Axle side bushing of Track Bar
08-29-2016, 02:16 PM
#1
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Axle side bushing of Track Bar
Just an FYI for all the stock xj and zj folks. REcently I replaced the stock track bar with another stock track bar, because the joint on the frame side was loose. No biggie. The new stock bar came with a pretty robust looking bushing in the axle side, and my hole was not wallowed, and I cranked it in nicely.
It drove ok, but I could detect some mushyness right as soon as you turn the wheel, and going down the road required constant little corrections. Turns were not as tight as they should be. So I picked up a Moog poly bushing set, aftermarket and put it in. I am here to tell you that the difference is night and day..backs up nice and straight, same down the road, turns require less turning, and no DW.
If you replace the stock bar I highly recommend changing this at the same time. It only took a couple hours Saturday morning under it, and I used the C clamp from a ball joint kit to drive out the old center guide after heating it with propane for a minute. Then cut out the remains of the old bushing, and again use the C clamp to squeeze in together the new 2 piece bushing. It was a bit of a battle but well worth it.
It drove ok, but I could detect some mushyness right as soon as you turn the wheel, and going down the road required constant little corrections. Turns were not as tight as they should be. So I picked up a Moog poly bushing set, aftermarket and put it in. I am here to tell you that the difference is night and day..backs up nice and straight, same down the road, turns require less turning, and no DW.
If you replace the stock bar I highly recommend changing this at the same time. It only took a couple hours Saturday morning under it, and I used the C clamp from a ball joint kit to drive out the old center guide after heating it with propane for a minute. Then cut out the remains of the old bushing, and again use the C clamp to squeeze in together the new 2 piece bushing. It was a bit of a battle but well worth it.
08-29-2016, 09:38 PM
#2
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oroville, CA
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Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Just an FYI for all the stock xj and zj folks. REcently I replaced the stock track bar with another stock track bar, because the joint on the frame side was loose. No biggie. The new stock bar came with a pretty robust looking bushing in the axle side, and my hole was not wallowed, and I cranked it in nicely. It drove ok, but I could detect some mushyness right as soon as you turn the wheel, and going down the road required constant little corrections. Turns were not as tight as they should be. So I picked up a Moog poly bushing set, aftermarket and put it in. I am here to tell you that the difference is night and day..backs up nice and straight, same down the road, turns require less turning, and no DW. If you replace the stock bar I highly recommend changing this at the same time. It only took a couple hours Saturday morning under it, and I used the C clamp from a ball joint kit to drive out the old center guide after heating it with propane for a minute. Then cut out the remains of the old bushing, and again use the C clamp to squeeze in together the new 2 piece bushing. It was a bit of a battle but well worth it.
08-30-2016, 04:48 AM
#3
Old fart with a wrench
YES! Most people don't realize ALL of the cornering forces are controlled by the track bars in a 4-link suspension set-up like jeeps use. That's why aftermarket track bars with heim joints usually break because the joints used are not as strong as they should be. Plus they don't absorb shock very well. Poly bushings are probably the best thing to use for that application.
08-30-2016, 07:43 AM
#4
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Actually for some reason, although the previous owner couldn't tune up a lawn mower, he had pep boys replace the back ones with poly bushings as well as all the sway links. So a bit of wear on them but the zj does indeed handle quite solidly at this point I would put it up against a new car. Next step I'm going to look at..been reading of replacing the hollow tube drag link with a solid one from a 5.7 from the bone yard..there was a nice thread on that one
09-03-2016, 02:47 AM
#6
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