s14unimog

So recently a repeatable popping noise has cropped up in my suspension and after having my wife out in the driveway doing lock-to-lock turns for hours while I look under there. It's looking like the culprit is the double shear track bar bracket I'm running. As I see it, the extended fulcrum point of the bracket to the body is causing undue stress into the uni-body right there. Surely you other guys, with these longer frame side track bar brackets, whether they are double shear or not, are experiencing these issues.

I plan to get under there tonight and drop the bracket for a peak behind it but wonder if I couldn't get a head start as what I might expect to see. Thoughts?

for reference its a 97 at 4.5" with 32's

PingPong

I suggest a trac bar brace. MAke sure you use locktight on the 4 bolts holding the mo9unt in place too. I ended up just welding mine to my frame.. after I plated the frame of course No more issues

89eliminator

had the same issuse. like pingpong said, locktite those bolts up. i did that and didnt have a problem after. i now also run a crossbrace.

s14unimog

^I've gotten down there and checked their tq. and all four are tight. My outside ones were a tiny bit loose, as I could see some shifting marks from the nuts moving around their hole but even after tightening them a bit more, that popping sound has not changed.

^ya, I was thinking that a brace has got to be the best solution. It's got to be the most rigid way to reinforce that bracket. I'm going to see if I can't fab something up tonight or tomorrow.

PingPong

Look up the torque specs, apply red loctite and torque to specs.. bet it wont loosen again

s14unimog

^That's just it, it's not loose. I note the frame flexing from the leverage advantage the bracket has on the body. I'm betting that cross brace will be the only thing to arrest it. Have you ever looked at yours with someone working the wheel? Maybe yours is just not audible but I imagine its flexing the frame too. It sounds as if something pops back and forth over a ledge of some sort.

My last two evenings have been shot to hell so I've yet to put eyes on it.

89eliminator

i had someone turn the wheel while i looked around. and the popping noise i was hearing was from the upper bolts being loose. maybe inspect yours for cracks in the frame? or maybe its coming from the steering box area. either way though, a crossbrace is a good idea to have.

here is a crappy picture of mine...

s14unimog

^Thanks for the picture. I agree with ya, despite where it's coming from the unibody isn't liking the longer bracket. I know those outside nuts aren't moving. I might just film the movement for kicks before adding the brace.

Donnie_K

I had the same issue... no brace needed, my bolts just weren't tight enough. Though if 89eliminator says it's not a bad idea, then it's not a bad idea. Still tighten those bolts up though.

PingPong

MIne is welded to my frame.. so I am positive mine wont move... IF the bolts are tight, and the right size... there has to be other issues. As pointed out.. check to see if you frame is cracked or delaminating. Remeber it is only spot welds holding it together.

s14unimog

I'm telling you, they're tight as all hell. I mean I've gotten down there recently and done it too. I really feel that the unibody rail is flexing right there. Call me crazy but I swear it moved.