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track bar question

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Old 06-05-2009, 11:08 PM
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Default track bar question

I'm experiencing bad death wobble and I got my friend to turn the steering wheel while I looked under the jeep. I noticed that my track bar was moving side to side about an inch, should that be loose at all?? The bracket mounted to the track bar was moving slightly as well.
Old 06-05-2009, 11:15 PM
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no movement should occur.
Old 06-05-2009, 11:19 PM
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If you track bar moves an inch side to side with movement of the steering wheel DO NOT DRIVE YOU JEEP AT HIGHWAY SPEED until you get it fixed.
Old 06-06-2009, 12:34 AM
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X2....

Not very safe at all for you or anybody driving around you......
Old 06-06-2009, 01:56 AM
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get an adjustable unit and lose the bracket that is your issue.
Old 06-06-2009, 06:37 AM
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sounds good guys thanks a ton for the information, this is a great forum
Old 06-06-2009, 07:11 AM
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Kurvy,
you didn't say whether or not you had any lift. If it's stock and you are keeping it that way go get a new one at your local autoparts store. If you are going to lift it get a new adjustable TB. IRO makes a reasonable one that looks pretty stout. They will make a custom one for you if you have less than 3" of lift. I would have gotten one but they were on their way to Moab and couldn't get it done for 2 weeks. Here's the good onedouble shear upgrade
Old 06-06-2009, 08:11 AM
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the lift is stock yes, i'll prob stop by auto zone or something and grab one of theirs, i was def thinking about getting an adjustable track bar but i didnt see any point b/c i'm not planning to lift it anytime soon (just a get and go car atm), also, i didnt want to fork out 200+ bucks for a new track bar, hopefully the one at the local store is cheaper
Old 06-06-2009, 09:45 AM
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Advance Auto offers one with a 1 year warranty for 56, and another with a lifetime warranty for 87. I just did this last week, make sure you grab a tie-rod fork from autozone's loan a tool program or something like that, you'll need it.
Old 06-06-2009, 10:20 PM
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If you are planing to keep your jeep for a long period of time, I keep my jeeps for 10 years min. I would spend the extra few dollars for the lifetime warranty. Track bars usually last @5 Years or a little more.
I used to use a pickel fork (tie rod tool) for years until I learned from a few garage mechanics, Throw the fork away and just hit the tie rod joint 2-3 times with a heavy hammer and the tie rod will just fall out of the joint. The tie rod has a tappered shaft and the vibration will loosen the shaft. This also works for the track bar joint. It's just a little bit harder to hit and takes more patience.
Old 06-07-2009, 09:59 AM
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while you're down there go ahead and replace all your ball joints and get an alighment done. you can get the ball joints from www.4wd.com they're not that expensive and worth it in the long run. it'll take some slop out of the steering. i'm doing this to mine right now. just a bit of advice about the pitman arm joint...rent the pitman arm remover tool from the parts store becuase its a beotch to get off otherwise.
Old 06-07-2009, 04:15 PM
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why do ball joints if they are not bad? To check them jack one side of the axle up and put a bar between tire and ground and pull up on it a few times to see if anything moves.

If they do buy Moog from advanced $200 for all 4 and be done with it.
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