Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

track bar bracket question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-11-2009, 06:56 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
kurvy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default track bar bracket question

is there supposed to be any play from the track bar bracket itself??

i think that is contributing to the death wobble

---in a detailed explanation...

i got a friend to turn the steering wheel side to side and i could see the track bar bracket move just a bit when it reached fully to the right/left

if thats the case, any suggestions on what type of track bar bracket i should get??

my jeep has stock lift and I was looking for something inexpensive, but is able to get the job done right

91 XJ
Old 07-11-2009, 08:39 PM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
4.3L XJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Chico, CA
Posts: 6,554
Received 482 Likes on 413 Posts
Year: 1986
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.3L with headers and full 3" exhaust system
Default

As long as your bushings are tight, it is OK. They can move a little and sometimes they can have a little up and down play, but this will not contribute to your death wobble. That is caused by the front axle moving back and forth while the steering drag link does not, causing the front wheels to change direction while this happens. Check your tie rod ends, adjust hour steering box, check your track bar bushings and ball joints.
Old 07-11-2009, 08:46 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Mike1998XJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Grand Haven, Michigan
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Year: 1998, 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Is it slop between the bracket and frame (like the bolts are loose) or is the whole bracket bending?
Mike
Old 07-11-2009, 09:25 PM
  #4  
aka Wade-O
 
89eliminator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: IN
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 1989 Comanche
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

you want ZERO movement on the frame side bracket.
Old 10-20-2009, 06:45 PM
  #5  
Newbie
 
NJXJ609's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

there should be no play, that's exactly your problem. i cracked my trac bar drop bracket and had crazy death wobbles. welds arent permanent. better off ordering trac bar drop bracket from skyjacker
Old 10-20-2009, 06:55 PM
  #6  
MJ>XJ
 
huntingman2706217's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Griffin, G.A.
Posts: 17,836
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0 I6
Default

bad jew jew... just order a adjustable and get rid of the bracket...
Old 04-14-2010, 10:36 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
 
toxic1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: temecula, ca
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

i know this is an old thread(might as well save bandwidth)

my track bar bracket is extremly loose. i do have an adj tracbar. i was told if i weld the bracket on it would do the trick. now if i weld it on, will it just complicate things when i go to lift it a bit more? or are those TB brackets kind of universal with adjustable TB's? or should i just take it of like poster above mentioned?

at present. my steering wheel is VERY sloppy left to right. if i weld that bracket tight will it fix my prob
Old 04-14-2010, 10:40 PM
  #8  
aka Wade-O
 
89eliminator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: IN
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 1989 Comanche
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

loctite the bolts. my frame bracket would loosen up every once in a while. i put some red loctite on the bolts and they have yet to loosen. i wouldnt weld it unless you have frame stiffeners on already. the frame isnt very thick.
Old 04-15-2010, 03:31 AM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
toxic1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: temecula, ca
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Originally Posted by 89eliminator
loctite the bolts. my frame bracket would loosen up every once in a while. i put some red loctite on the bolts and they have yet to loosen. i wouldnt weld it unless you have frame stiffeners on already. the frame isnt very thick.
but after all this time i think the hole on the bracket is good and rounded out, leaving major play that tightening might not fix. or naw?
Old 04-15-2010, 04:57 AM
  #10  
CF Veteran
 
fantic238's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Year: 1988 limited
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 litre
Default

Put some lock washers under the bolts that look like this:
Old 04-15-2010, 05:00 AM
  #11  
Member
 
safish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Winder
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
Default

go buy a RE drop down trackbar and just tack weld it and the bolt, just enough to keep it from loosening up. That will do the trick! AND you will be able to install a lift a little later with no issues!!!!......And NO, the trac bar bracket should NOT be loose, and YES it can cause Death Wobble...Good Luck!
Old 04-15-2010, 05:07 AM
  #12  
Member
 
safish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Winder
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 91
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
Default

Originally Posted by 4.3L XJ
As long as your bushings are tight, it is OK. They can move a little and sometimes they can have a little up and down play, but this will not contribute to your death wobble. That is caused by the front axle moving back and forth while the steering drag link does not, causing the front wheels to change direction while this happens. Check your tie rod ends, adjust hour steering box, check your track bar bushings and ball joints.
Why would you tell someone that its ok to have movement in a trac bar bracket? Your gonna get someone killed. There should not be ANY play what-so-ever, in the bracket, the tracbar itself or the draglink....And another thing, the axle moving back and forth is a direct result of a loose bracket or bad bushings, NOT a drag link!

Last edited by safish; 04-15-2010 at 05:11 AM.
Old 04-15-2010, 05:12 AM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
fantic238's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 1 Post
Year: 1988 limited
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 litre
Default

Originally Posted by safish
Why would you tell someone that its ok to have movement in a trac bar bracket? Your gonna get someone killed. There should not be ANY play what-so-ever, in the bracket, the tracbar itself or the draglink....And another thing, the axle moving back and forth is a direct result of a loose bracket or bad bushings, NOT a drag link!
safish, 4.3xj was referring to the ball joint up and down play that is normal.
Old 04-15-2010, 07:53 AM
  #14  
CF Veteran
 
caged's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
Posts: 7,874
Received 94 Likes on 85 Posts
Year: 1990, 1999, 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

i welded my RE heavy duty drop bracket to my frame.
my bolts were always loosening up, even with red locktite, so i broke out the welder. now not even a creak.
i'm already lifted as high as i want to go, and can't upgrade the track bar any more anyways, so....
Old 04-15-2010, 12:31 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
 
toxic1212's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: temecula, ca
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Default

thanks for all the replys guys
it really helped me out


Quick Reply: track bar bracket question



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:08 AM.