jeepdoggydogB Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Just an FYI for those considering a JKS trackbar, my JKS trackbar bolt disappeared, so I am assuming it boke off. It looked to be from the kit a nickel based bolt, so I replaced with an 8.8 high tensile steel bolt. I am not trying to say bad things about JKS, but I just want folks to be aware of what happened to me. I was very lucky, I was just on the freeway, and when I exited I noticed that my steering was sloppy. I pulled up to my house looked under the truck and discovered the bolt was missing! I had torqued it to spec when it was installed, anybody have any advice on a bolt replacement? I didn't want to put lock tite on a bolt that should easily bolt off, any comments or suggestions? :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Dayem, you were lucky. The axle end Joe? I just reused the original bolt w. locktite when I put my Teraflex track bar in, because you don't have to take one end off to adjust it. Or did you have to drill out the holes w. the JKS bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 10.9 is equivalent to a grade 8. Why would you use anything less than that on a critical piece of the front end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallisek Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Yours came with a bolt? :eek: :brows: lol I've had mine for quite some time on my Cherokee but it didn't come with a bolt. It reused the original bolt which was too "skinny". There was a lot of slop between the bolt and the track-bar end. I had to visit the local hardware store and scrounge through bins of bolts with a digital caliper to find one that fitted correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpnjim Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 I am not trying to say bad things about JKS, but I just want folks to be aware of what happened to me. I was very lucky, I was just on the freeway, and when I exited I noticed that my steering was sloppy. I pulled up to my house looked under the truck and discovered the bolt was missing! Worked out alot better for you than it did for this guy. :eek: Go play the lottery. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Worked out alot better for you than it did for this guy. :eek: :ack:Bummer, was a nice rig! Makes me want to check the RE TB on the front of my TJ. jeepdoggydogB- Glad you were not injured and found the missing bolt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepdoggydogB Posted July 26, 2009 Author Share Posted July 26, 2009 Don, Yes on the axle end, I drilled out the original hole and after reading an old thread (I think you commented) that it could weaken the housing (I like your trackbar better). I just bought the trackbar back in February and the bar came with a nickel looking bolt. jpnjim I am thankfull to be alive and that rollover video is brutal. I will never again assume that just because something like a bolt comes with a kit that it must be OK, its grade 8 for me or a trip to the hardware store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Technically, the factory bolt is metric, so "Grade 8" would not apply. Much of the problem arises because many of the aftermarket manufacturers don't take the trouble to make their parts in metric sizes to match the application. So you either use a bolt that's too small for the hole in the track bar (leading to slop), or you drill out the hole in the frame -- thereby making it forever impossible to revert to a correctly-sized, metric part. Many of the control arms offered on the aftermarket have the same problem, as did the Trailmaster brackets that were on my '88 MJ when I bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNL1MTD Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 FWIW, On my TJ the frame side is a fancy pants long bolt with zerk and I had that one snap. Basically I had it adjusted too short and it was hitting my pumpkin while wheeling and that added stress, which was my fault, caused it to break. I called JKS told them how big of a bone head I was and they sent me a new one free of charge. I personally am I huge fan of their products and customer support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Technically, the factory bolt is metric, so "Grade 8" would not apply. Did you read my post? The OP said he used an 8.8 grade bolt as a replacement. I suggested he use a 10.9 which is the metric equivalent to a grade 8, not 8.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepdoggydogB Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 Metric or standard I think I goofed as I didn't use locktite to tighten her up and the nut came loose, if so my bad and either way it could have cost me my life. I hope others will take a trackbar installation more serious than I did. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Metric or standard I think I goofed as I didn't use locktite to tighten her up and the nut came loose, if so my bad and either way it could have cost me my life. I hope others will take a trackbar installation more serious than I did. :cheers: I don't buy any aftermarket part, especially concerning suspension, steering, and/or brakes, that requires drilling into and enlarging the stock mounting points, unless of course rot has destroyed the original mount and you have no choice. If you do, you usually eliminate an essential point of return w/o a whole lot of work I really don't want to do. :cheers: And yes, Locktite, while not a complete guarantee the fastening will ever loosen and fail, does help to put the odds in your favor. :smart: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I don't buy any aftermarket part, especially concerning suspension, steering, and/or brakes, that requires drilling into and enlarging the stock mounting points, unless of course rot has destroyed the original mount and you have no choice. If you do, you usually eliminate an essential point of return w/o a whole lot of work I really don't want to do. Sometimes there is no choice. When I bought my '88 MJ it had a 4" Trailmaster lift and a stock track bar. The axle end had been reloxated to a new hole that was uncomfortably close to the edge of the bracket. The stock bar was shot anyway, so I bought an adjustable and mounted it in the stock location. But ... the hole at the stock location had been badly worn into an oval shape, and there was no way the track bar was going to stay in one place. Auto tech buddies to the rescue. One of my friends from NAXJA is a VW shop foreman. Apparently around that time VW had some kind of recall or tech bulletin operation that came with a parts kit including some high-grade metric bolts and VERY thick, hardened washers of the same diameter as the track bar bolt (10mm?). And not all the parts got used in every operation, so my friend had a box full of these bolts and heavy washers. So I took the truck to his place one day and he welded one of the washers into the axle bracket over the original hole. Better than new. But it should have have been necessary. The previous owner was a teenager who must have pounded it through the woods with the track bar bolt loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now