Adjustable Trackbar issues
 

Nathan was gracious enough to send me an adjustable trackbar for my wife's
XJ to try and fix the death wobble issue. I went to put it on today, and
ran into a number of snags:

1. Even with a pickle fork (sp?) it was a pain to get the old one off. It
finally did with help from a fellow jeeper in the shop.

2. The new hardware was not for an XJ. The lower bolt is WAY too long and
too thick. I didn't realize it was too long until I had already drilled out
the holes. I found a replacement one without a problem, though. I think
it's a grade 8 too, just a bonus. The upper bolt seems too long too. The
hole for the cotter pin is too high to be useful.

2. The bar doesn't adjust to short enough!!

I put it on anyway, thinking it was still less off than the stock one. Was
I ever wrong!! The steering wheel was at least 90 degrees to the right and
the axle was WAY off center. Got it home, and put the stock one back on.

It appears that the adjustable trackbar can be adjusted to be shorter.
Heck, there's at least 3 more inches of threads leading up to the "eye".
However, I can't get it to thread into bar any further. I had the lower
section mounted to the axle, and used a breaker bar in the eye in an attempt
to force it to thread in further. I've got it in as far as I can get it,
and the bar was starting to get hot where the threads were.

Why would it not thread any further, yet there be a few more inches of
thread? I'm back to the stock one until I can figure out how to thread this
in more. If it won't, oh well, I'll hold on to it until I lift my TJ some
more... ;-)

Eric

Re: Adjustable Trackbar issues
 

Eric,
Did you check on either end for a hex fitting to loosen the adjustment. on
my adj. control arms, i have to loosen the hex nut before i adjust it, then
re-tighten it. look on the end where it threads possibly.


--
MJ w/ 2 TJ's (Rube and Trevor James, yes he was named after a TJ)
2003 Rubicon 4" Teraflex Long Arm Kit 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR's Warn
XD9000i
'86 CJ 7 Chev 350, 350 Turbo Tran, Dana 44's 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR
www.tazjeep.com


"Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
news:utCUa.116356$o86.9522@news1.central.cox.net.. .
> Nathan was gracious enough to send me an adjustable trackbar for my wife's
> XJ to try and fix the death wobble issue. I went to put it on today, and
> ran into a number of snags:
>
> 1. Even with a pickle fork (sp?) it was a pain to get the old one off.
It
> finally did with help from a fellow jeeper in the shop.
>
> 2. The new hardware was not for an XJ. The lower bolt is WAY too long
and
> too thick. I didn't realize it was too long until I had already drilled
out
> the holes. I found a replacement one without a problem, though. I think
> it's a grade 8 too, just a bonus. The upper bolt seems too long too. The
> hole for the cotter pin is too high to be useful.
>
> 2. The bar doesn't adjust to short enough!!
>
> I put it on anyway, thinking it was still less off than the stock one.
Was
> I ever wrong!! The steering wheel was at least 90 degrees to the right
and
> the axle was WAY off center. Got it home, and put the stock one back on.
>
> It appears that the adjustable trackbar can be adjusted to be shorter.
> Heck, there's at least 3 more inches of threads leading up to the "eye".
> However, I can't get it to thread into bar any further. I had the lower
> section mounted to the axle, and used a breaker bar in the eye in an
attempt
> to force it to thread in further. I've got it in as far as I can get it,
> and the bar was starting to get hot where the threads were.
>
> Why would it not thread any further, yet there be a few more inches of
> thread? I'm back to the stock one until I can figure out how to thread
this
> in more. If it won't, oh well, I'll hold on to it until I lift my TJ some
> more... ;-)
>
> Eric
>
>

Re: Adjustable Trackbar issues
 

There a huge nut on the threaded end, that once the threaded end is in
position, you tighten down against the bar. That wasn't the issue for sure.
Any other ideas? Thanks!


"MJ w/ 2 TJ's" <tazgpXXX@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dvCUa.53557$6a3.947716@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> Eric,
> Did you check on either end for a hex fitting to loosen the adjustment.
on
> my adj. control arms, i have to loosen the hex nut before i adjust it,
then
> re-tighten it. look on the end where it threads possibly.
>
>
> --
> MJ w/ 2 TJ's (Rube and Trevor James, yes he was named after a TJ)
> 2003 Rubicon 4" Teraflex Long Arm Kit 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR's Warn
> XD9000i
> '86 CJ 7 Chev 350, 350 Turbo Tran, Dana 44's 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR
> www.tazjeep.com
>
>
> "Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:utCUa.116356$o86.9522@news1.central.cox.net.. .
> > Nathan was gracious enough to send me an adjustable trackbar for my
wife's
> > XJ to try and fix the death wobble issue. I went to put it on today,
and
> > ran into a number of snags:
> >
> > 1. Even with a pickle fork (sp?) it was a pain to get the old one off.
> It
> > finally did with help from a fellow jeeper in the shop.
> >
> > 2. The new hardware was not for an XJ. The lower bolt is WAY too long
> and
> > too thick. I didn't realize it was too long until I had already drilled
> out
> > the holes. I found a replacement one without a problem, though. I
think
> > it's a grade 8 too, just a bonus. The upper bolt seems too long too.
The
> > hole for the cotter pin is too high to be useful.
> >
> > 2. The bar doesn't adjust to short enough!!
> >
> > I put it on anyway, thinking it was still less off than the stock one.
> Was
> > I ever wrong!! The steering wheel was at least 90 degrees to the right
> and
> > the axle was WAY off center. Got it home, and put the stock one back
on.
> >
> > It appears that the adjustable trackbar can be adjusted to be shorter.
> > Heck, there's at least 3 more inches of threads leading up to the "eye".
> > However, I can't get it to thread into bar any further. I had the lower
> > section mounted to the axle, and used a breaker bar in the eye in an
> attempt
> > to force it to thread in further. I've got it in as far as I can get
it,
> > and the bar was starting to get hot where the threads were.
> >
> > Why would it not thread any further, yet there be a few more inches of
> > thread? I'm back to the stock one until I can figure out how to thread
> this
> > in more. If it won't, oh well, I'll hold on to it until I lift my TJ
some
> > more... ;-)
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
>
>

Re: Adjustable Trackbar issues
 

Measure the thread depth on the female end versus the thread depth male end.
If it is milled out beyond the thread, you may be able to tap it deep enough
to adjust properly. If it isn't milled beyond the thread you may be stuck
because you would have to oversize to drill deeper and then re-tap.
-Brian

"Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
news:_OCUa.116917$o86.46128@news1.central.cox.net. ..
: There a huge nut on the threaded end, that once the threaded end is in
: position, you tighten down against the bar. That wasn't the issue for
sure.
: Any other ideas? Thanks!
:
:
: "MJ w/ 2 TJ's" <tazgpXXX@hotmail.com> wrote in message
: news:dvCUa.53557$6a3.947716@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
: > Eric,
: > Did you check on either end for a hex fitting to loosen the adjustment.
: on
: > my adj. control arms, i have to loosen the hex nut before i adjust it,
: then
: > re-tighten it. look on the end where it threads possibly.
: >
: >
: > --
: > MJ w/ 2 TJ's (Rube and Trevor James, yes he was named after a TJ)
: > 2003 Rubicon 4" Teraflex Long Arm Kit 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR's Warn
: > XD9000i
: > '86 CJ 7 Chev 350, 350 Turbo Tran, Dana 44's 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR
: > www.tazjeep.com
: >
: >
: > "Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
: > news:utCUa.116356$o86.9522@news1.central.cox.net.. .
: > > Nathan was gracious enough to send me an adjustable trackbar for my
: wife's
: > > XJ to try and fix the death wobble issue. I went to put it on today,
: and
: > > ran into a number of snags:
: > >
: > > 1. Even with a pickle fork (sp?) it was a pain to get the old one
off.
: > It
: > > finally did with help from a fellow jeeper in the shop.
: > >
: > > 2. The new hardware was not for an XJ. The lower bolt is WAY too
long
: > and
: > > too thick. I didn't realize it was too long until I had already
drilled
: > out
: > > the holes. I found a replacement one without a problem, though. I
: think
: > > it's a grade 8 too, just a bonus. The upper bolt seems too long too.
: The
: > > hole for the cotter pin is too high to be useful.
: > >
: > > 2. The bar doesn't adjust to short enough!!
: > >
: > > I put it on anyway, thinking it was still less off than the stock one.
: > Was
: > > I ever wrong!! The steering wheel was at least 90 degrees to the
right
: > and
: > > the axle was WAY off center. Got it home, and put the stock one back
: on.
: > >
: > > It appears that the adjustable trackbar can be adjusted to be shorter.
: > > Heck, there's at least 3 more inches of threads leading up to the
"eye".
: > > However, I can't get it to thread into bar any further. I had the
lower
: > > section mounted to the axle, and used a breaker bar in the eye in an
: > attempt
: > > to force it to thread in further. I've got it in as far as I can get
: it,
: > > and the bar was starting to get hot where the threads were.
: > >
: > > Why would it not thread any further, yet there be a few more inches of
: > > thread? I'm back to the stock one until I can figure out how to
thread
: > this
: > > in more. If it won't, oh well, I'll hold on to it until I lift my TJ
: some
: > > more... ;-)
: > >
: > > Eric
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:

Re: Adjustable Trackbar issues
 

It'll take some work getting the male end back out... I had the bar attached
to the lower mount to hold it in place while I used a breaker bar inserted
into the eye of the male end tightening it in...

Eric
"Cherokee-LTD" <spammenot@home.com> wrote in message
news:sB_Ua.99070$zwL.47395@news04.bloor.is.net.cab le.rogers.com...
> Measure the thread depth on the female end versus the thread depth male
end.
> If it is milled out beyond the thread, you may be able to tap it deep
enough
> to adjust properly. If it isn't milled beyond the thread you may be stuck
> because you would have to oversize to drill deeper and then re-tap.
> -Brian
>
> "Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:_OCUa.116917$o86.46128@news1.central.cox.net. ..
> : There a huge nut on the threaded end, that once the threaded end is in
> : position, you tighten down against the bar. That wasn't the issue for
> sure.
> : Any other ideas? Thanks!
> :
> :
> : "MJ w/ 2 TJ's" <tazgpXXX@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> : news:dvCUa.53557$6a3.947716@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> : > Eric,
> : > Did you check on either end for a hex fitting to loosen the
adjustment.
> : on
> : > my adj. control arms, i have to loosen the hex nut before i adjust it,
> : then
> : > re-tighten it. look on the end where it threads possibly.
> : >
> : >
> : > --
> : > MJ w/ 2 TJ's (Rube and Trevor James, yes he was named after a TJ)
> : > 2003 Rubicon 4" Teraflex Long Arm Kit 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR's Warn
> : > XD9000i
> : > '86 CJ 7 Chev 350, 350 Turbo Tran, Dana 44's 33x12.50 Goodyear MTR
> : > www.tazjeep.com
> : >
> : >
> : > "Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
> : > news:utCUa.116356$o86.9522@news1.central.cox.net.. .
> : > > Nathan was gracious enough to send me an adjustable trackbar for my
> : wife's
> : > > XJ to try and fix the death wobble issue. I went to put it on
today,
> : and
> : > > ran into a number of snags:
> : > >
> : > > 1. Even with a pickle fork (sp?) it was a pain to get the old one
> off.
> : > It
> : > > finally did with help from a fellow jeeper in the shop.
> : > >
> : > > 2. The new hardware was not for an XJ. The lower bolt is WAY too
> long
> : > and
> : > > too thick. I didn't realize it was too long until I had already
> drilled
> : > out
> : > > the holes. I found a replacement one without a problem, though. I
> : think
> : > > it's a grade 8 too, just a bonus. The upper bolt seems too long
too.
> : The
> : > > hole for the cotter pin is too high to be useful.
> : > >
> : > > 2. The bar doesn't adjust to short enough!!
> : > >
> : > > I put it on anyway, thinking it was still less off than the stock
one.
> : > Was
> : > > I ever wrong!! The steering wheel was at least 90 degrees to the
> right
> : > and
> : > > the axle was WAY off center. Got it home, and put the stock one
back
> : on.
> : > >
> : > > It appears that the adjustable trackbar can be adjusted to be
shorter.
> : > > Heck, there's at least 3 more inches of threads leading up to the
> "eye".
> : > > However, I can't get it to thread into bar any further. I had the
> lower
> : > > section mounted to the axle, and used a breaker bar in the eye in an
> : > attempt
> : > > to force it to thread in further. I've got it in as far as I can
get
> : it,
> : > > and the bar was starting to get hot where the threads were.
> : > >
> : > > Why would it not thread any further, yet there be a few more inches
of
> : > > thread? I'm back to the stock one until I can figure out how to
> thread
> : > this
> : > > in more. If it won't, oh well, I'll hold on to it until I lift my
TJ
> : some
> : > > more... ;-)
> : > >
> : > > Eric
> : > >
> : > >
> : >
> : >
> :
> :
>
>