Track Bar Difference - 1988 vs 1991

[Keyav8r]

Does anyone know what is different between the ‘88 and the ‘91 track bars?  Rock Auto shows different part numbers but the old bar from my ‘91 and the bar I bought for the ‘88 look the same.  Is it the size if the taper on the joint end?

[Jeep Driver]

15 minutes ago, Keyav8r said:

Does anyone know what is different between the ‘88 and the ‘91 track bars?  Rock Auto shows different part numbers but the old bar from my ‘91 and the bar I bought for the ‘88 look the same.  Is it the size if the taper on the joint end?

Yes, the taper is different. 

[Eagle]

The '88 track bar doesn't have a zerk fitting in the frame end. The '91 does. AFAIK they are interchangeable.

 

Clarification: I don't know if the Rock Auto bar for the '88 has a zerk fitting. I do know that my 1988 Cherokee, which I bought new, did not have a zerk in the track bar.

[Keyav8r]

Different taper is what I was afraid the answer would be.  Rats!  Now I’ll have to buy another track bar and leave the new bar for the ‘88 on the shelf.  I wonder if the tie rod end tapers changed also?

[Jeep Driver]

Every store bought POS TB that I bought wallowed out the frame mount hole. I went to a 98 frame mount...........solved. 

 

Taper has to be different. 

 

Play it safe and get a 97+ frame mount. 

 

Or, go to JKS and be done with it all together. 

[DirtyComanche]

I believe the taper actually changed in 87, and using the early (84-86) track bar will wallow the taper...  I think its mislisted.

 

I'd love to hear if I'm wrong though.

[HOrnbrod]

The XJ track bar p/n's changed for the 91 model year. 84-90 were the same, then 91-01 were the same. Not sure why; the tapers may be the reason. The mounting bolt and the bracket also changed p/n's at the same time. I'd like to compare the two side-by-side. The reason for the difference(s) would probably be immediately obvious.

[Jeep Driver]

My guess is there is one TB being produced..........the later TB, and it is sold under both part numbers. 

 

So, no matter the number or year referenced, you are getting the later TB. 

[DirtyComanche]

2 hours ago, HOrnbrod said:

The XJ track bar p/n's changed for the 91 model year. 84-90 were the same, then 91-01 were the same. Not sure why; the tapers may be the reason. The mounting bolt and the bracket also changed p/n's at the same time. I'd like to compare the two side-by-side. The reason for the difference(s) would probably be immediately obvious.

 

I'm 95% certain there is two different sized tapers.  I don't have a factory track bar or bracket anywhere to compare...  Actually there might be one on the axle outside off a 90ish, but I definitely don't have anything else here.

[HOrnbrod]

3 minutes ago, DirtyComanche said:

 

I'm 95% certain there is two different sized tapers.  I don't have a factory track bar or bracket anywhere to compare...  Actually there might be one on the axle outside off a 90ish, but I definitely don't have anything else here.

 

I'm not certain at all there are two different tapers. There's an aftermarket female insert piece you can use on the track bar frame bracket that welds in and repairs a wallowed out taper w/o replacing the whole bracket. There are write-ups on it - read several of them. And it's the same taper that a standard tie rod end uses. Tie rod ends tapers were universal throughout the Jeep XJ/MJ years  as far as I know.

 

Anyhow, if someone had both the early and later track bars to examine side-by-side, I think the tapers would be the same. Probably there's only a slight diff in the track bends/shape.

[DirtyComanche]

41 minutes ago, HOrnbrod said:

 

I'm not certain at all there are two different tapers. There's an aftermarket female insert piece you can use on the track bar frame bracket that welds in and repairs a wallowed out taper w/o replacing the whole bracket. There are write-ups on it - read several of them. And it's the same taper that a standard tie rod end uses. Tie rod ends tapers were universal throughout the Jeep XJ/MJ years  as far as I know.

 

Anyhow, if someone had both the early and later track bars to examine side-by-side, I think the tapers would be the same. Probably there's only a slight diff in the track bends/shape.

 

Well, I can go butcher the one off my axle outside if somebody promises to measure a 91+ one.

 

The reason I was going on there being two different tapers is I was told multiple times that aftermarket track bars would not work in my 86 chassis as the bracket has a smaller (or 'wrong') taper.  If it is smaller it will be not by a lot, they're all the same taper (Morse), but it's a matter of how deep they cut it, and you may not be able to get the nut into safety or have it thread bind, depending which way it's wrong.  AMC certainly used a multitude of different sized TREs/DREs on their other products, because AMC.

[Keyav8r]

I have a new bar for an ‘88 and the “old” bar from my ‘91.  I’ll check the tapers and post them in this thread.  May be next weekend before I can do it.  The shape and overall dimensions of the two appear to be the same, but the fit will tell the tale.

[Jeep Driver]

As Dirty posted..........the bar end may be the same, the cut in the mount may be different. 

 

Which ever it is..........

[Keyav8r]

A little research on Rock Auto reveals the following:

Track Bars: 86-90 use the same PN, 91-92 use a different PN, no info on the difference

Right and Left Tie Rod Ends: 86-90 use the same PN, 91-92 use a different PN.  All have 11/16”-18 threads

Long Tie Rod (connects to Pitman Arm TRE):  86-90 use the same PN with 20mm threads, 91-92 use a different PN with 22mm threads

Pitman Arm TRE: 86-90 use the same PN with 20mm threads. 91-92 use a different PN with 22mm threads

 

I have all new parts for an 88 that I will compare to the parts on my 91 and post later (next weekend)

[87Warrior]

9 hours ago, HOrnbrod said:

Anyhow, if someone had both the early and later track bars to examine side-by-side, I think the tapers would be the same. Probably there's only a slight diff in the track bends/shape.

The taper and thus the frame mounted bracket is different between the the early model and late model trackbars. I discovered this when getting my '86 put together.

 

I had a good used,  91+ trackbar I wanted to use to replace the worn out stock trackbar in the '86. The 'rod end' of the 91+ trackbar would not fully seat into '86's frame mounted bracket. It has been a few years, but I remember something like a 1/4-1/2" gap. The early frame bracket has a smaller hole than the later model. I simply installed a '91+ frame bracket and went on my way. The trackbars are identical at the axle end.

 

I will root around the crap pile and see if I can locate that early trackbar...but it might already be recycled and living its life as a Chevy Cruze. 

[gogmorgo]

I've got the track bar and frame bracket from an '86 sitting in my shed, bolted to the axle. Plan was to swap it all into my '91, I just don't know when that's happening yet, still need to finish rounding up parts for it. But if I can figure out a way to measure and compare them I'll try to do it while things are apart. But at the rate I get to things it might be a few months or longer. 

[HOrnbrod]

6 hours ago, 87Warrior said:

The taper and thus the frame mounted bracket is different between the the early model and late model trackbars. I discovered this when getting my '86 put together.

 

I had a good used,  91+ trackbar I wanted to use to replace the worn out stock trackbar in the '86. The 'rod end' of the 91+ trackbar would not fully seat into '86's frame mounted bracket. It has been a few years, but I remember something like a 1/4-1/2" gap. The early frame bracket has a smaller hole than the later model. I simply installed a '91+ frame bracket and went on my way. The trackbars are identical at the axle end.

 

If you say the tapers are different Brett, then I believe it. 

[HOrnbrod]

7 hours ago, Keyav8r said:

A little research on Rock Auto reveals the following:

Track Bars: 86-90 use the same PN, 91-92 use a different PN, no info on the difference

Right and Left Tie Rod Ends: 86-90 use the same PN, 91-92 use a different PN.  All have 11/16”-18 threads

Long Tie Rod (connects to Pitman Arm TRE):  86-90 use the same PN with 20mm threads, 91-92 use a different PN with 22mm threads

Pitman Arm TRE: 86-90 use the same PN with 20mm threads. 91-92 use a different PN with 22mm threads

 

I have all new parts for an 88 that I will compare to the parts on my 91 and post later (next weekend)

 

In other words, everything got bigger and better in 1991.