Track bar bracket bolt, broke welded nut...
12-09-2018, 02:07 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: East Haven CT
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Track bar bracket bolt, broke welded nut...
Any tips on what I can use to get up in there and cut that stupid round welded nut on the opposite side of the track bar bracket? I got 3 out so far with a breaker bar and my impact, but when I got to the furthest one back (bracket to frame) I heard it crack and I knew it was done. The nut just spins, and I can’t get a good enough grip on it with a vice... would a Dremel cut-off wheel get it out?
Ive been breaking bolts like crazy trying to get stuff out...
Ive been breaking bolts like crazy trying to get stuff out...
12-10-2018, 08:05 AM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: East Haven CT
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Thanks - i fought with it last night late and went through 5 Dremel cut-off wheels before I got the weld nut split open far enough to break it away. And I'm glad I went this route also because the castle nut holding the trackbar on the mount is frozen solid, and slightly stripped now. I'm assuming I'm going to have to cut this one too.
12-10-2018, 11:22 AM
#4
CF Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Groton, MA
Posts: 3,695
Received 234 Likes
on
207 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
Probably. Those castle nuts seem to be pretty easy to cut off in my experience, so hopefully it'll be like a vacation after dealing with the weld-nut. 
12-10-2018, 11:56 PM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: East Haven CT
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I just got done (almost 1am) after 45 minutes of Dremel’ing the castle nut in the removable frame mount. I couldn’t believe how frozen it was- I had to grind it out in sections. Now I have to get the trackbar off the mount - this has seriously become like a 5 day project lol! I love when people go “30 minute job...” yeah ok!
12-11-2018, 05:10 AM
#7
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,214
Received 606 Likes
on
516 Posts
Year: 96
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
No way could I separate trackbar joint while still mounted in vehicle
Trending Topics
12-11-2018, 06:54 AM
#8
CF Veteran
Ive had pretty good success with a cheap 2" cutoff wheel grinder from harbor freight. You just have to be patient and slightly misuse the tool by grinding sideways on it instead of going for the straight cut. Eye and ear protection mandatory. Other thing is the trusty recip saw with a metal blade. Tools of battle.
12-11-2018, 10:43 AM
#9
CF Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Groton, MA
Posts: 3,695
Received 234 Likes
on
207 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I6 4.0L
I just got done (almost 1am) after 45 minutes of Dremel’ing the castle nut in the removable frame mount. I couldn’t believe how frozen it was- I had to grind it out in sections. Now I have to get the trackbar off the mount - this has seriously become like a 5 day project lol! I love when people go “30 minute job...” yeah ok!
x2 on the reciprocating saw being a necessary tool. My angle grinder with the cut-off wheel (it's something like 4.5 or 5" - whatever the standard size is) gets a lot of use as well.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
swanson
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
05-27-2015 12:14 AM
JamromXJ
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
9
06-08-2014 09:23 PM
speedofsound
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
5
11-02-2013 06:58 PM
Ladies
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
6
06-18-2011 09:39 AM
jekyllrider
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
14
09-05-2008 07:00 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)