Is this track bar movement acceptable?
- Thread starter jazngab
- Start date
Yes. That was my next move. Using the original hardware.
Edit: I misread and saw you said change the bushing. I don’t believe I have the tools to press a new bushing.
Not going to change anything. The bolt was not moving, you are just compressing the rubber bushing, nothing more and that is perfectly normal.
Ok. I will see what I can do with the bushing as it did not move at all with the old bar. It was the frame side that had the play.
The bolt isn't the problem. The hole size in the bolt sleeve isn't the problem. The holes in the bracket are not the problem. There is however, a very large problem with lots of folks not understanding how all of this works.
How in the world do the front axle lower control arms stay in place in their slotted holes? Does anyone sell an ovaled bolt?
I'm confused. Are you saying the movement is normal or their is an issue with the sleeve?
I ask because I put a new Moog trackbar in my Jeep sometime back and had the exact same movement. The bolt doesn't appear to move but the rubber bushing sure does deflect a lot. I figured Moog used to soft of a bushing. In my case I do not have any death wobble, but my steering is a little looser than I would like. But some of my steering issue could be worn control arms too.
You are only confused because you are trying to translate what I said into what you think is happening instead of taking the words and meaning at face value. If the body of the trackbar is moving and the bolt isn't, that means the rubber bushing is compressing as it is designed to do. Why is rubber even in there if it is supposed to be a solid connection? It is there for a reason and if the forces against it are higher than the hardness of the rubber can endure without compression, it will show movement of the track bar end.
Just so we're all clear on your viewpoint, are you saying that the amount of movement shown in the video is acceptable/normal?
If so, thanks for sharing that. It looked excessive to my eye but you've looked at hundreds or thousands more TJ front ends than I have for sure.
on to the DW issue. What was replaced during your 2” lift? Springs, tires control arms ?
Check your toe in/out setting. Do you see any other movement on other joints related to steering or suspension ?
Check your toe in/out setting. Do you see any other movement on other joints related to steering or suspension ?
Only springs changed. The whole front end has been replaced within last 7 months minus drag link. Everything looks tight. Only that tiny ever so slight movement on the track bar which @Fargo says he has as well in his moog track bar. If the slight movement at the bushing is “normal” then I’m starting to lean that it’s my tires. I rotated them while all the wheels were off when we did the lift job but did not have them rebalanced.
Do you have stock control arms? Do you have cam bolts in the lowers arms? Since you say there is no other movement in any other joints. I’ve seen caster out of spec on the high end induce DW. Just some ideas.
Update: so knowing the all my suspension components were more than likely good including the track bar, I looked at tires and alignment. Rotated the tires back to their original positions pre spring install. Still DW and bumpsteer. So I looked at the alignment. I had done it a few times before but what I realized was I was measuring wrong the whole time. I found an old pic of @mrblaine doing an alignment using the square tubing and I saw that he was taking the measurements from the perceived spots of the tire size of that particular Jeep. Every time I had done an alignment I was taking measurements from the front and rear of the rotors. So armed with this new knowledge I went to remove the tires for the hundredth time to do another alignment but this time with the width of 31s marked on the tubing. Came to find out that my toe in was about 1/2” or so. Wayyy off. Corrected the toe in to 1/16” and took her for a spin. Steering feels tighter, not so loose as it was previously. Took a few small bumps at 45 mph and the Jeep felt more stable (but more body roll as I am still getting used to driving with the antirock). I’m hopeful that the corrected alignment has taken care of the DW/bumpsteer issues I had post spring lift. I suppose the real test will be on the highway at 50-60mph hitting any bumps.
Jameskennedy
Member
Did the alignment donthe trick having same issue loose steering death wobble all front end replaced And lifted and mew tores just before i bought this tj, notice my trackbar dame movement everything else is tight and new. Death wobble scary shit , have to slow right down to stop it. How are highway speeds?
For me, yes....proper alignment did the trick. Anytime you lift the Jeep, the alignment needs to be corrected.
Jameskennedy
Member
Ya i just assumwd when the suspension lift was done the previous owner had the alignment corrected but ill be getting it checked asap to see if its out and update.
A Moog k7252 3/4 ton Dodge track bar bushing and a 14mm bolt will fix that mess. Ask @ David Kispaugh.
It's a denser bushing with a thicker sleeve...maybe as good as a clevite bushing gets.
It's a denser bushing with a thicker sleeve...maybe as good as a clevite bushing gets.
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