Track bar mounting hole elongated?

[Gene]

Hi everyone,

 

88 Comanche 4.0 long bed 4 wheel drive.

 

I recently ran into the death wobble, first time in about 20 years. Ironically, it happened after I switched tires from winter  studded snows to summer tires. So I think the immediate cause of this is tire balance.

 

However, today I was checking the front end. It looks like there is quite a bit of horizontal play where the track bar meets the frame. This is a factory set up, the end looks like a tie rod. I haven't taken it apart yet, but it looks like the stud may actually be moving within the hole, as opposed to the stud moving at the track bar end.

 

If the mounting hole is elongated, what's the best way to handle this? It looks like the bracket is bolted on, but it looks like the original bracket is no longer available.

 

There appear to be aftermarket track bars, and aftermarket brackets, that are not tie rod end style. Would this be the way to go? Any recommendations on specifics?

 

I'm starting another thread about frame rust, that will determine whether the Comanche lives or dies, but I'd like some ideas on this as well.

 

As always, thanks for the accumulated wisdom of this forum.

 

Gene

[Minuit]

Make sure the nut on the track bar tie rod end is tight. They can and do become loose.

[yellaheep]

When those nuts get loose, they do tend to wallow out the hole in the bracket if not addressed quickly.

 

Generally speaking, it's easiest to go get another bracket from a salvage yard Cherokee.

 

Or, you can have a welder add some metal inside the hole and have a machine shop ream out the hole to factory spec again to accept the OEM track bar joint end.  

[Minuit]

Yeah, check the bracket to make sure the hole isn't hogged out. On my 89 I think I caught it in time.

 

I have another bracket, from a 99 XJ. PM me if you want it, but judging by the other thread I don't think it will be needed.

[DirtyComanche]

If it is oblonged I would probably get a wrecker bracket.

 

They changed at some point, early stuff uses a smaller taper and smaller TRE.  I believe it's 84-90 and 91+ for the two generations, but it might not be...  Either way, I'd get as new of bracket as possible and buy the track bar for that bracket.

 

Alternatively a guy could buy a later track bar, and a Snap-On R121 and ream the oblonged bracket out to fit the bigger TRE.  That would be a pain in the @$$ and more money than a wrecker bracket.  I wouldn't try to repair it by welding, it's actually some higher carbon hardened steel that they put the taper in, it's a pain to work with at best and would be terrible to try to rework after welding it and could easily damage a reamer.

 

Normally it's the hole on the bracket at the axle that gets all hoopa-jooped.

[sinkrun]

Pretty sure the bracket is the same up to 2001 cherokee xj just get a nice rust free one from a junk yard or maybe ebay.

[cruiser54]

Pretty sure the bracket is the same up to 2001 cherokee xj just get a nice rust free one from a junk yard or maybe ebay.

Nope. I don't know the cutoff, but I tried to use an 86 bracket on an 87 and it was different. 

[DirtyComanche]

 

Pretty sure the bracket is the same up to 2001 cherokee xj just get a nice rust free one from a junk yard or maybe ebay.

Nope. I don't know the cutoff, but I tried to use an 86 bracket on an 87 and it was different. 

 

 

Must be 84-86 (aka the weird years), then 87+ was all the same.  I know somewhere there was an 'early' version that was not the same.

[GrayWolf]

Recently installed a 3" lift, all done right, extended sway bar links, new control arms, adjustable track bar, alignment, etc.....  Drove great for about a week and suddenly started a low groan on turning and a clunk on occasion, and every now and then a slight wobble.  Then took a sweeping left turn on an off ramp and in the middle hit a pot hole.  Thought the tires had instantly turned into squares instead of circles.  Pulled over and stopped, Nothing obvious.  Drove home, no problem.  Started looking for the noises and eventually found the Track Bar bolt at the axle had loosened up.  Tightened and LocTite.  Sound gone, and took the same ramp today, no more problems. 

[jeeppapa]

Recently installed a 3" lift, all done right, extended sway bar links, new control arms, adjustable track bar, alignment, etc..... Drove great for about a week and suddenly started a low groan on turning and a clunk on occasion, and every now and then a slight wobble. Then took a sweeping left turn on an off ramp and in the middle hit a pot hole. Thought the tires had instantly turned into squares instead of circles. Pulled over and stopped, Nothing obvious. Drove home, no problem. Started looking for the noises and eventually found the Track Bar bolt at the axle had loosened up. Tightened and LocTite. Sound gone, and took the same ramp today, no more problems.

 

 

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[jeeppapa]

Recently bought a short bed. Steering was really loose lots play. Got it up on the highway and was driving at home on the 405 in LA. Crazing along in the far left carpool lane. Hit a series of bumps just rite and thought the truck was going to shake to pieces. Felt like an earthquake. Made it home and this is what I found.

Worst one I've ever come across. Replaced it, now there's just a slight shimmy every now and then I have to track down. This was the po's daily driver to and from work on LA highways from Compton to Long Breach. I just thought wow dude.

 

 

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