Virginia Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 One of the two has come loose. I found a diagram on the web and based on the picture it's more likely the track bar. I've also gotten some good information from some other mj owners. It's come loose on the drivers side and looks like it has a bolt attached to it. The truck doesn't pull to one side or the other but it feels like I have to oversteer to make it turn. When I do turn the wheel, the truck doesn't move but the wheels do if I do this standing still. If it is the track bar, is this something I can fix myself or should I take it in? Will any alignment have to be done? Here's a link to the parts diagram I found on the web. http://tinyurl.com/2nml2a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 The frame end of the factory track bar is a TRE. It has but one nut holding it on. Unless your talking about the mount where the TB attaches to the "frame". The axle end of a factory TB, has a bushing and attaches with one thru bolt. This is the usual place where it will loosen up. If its not been driven too long while loose. Its very likely you can just tighten it and move on. If left loose it will wrae out the bushing/sleeve. Requiring a replacement. Some pics of your problem area in question would be a great help. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share Posted January 18, 2007 It is definitely the Track bar. I've driven maybe 50 miles since it's been loose and I noticed the change in the steering immediately and also noticed the part hanging because it was noticeable and new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jage Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Let's see, if it broke off on the drivers' side I suppose the bolt base probably broke, or I guess the cup holding the bolt could have broken. Either way unless the end looks like this (in which case you lost the nut and that's good): Otherwise you'll probably have to replace the track bar. The end on my MJ and XJ stock track bars are all single piece cast, where as this pic was an adjustible end. I guess yours could already be aftermarket like this and this whole piece could have fallen out. A good time to upgrade, or there should be many available used. If you can match the length to the one you're replacing when you install you should be as good as you started. Alignment might not be a bad idea though because depending on how this broke you might have bunged something else up. Hope this ramble helps somewhat... :beerhead: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share Posted January 18, 2007 The end is still in one piece. I don't have the other little pieces and when I tried to push it back up in the housing, it was short about a 16th of an inch so they're going to have to do something to get the bolt back up in the housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randimal Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 If you just turn the steering wheel one way or the other, it will move the body back and forth over the track bar, so the 1/16th shouldn't be an issue. You still need to find a bolt for it, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share Posted January 18, 2007 Thanks Randi BTW....your quote cracked me up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 That end is a tapered fit, and once you get it lined up it probably won't slide completely thru the braket hole (if it's not damaged). If you can get it thru enough to get a new nut on the threads you can pull it the rest of the way by tightening the nut....but it's in an akward place to work. What I've done before is to line it up then use a bottle jack under it to press it in. One time the tolerance was so tight I actually lifted the front end off the ground with the jack and it still wouldn't press thru :eek: I very carefully tapped the bracket with a small peening hammer a few times, and it popped thru. Fun stuff.... Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 So is it the bolt end or the tie rod end? I ended up welding the bolt end in to place due to me not liking it. It will Not be loosening up on me, and if my track bar has a problem, I'll be cutting it off to get something that won't have a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 maybe its just me, but this is still confusing to me....what end is loose?? If it is truly the frame end and the nut is tight on the TRE, then the bracket is shot. its hole is wallowed out and must be replaced. If its the axle end, and the bolt is tight, it could also be wallowed out. If it is, just weld on a thich washer of the appropriate size and bolt everything back up. Your cdone. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 The end is still in one piece. I don't have the other little pieces and when I tried to push it back up in the housing, it was short about a 16th of an inch so they're going to have to do something to get the bolt back up in the housing. It's not a bolt and it doesn't go into a housing. A tie rod end has a tapered stud that goes into a tapered hole in a bracket. If it won't go in far enough to put the nut on the threaded portion, either there's something blocking the hole, the bracket is damaged, the stud is broken, or somebody sold you a tie rod end with a fatter stud thatn what your vehicle calls for. I'm here, you're there. I can't help much more than that from a distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Hey Eagle, If you scroll up to the posted picture and look at the track bar, it's the right side that's come loose from that bracket. It's all put back together now and is driving great. The end is still in one piece. I don't have the other little pieces and when I tried to push it back up in the housing, it was short about a 16th of an inch so they're going to have to do something to get the bolt back up in the housing. It's not a bolt and it doesn't go into a housing. A tie rod end has a tapered stud that goes into a tapered hole in a bracket. If it won't go in far enough to put the nut on the threaded portion, either there's something blocking the hole, the bracket is damaged, the stud is broken, or somebody sold you a tie rod end with a fatter stud thatn what your vehicle calls for. I'm here, you're there. I can't help much more than that from a distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Breckrider, We are all just trying to help solve your problem. Your explination of exactly what is the problem, is well, questionable. It is leaving us with questions as to just what your problems are/where. I posted the pic to try to show you the correct terminology and just what is what. This way you can more accurately tell us what is wrong on your end. I am glad you got something from our suggestions and where able to fix your Jeep. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 if you ever notice a pop when you are driving straight and turn the wheel slightly, or any other funny things with the steering be sure to grab stuff down there and wiggle it! my track bar comes loose periodically, and makes a pop when the truck is going straight and i turn a little. tighten it up and bam! good for a few months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jage Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Oizarod, the bolt (on the frame end) should be a kingpin - the nut should have slots in half of it, and once tightened, slots pointing upward, it gets a cotter pin through the hole in the bolt... keeps it from getting loose. If you look at the draglink connection to the track bar or the stabilizer to the drag link these are the same kind of bolts. Mea Culpa if you already know this, but it sounds like you may have a normal nut or no cotter pin and that's why it keeps loosening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Oizarod, the bolt (on the frame end) should be a kingpin - the nut should have slots in half of it, and once tightened, slots pointing upward, it gets a cotter pin through the hole in the bolt... keeps it from getting loose. If you look at the draglink connection to the track bar or the stabilizer to the drag link these are the same kind of bolts. Mea Culpa if you already know this, but it sounds like you may have a normal nut or no cotter pin and that's why it keeps loosening. yeah, it takes a cotter pin but I'm lazy and it hasn't been that big of a deal, new full RE suspension in ~6 months so I'm not worried about it at this point, i just give it a good tug of the ratchet every once in a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feerocknok Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Mine didn't have a king pin... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virginia Posted January 21, 2007 Author Share Posted January 21, 2007 Breckrider, We are all just trying to help solve your problem. Your explination of exactly what is the problem, is well, questionable. It is leaving us with questions as to just what your problems are/where. I posted the pic to try to show you the correct terminology and just what is what. This way you can more accurately tell us what is wrong on your end. I am glad you got something from our suggestions and where able to fix your Jeep. CW I appreciate that. It was here that I learned exactly what had come loose. According to the folks here that helped me fix it, the jeep is notorious for wearing this part out because it puts so much stress on it. I don't know if that's true or not I also learned that basically what this part does is keep the truck body centered over the axle. Is that accurate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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