My JK is an X unlimited with a 3.5" lift and I have been having this problem sometimes when I get into some serious twists! I have broken my Traction bar bracket 4 times now! The first time the Dealership repaired(whole new axle) it, and from the second time on I had my buddy weld it up. The past 3 times the metal rips on the bracket, not the welds. My bracket has turned into a metal turd with all of the welds on it. I am tired of messing with it and plan to make one out of 3/16" plate. I am yet to figure out what is causing my problems but I will certainly fix it!

So really I am just wondering if I am the only one that is experiencing this?

 

Any pics of whats going on, or of the flexing? Sounds wierd for that to be the focus of all of that force...

 

sorry to hear about your breakage problems! i have heard a few other ppl have this problem with the brackets as well as the axle mount. my friend actually had his come loose on the highway! not fun. i think the best way to fix this is to ditch the relocation brackets altogether. if you get adjustable track bars you can recenter your axle more precisely and it will put less stress on your welds. they are stronger than stock and will allow for future lift height changes. i have a teraflex front adjustable. it will run you 180-200 for the front and i think a little less for the rear. hope this helps!

 

Yes, pics would help. I think the proper term for what you're talking about is the "track" bar, or more accurately yet, panhard bar. I believe that's what you mean.

 

I'm not sure how you got to 3.5" of lift. Full traction on sells 3 and 4 inch kits. At 3 inches you would be on the borderline of needing an adjustable track bar. Anything over would require it in the front for sure. You might be able to use a bracket in the rear though as I do and I'm at similar heights. You might want to figure out how you got to the 3.5" height and from there you might figure out what's causing the issue.

 

is it a complete 3" fulltraction lift? You say its 3.5" they dont make one. Adjustable track bars? sounds like your bracket is now weak from bending so much

 

ha....beat you to it....but we were thinking the same thing though!

 

My guess is that your front trackbar is not up to the task of flexing with your axle, as others have said. If you are at 3.5" of lift, and using OEM control arms, could be that your front trackbar is creating a lot of stress in the axle mount due to a lack of caster. If your axle is in a low-caster situation, it will force your trackbar to "twist" at the axle mount. If you have an adjustable trackbar with a heim or johnny joint end on the axle, it will help relieve that stress.

I still find it humorous that we (including me) install these big beefy trackbars into a complete joke of a mount; I mean, have you really looked at the OEM trackbar mount? It's definitely a weak link.

 

no joke. they did a half a$$ welding job. i wonder if the aftermarket has anything to reinforce and fix this problem. anybody know?

 

Currie has a front relocation bracket that bolts on to the stock bracket, and then is welded to the upper control arm bracket. Pretty beefy...