billyblankss Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 I'm in the middle of doing the rocky road six inch lift and the front end is really getting tricky. Can't fit the control arms back in after I replaced the springs... Oh well I'm working on the track bar replacement with the adjustable track bar and I can't get the thing out. The bolt with the castle nut up top is just not even wiggling. I put a pickle fork between the bushing and the bar and have pounded in every direction but it's not getting any closer to loose. Any suggestion? If it helps, I'm very much replacing this track bar but I'm worried it is in such a difficult spot I don't see how I'll be able to cut it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Take the track bar bracket off and out of the truck. you'll have a lot better chance of working on it because you'll be able to see what's going on. You could try heating the outer portion where the track bar goes through and that should loosen it up some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad R Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 How big is your hammer, is it between 3 to 5lbs? Pickle fork might be to wide? That’s what I run into at work sometimes when the pickle fork does not seam to work it is spread to far apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Well at this point I cut the old track bar off through the bushing and bolt. But the remaining part is totally seized in there and don't have sufficient equipment to drill through it under the truck. I tried propane torch until it caught fire but nah. I'm gonna try taking it off via removing the bracket like stroker dude said and maybe throw it on the drill press I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesertRat1991 Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 It's very common for those components to seize up. Heat and muscle can make a difference. But honestly, trying to separate them is hardly worth the headache when there are so many good aftermarket kits that include a new frame bracket with the trackbar. Consider unbolting the whole assy from the frame and swapping to a double shear setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZJeff Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 11 minutes ago, DesertRat1991 said: It's very common for those components to seize up. Heat and muscle can make a difference. But honestly, trying to separate them is hardly worth the headache when there are so many good aftermarket kits that include a new frame bracket with the trackbar. Consider unbolting the whole assy from the frame and swapping to a double shear setup. Agreed. The ball joint type upper end of the XJ/MJ track bar is one of the less-than-stellar parts of the vehicles design. Swapping it out to another approach is an improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 Damn yeah it's super stuck in there now. I am probably going to torture myself a while longer because I desperately wanted to get it done this weekend but now I'm probably ordering the parts and waiting again haha this truck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 As soon as I started reading this thread I thought to myself, oh god please don't cut it.... Cutting it off ruined your chances of getting it out, I learned this the hard way as well. It's tapered so you won't be able to hammer it up and out, also now you will never get the nut off as the stud will just spin when finally do get it to turn. You need to start shopping for a new trackbar bracket at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 Hahaha yeah damn. Any recommendations since you went down this road before me? Just a stock replacement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1987Comanche Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 I went through this on my '87. Ended up removing the track bar bracket, cutting the castle nut off with a dremel/chisel, then put the bracket in the 20ton press to pop what was left out of the bracket. Worked ok but took a lot longer than I anticipated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEmptyEveryPocket Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 At this stage its time for the blue tipped wrench + pulling the bracket. If you are good with the torch you can cut the nut off the stud and then hammer out the remaining stub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 3 hours ago, billyblankss said: Hahaha yeah damn. Any recommendations since you went down this road before me? Just a stock replacement? If you have the tools you could try to drill/cut the stud out and reuse your bracket you have but if you damage the finished surface at all, it's junk. Personally, I got a used stock bracket for free and put it on my truck. In your shoes currently, I'd search around for a stock replacement as well as check pricing on aftermarket ones. The aftermarket is usually going to be thicker and stronger so if the price isn't too bad, I'd go that route. All comes down to what you want to spend on fixing it. P.S. in case you aren't aware, it's exactly the same as an XJ so search under XJ, you will get more results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 5 hours ago, billyblankss said: Damn yeah it's super stuck in there now. I am probably going to torture myself a while longer because I desperately wanted to get it done this weekend but now I'm probably ordering the parts and waiting again haha this truck... Remove the bracket from the truck. Remove the castle nut. Place the bracket over a large socket, with the cut-off stud centered on the socket. Smack top of stud sharply with a large (heavy) hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54bobby Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 lifts are just loads of fun. just finished up helping my son with a 4.5 rough country lift on his 96 xj. 12 busted knuckles (2 for me, 3 for my son and 7 for his friends), 6 cases of beer, 20 lbs of burgers and dogs, 2 packs of dremel cut off wheels, 500 bucks worth of air compressor and air tools, and 6 weeks later she's done. every single thing was an obstacle. wait till you tackle the pitman are. tried a 3 jaw puller, no go, bought a pitman arm puller and tightened it down and PB blasted it daily and tightened it some more, finally broke the puller. borrowed a industrial (heavy duty truck shop) puller and repeated the same process again along with cutting through till i almost reached the splines and a bigger fh, and it let loose like a bomb went off. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE THE NUT ON THAT SOAB to keep it from flying off. Had to hook a tow strap to the truck and pull the axle ever so slightly one way or the other to get the adjustable control arms in.just keep at it, use the forums for advice be careful and the hardest thing of all, be patient and try not to get frustrated, you'll only wind up in the field next door looking for the tools you threw over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 21, 2020 Author Share Posted June 21, 2020 This really is the best community. I went to bed last night totally hating how dirty and tired and frustrated I had gotten and even woke up this morning dreading going out there to my shed and looking at the truck and all the tools I left out in frustration. 30 minutes ago, 54bobby said: lifts are just loads of fun. just finished up helping my son with a 4.5 rough country lift on his 96 xj. 12 busted knuckles (2 for me, 3 for my son and 7 for his friends), 6 cases of beer, 20 lbs of burgers and dogs, 2 packs of dremel cut off wheels, 500 bucks worth of air compressor and air tools, and 6 weeks later she's done. every single thing was an obstacle. wait till you tackle the pitman are. tried a 3 jaw puller, no go, bought a pitman arm puller and tightened it down and PB blasted it daily and tightened it some more, finally broke the puller. borrowed a industrial (heavy duty truck shop) puller and repeated the same process again along with cutting through till i almost reached the splines and a bigger fh, and it let loose like a bomb went off. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE THE NUT ON THAT SOAB to keep it from flying off. Had to hook a tow strap to the truck and pull the axle ever so slightly one way or the other to get the adjustable control arms in.just keep at it, use the forums for advice be careful and the hardest thing of all, be patient and try not to get frustrated, you'll only wind up in the field next door looking for the tools you threw over there. This was helpful. Going to eat 20 lbs of burgers and dogs and speed this thing up. Can't wait to finish this and start the control arm brackets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 OK - i got the bracket off finally. and I can see the top of the joint / nut where the castle nut was. But it's stuck in there and there's no way for me to tap it out from what i can tell because the cup thing protects the top of that bolt/nut from getting tapped. I used probably half a bottle of a propane torch on it. Grease dripped everywhere and it smoked pretty hardcore but that thing does not want to come out. I assumed i needed to replace that track bar bracket but I don't know what it's proper name is because I can't find anything online. Any recommendations on how to search for this part? Or even better, how to pop this stupid bolt out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 For the bracket, search "Jeep XJ trackbar bracket" it's the same for MJ and XJ but you'll get more results under XJ. Almost all the aftermarket ones available are going to use a heim joint rather than ball joint style trackbar so you'll want to coordinate the trackbar with what style bracket you get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/xj-zj-adjustable-double-shear-track-bar-kit.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, ComancheKid45 said: https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/xj-zj-adjustable-double-shear-track-bar-kit.html Yeah i'm tempted to get that but i already have this adjustable track bar with the old style joint on it. I'm filing this under the list of things i wish i knew before i did the lift... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 Oh ok. Well at worst you can buy the kit and re sell your current track bar. Haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dzimm Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 You could also post in the Wanted section for a stock bracket or check the junkyards near you. Any MJ or XJ of any year should have the same bracket I believe. A used stock bracket will work fine as long as the holes aren't wobbled out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy in Pa Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 If you are doing a 6" lift, then go with the Iron Rock Offroad kit someone linked up. A track bar in double shear is a much better setup with that much lift. You'll spend a bit more now, but it will be better in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyblankss Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 15 minutes ago, Andy in Pa said: If you are doing a 6" lift, then go with the Iron Rock Offroad kit someone linked up. A track bar in double shear is a much better setup with that much lift. You'll spend a bit more now, but it will be better in the long run. Be honest, you think it will have an impact on/off road? I'm going through the effort of trying to drill out the old bracket and of course I'm worried it will wobble... But i'm also surprised at how expensive some of these simple parts are. The IRO isn't really that expensive but i'm trying to gauge how important it is. There's a lot of '1 ton' steering upgrades out there and i'm trying to figure out if i should wait and upgrade to that or if this will meaningfully accomplish what that would provide. I appreciate the feedback! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Buy an aftermarket track bar and bracket. Reusing the stock bracket is not worth doing. The stock setup works fine in a stock truck, but it does not hold up long term with larger tires and lift. As a FYI the new track bar you bought likely won't fit the bracket you have either. They changed the size of the taper of the TRE type joint in 91~ (or something) and almost all of the aftermarket ones do not fit the old style bracket without reaming it out with the correct taper reamer. Or maybe it was earlier than that. I don't remember, like I said it's not a good setup anyways. That Iron Rock track bar and bracket isn't a bad deal at $210. The comparable RE one (RE1660 and RE1665, since they sell it as two parts) is $260. Most of the steering upgrades sold for the XJ/MJ are hack and I would not recommend them. Depending how much if you have just going with the V8 ZJ/late model XJ parts and flipping the driver's side tie rod is an inexpensive and reliable option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy in Pa Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 13 minutes ago, billyblankss said: Be honest, you think it will have an impact on/off road? I'm going through the effort of trying to drill out the old bracket and of course I'm worried it will wobble... But i'm also surprised at how expensive some of these simple parts are. The IRO isn't really that expensive but i'm trying to gauge how important it is. There's a lot of '1 ton' steering upgrades out there and i'm trying to figure out if i should wait and upgrade to that or if this will meaningfully accomplish what that would provide. I appreciate the feedback! It will have an impact on how long your track bar TRE and bracket survives. At 6" of lift, it puts quite a load on the track bar when offroad. I simply tell everyone that you can save money on the control arms, the springs as well as shocks, but don't pinch pennies when it comes to the track bar setup. Its a critical piece of front suspension, and can mean the difference in getting your Jeep home safely at the end of a day of wheeling, and calling AAA and getting it towed. A large part of the death wobble problems people have with XJ's, ZJ's, WJ's and MJ's is because of a slightly loose track bar. Also FYI... I have been able to drive my Jeep home after breaking front shafts, driveshafts, brakelines, bending the steering, (turns out a high lift is good for something on the trails, slipping the handle over the tie rod to keep it from bending again).... But track bar issues usually mean either a very slow drive home, or being on the back of a flat bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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