capturing all the data from that other thread, I have a number to call to talk to them about this a little more based on my questions to them.

As far as other options I’d still rank it as Currie -> MetalCloak/JKS -> Most others - at least on my list.

The JKS doesn’t seem like a heim joint since it still has a rubber bushing and is rebuildable (maybe that’s not a defining characteristic of heim but it looks to be).

 

[06TJ35's]

@mrblaine @Jerry Bransford Any experience/feedback with JKS “Com Bearing”?

 

[Chris]

Very interesting, I'm following this.

I'd especially be curious to hear if Blaine has any input or feedback on this "COM bearing".

 

[mrblaine]

Currie is the superior Rear trac bar. We don’t know hardly anything about Jks “Com Bearing” . All we know is that they have tested for “4 years”.

I never read about a JJ making noise. Jks says it doesn’t need to be greased often but I call it bluff. I assume you will need to grease it eventually like a JJ.

I wouldn't make that assumption at all. There are myriad rod ends out there that never get lubed. The JKS is very likely not original. It is a spherical bearing. The offroad race world uses spherical bearings by the millions. Rod ends are just spherical bearings with a housing and threaded shank. Racers use the spherical bearings to make end links, upper and lower pivots for steering knuckles, and anything that moves that they want small size, high strength, and low to zero maintenance.

If I remember, I'll see if I can find the front trackbar that I converted 4 years ago as a test with spherical bearings.

http://syzrodends.com/product/slb-spherical-bearing/

Do a search for spherical bearing. There are 1000's of them. That is just one that came up with injected races instead of metal on metal or Teflon cloth.

 

[SvtLdr]

Are there any long-term durability reports on the "new" JKS rear track bar design?
Part #JKSOGS151

 

[Vasq]

Just for anyone who's wondering, I recently got a JKS rear track bar, and it does NOT have this angle on the bushing end.

 

[SvtLdr]

That's good to know. Thanks

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Just for anyone who's wondering, I recently got a JKS rear track bar, and it does NOT have this angle on the bushing end.

View attachment 256725

I don't think the one I got in 2019 did, either.

 

[burdetter16]

Sorry to revive an old thread but does anyone have any updates on the COM bushing JKS uses? I need to replace the Rubicon Express TB the PO put on my Jeep and like the price point and reputation of JKS. I haven’t seen or heard anything really about that joint being bad but thought I’d ask before I order one. Thanks!

 

[freedom_in_4low]

damn do I hate being right. This "com bearing" is squealing like a banshee and I just now traced the noise down, 6 days before I leave for a wheeling trip.

For anybody else with this problem, the part number is JKS 7208 which includes a full service kit for the track bar including the split poly bushing for the frame end. Good luck finding one quick though, it's not an Amazon Prime item so there's a chance mine arrives after I've left and me and my entire group will get to listen to it the entire time.

On the other hand, I guess paying $50 every 6 years is better than disassembling and greasing it every 8 months so I guess it's on me for waiting until the last minute to go over my rig. Speaking of which, I'll be spending tomorrow cleaning and greasing my JJ's because they're creaky, as usual.

 

[Unique Username]

damn do I hate being right. This "com bearing" is squealing like a banshee and I just now traced the noise down, 6 days before I leave for a wheeling trip.

For anybody else with this problem, the part number is JKS 7208 which includes a full service kit for the track bar including the split poly bushing for the frame end. Good luck finding one quick though, it's not an Amazon Prime item so there's a chance mine arrives after I've left and me and my entire group will get to listen to it the entire time.

On the other hand, I guess paying $50 every 6 years is better than disassembling and greasing it every 8 months so I guess it's on me for waiting until the last minute to go over my rig. Speaking of which, I'll be spending tomorrow cleaning and greasing my JJ's because they're creaky, as usual.

Mine was making the same noise at one point. I hit it with WD40 until I had a minute to rebuild and that worked well enough to get me by a few trail days.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Mine was making the same noise at one point. I hit it with WD40 until I had a minute to rebuild and that worked well enough to get me by a few trail days.

Yeah I've got the bar out on my work bench, gonna grease it up with some cv2 just in case the replacement I ordered doesn't arrive when it's supposed to or I run out of time to deal with it.

 

[MountaineerTom]

damn do I hate being right. This "com bearing" is squealing like a banshee and I just now traced the noise down, 6 days before I leave for a wheeling trip.

For anybody else with this problem, the part number is JKS 7208 which includes a full service kit for the track bar including the split poly bushing for the frame end. Good luck finding one quick though, it's not an Amazon Prime item so there's a chance mine arrives after I've left and me and my entire group will get to listen to it the entire time.

On the other hand, I guess paying $50 every 6 years is better than disassembling and greasing it every 8 months so I guess it's on me for waiting until the last minute to go over my rig. Speaking of which, I'll be spending tomorrow cleaning and greasing my JJ's because they're creaky, as usual.

Are you trying anything new or different to eliminate the creaking/squeaking in your JJ’s on your control arms?

I recently removed and relubed my rear lowers that were creaking bad. When I get around to doing the rear uppers, I’m going to try something. I got a set of the upper bushings for my Savvy JJ’s from @JMT 2 or 3 years ago. I used my Dremel tool to cut some small grooves in the inner surface (like another member here did, but I can’t remember their name) where the ball rides. I’m going to see if it will make it possible to get some grease in there throught the zerks. If it works, I’ll end up doing the rest.

 

[Moglocker]

Are you trying anything new or different to eliminate the creaking/squeaking?

I recently removed and relubed my rear lowers that were creaking bad. When I get around to doing the rear uppers, I’m going to try something. I got a set of the upper bushing from @JMT 2 or 3 years ago. I used my Dremel tool to cut some small grooves in the inner surface (like another member here did, but I can’t remember their name) where the ball rides. I’m going to see if it will make it possible to get some grease in there throught the zerks. If it works, I’ll end up doing the rest.

I must have gotten a different one,this is the one I received,it fixed my gas tank clearance problem.it looks like it’s not serviceable?

 

[JMT]

Are you trying anything new or different to eliminate the creaking/squeaking?

I recently removed and relubed my rear lowers that were creaking bad. When I get around to doing the rear uppers, I’m going to try something. I got a set of the upper bushing from @JMT 2 or 3 years ago. I used my Dremel tool to cut some small grooves in the inner surface (like another member here did, but I can’t remember their name) where the ball rides. I’m going to see if it will make it possible to get some grease in there throught the zerks. If it works, I’ll end up doing the rest.

Looking forward to your results/report regarding the grooves. Interesting idea.

 

[MountaineerTom]

I must have gotten a different one,this is the one I received,it fixed my gas tank clearance problem.it looks like it’s not serviceable?

View attachment 637199

Oops, I was referring to his JJ’s on his control arms. I edited the original post.