JKS adjustable rear track bar questions

[freedom_in_4low]

well dang...I went with JKS due to the sizable price gap to Currie but now I'm second guessing because of this joint.

Their website calls it a "spherical urethane bushing" but I don't know if that's leftover from when it had a JJ. I'm willing to give it a try, but if it wears out or makes noise I'll probably be looking for ways to convert it to a JJ.

 

[06TJ35's]

well dang...I went with JKS due to the sizable price gap to Currie but now I'm second guessing because of this joint.

Their website calls it a "spherical urethane bushing" but I don't know if that's leftover from when it had a JJ. I'm willing to give it a try, but if it wears out or makes noise I'll probably be looking for ways to convert it to a JJ.

Same. If their joint fails or starts to squeak I’m changing it to a Jhonny Joint.(I don’t think it should be to difficult) Just leaves me wondering if anyone bought a JKS rear trac bar with a jhonny joint.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Same. If their joint fails or starts to squeak I’m changing it to a Jhonny Joint.(I don’t think it should be to difficult) Just leaves me wondering if anyone bought a JKS rear trac bar with a jhonny joint.

Yeah. When I get home I'm going to measure the bushing housing and see if it matches up with the johnny joint. If it does, the biggest hurdle at that point will be drilling and tapping for a grease zerk.

 

[rasband]

I messaged them about their broken parts finder page, if I hear anything useful back I will let this thread know.

 

[06TJ35's]

Yeah. When I get home I'm going to measure the bushing housing and see if it matches up with the johnny joint. If it does, the biggest hurdle at that point will be drilling and tapping for a grease zerk.

I didn’t even take to consideration on what type of joint JKS had. I seen this post and opened up the box and sure enough heim joint. Same thing as Metal cloak trac bar. Actually cheaper if you buy the MC trac bar with the TB relocation bracket compared to Jks TB with their TB relocation bracket. I would have saved for the Currie TB. Hopefully will be just fine.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I didn’t even take to consideration on what type of joint JKS had. I seen this post and opened up the box and sure enough heim joint. Same thing as Metal cloak trac bar. Actually cheaper if you buy the MC trac bar with the TB relocation bracket compared to Jks TB with their TB relocation bracket. I would have saved for the Currie TB. Hopefully will be just fine.

I thought about it because I specifically did NOT want a heim. The photos I saw looked like a JJ and even their website description of a "spherical urethane bushing" didn't to me imply a heim joint.

I just hate that the Currie bar is close to $400. Their stuff often commands a premium and rightly so, but in this case it just seems out of touch with the market.

 

[bobthetj03]

I think this is something different than a typical heim joint. The guts appear to be held together with a snap ring.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I think this is something different than a typical heim joint. The guts appear to be held together with a snap ring.

Yeah, if the casing is of a similar material as JJ's and their copycats, it might last ok. Still concerned about the lack of a grease fitting. And I don't like that it appears to be a recent development that hasn't had years of real world testing.

 

[06TJ35's]

Yeah, if the casing is of a similar material as JJ's and their copycats, it might last ok. Still concerned about the lack of a grease fitting. And I don't like that it appears to be a recent development that hasn't had years of real world testing.

I guess we’re the test dummies. Hopefully it’s better than a heim joint and will be just fine.

 

[bobthetj03]

I just don't understand why they did away with a JJ at that end. They aren't solving any problems that were there prior. ???
Are they going to change their front TB too? I've had a front JKS TB with the JJ for the frame end for 12 years, with no issues. Only advantage I see for the front is clearance. You don't have clearance issues for the rear TB.

 

[06TJ35's]

I just don't understand why they did away with a JJ at that end. They aren't solving any problems that were there prior. ???
Are they going to change their front TB too? I've had a front JKS TB with the JJ for the frame end for 12 years, with no issues. Only advantage I see for the front is clearance. You don't have clearance issues for the rear TB.

Correct. I mean why would they “fix” something that isn’t broke. JJ already has a reputation and have been proven. Currie has them on all their parts. So what the hell
JKS owes us some answers.

 

[cdubculvy]

Glad to have uncovered a conspiracy lol. I'm still begging the question though, does the Currie rear trackbar fit fine using the factory mounting points? I still have the opportunity to return the JKS but don't want to get the Currie if it requires a bracket. Haven't come across a post where someone used the Currie without a bracket.

 

[rasband]

Glad to have uncovered a conspiracy lol. I'm still begging the question though, does the Currie rear trackbar fit fine using the factory mounting points? I still have the opportunity to return the JKS but don't want to get the Currie if it requires a bracket. Haven't come across a post where someone used the Currie without a bracket.

I would bet that it’s 99.9% likely it fits, but you can give them a call or email to check.

The brackets only move where the bar attaches, either higher or higher and angled. I’ve not seen any that change the width.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I don't doubt it would bolt up. If you have a standard 2 joint driveshaft it should work fine, but if you have a DC shaft with the pinion pointed up I'm just not sure what sort of binding issues you might run into with the joint axis so misaligned from the track bars plane of motion.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I messaged them about their broken parts finder page, if I hear anything useful back I will let this thread know.

Should be interesting... Specifically whether they changed the bushing housing.

My rough measurements were inconclusive. Seems possible that the Johnny Joint might just go right in but can't get precise measurements without removing the bushing that's already there.

As for speculation as to why they would have changed, I would bet it has everything to do with cost. I'm sure the financial folks at JKS figured out they could do this joint for cheaper than they were paying Currie for Johnny joints.

 

[rasband]

Should be interesting... Specifically whether they changed the bushing housing.

My rough measurements were inconclusive. Seems possible that the Johnny Joint might just go right in but can't get precise measurements without removing the bushing that's already there.

As for speculation as to why they would have changed, I would bet it has everything to do with cost. I'm sure the financial folks at JKS figured out they could do this joint for cheaper than they were paying Currie for Johnny joints.

I’m not hopeful I’ll hear anything terribly useful back, but we will see. Reading about the JKS bars was confusing when I was shopping for mine since they didn’t say which end you actually get ever.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

I’m not hopeful I’ll hear anything terribly useful back, but we will see. Reading about the JKS bars was confusing when I was shopping for mine since they didn’t say which end you actually get ever.

I too am disappointed that they're not more clear about what comes on this track bar.

I did find on their JK track bar that they describe it as a "COM bearing".

https://jksmfg.com/i-24048400-hd-ad...:https://jksmfg.com/search.html?q=COM+bearing

This page has an announcement about it(again for the JK) https://jksmfg.com/n-12845-jks-hd-track-bar-kit.html

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.​

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[06TJ35's]

I messaged them to here’s what they said

“That is a proprietary com bearing that doesn't require regular greasing like a johnny joint does. We have found these to last just as long without have to grease them to keep the noise down”

Jhonny Joint makes noise?

 

[freedom_in_4low]

Funny, I've been emailing with them and got a very similar response this morning.

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

So I responded asking for a technical brochure or something about the COM bearing so I can better understand it. I also asked about the possibility of retrofitting to a Johnny Joint.

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

So I guess my options now are to take the gamble on what I consider an unproven joint (despite what he says about using them for 4 years) or return it and pony up the cash for a Currie...which I didn't really have in the budget right now.

 

[06TJ35's]

So I guess my options now are to take the gamble on what I consider an unproven joint (despite what he says about using them for 4 years) or return it and pony up the cash for a Currie...which I didn't really have in the budget right now.

I’m going run it and hopefully it’s what they say it is because I don’t have the budget for currie TB either.