FT track bars
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Middle river, Md
FT track bars
Please forgive me if this has been covered before, I installed my FT adj front track bar today, I greased both sides of the vectron bushings before installing them in the bar as outlined in WOL's write up. Everything went smooth, the only concern I have is I also greased the outside of the vectron bushings where they contact the frame bracket. After all was said and done I thought about it and think maybe I shouldn't have greased the outer surface. Now i'm afraid by greasing the outer surface it could cause the track bar to move back and forth very slightly and over time cause the holes to become elongated in the mounting bracket. I'm sorry this is so long, has anyone else greased in this manor and if so did you have any long term problems, I'm probably just being way too cautious but i'd rather be safe than sorry. Should I pull it down and remove the grease or forget about it. I highly value the opinions on this forum, Thanks in advance for any info. 
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, AL
I had to take mine back out and grease the hell out of them to keep the bars from "popping". If dry and torqued to 125 ft/lbs they bind and pop. I wish the upper joints were designed like the lower ends to allow for rotation!
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 15,133
Likes: 0
From: O HI 4 Lo
Please forgive me if this has been covered before, I installed my FT adj front track bar today, I greased both sides of the vectron bushings before installing them in the bar as outlined in WOL's write up. Everything went smooth, the only concern I have is I also greased the outside of the vectron bushings where they contact the frame bracket. After all was said and done I thought about it and think maybe I shouldn't have greased the outer surface. Now i'm afraid by greasing the outer surface it could cause the track bar to move back and forth very slightly and over time cause the holes to become elongated in the mounting bracket. I'm sorry this is so long, has anyone else greased in this manor and if so did you have any long term problems, I'm probably just being way too cautious but i'd rather be safe than sorry. Should I pull it down and remove the grease or forget about it. I highly value the opinions on this forum, Thanks in advance for any info.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Middle river, Md
Thanks for the info, I've been a mechanic for 20+ yrs now and have never questioned my own judgement when dealing with customers, with that being said I tend to talk myself into worring when it's my own stuff. Anyway thanks for the quick replies.
Wheelerbob
Wheelerbob
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Middle river, Md
New Problem
NEW problem, I put the vecton bushings in the rear track bar and noticed that the welds keep the bushing's from seating all the way. I installed it and found that after torqueing it to #125 the bar seems to bind, it's like the bushing is wider than it should be because of the weld keeping it from seating. With the adj end unhooked the bar will support it's own weight and even takes a little force to move it up and down. I installed the front a few days ago but didn't notice anything at the time, I pulled it and checked and it's the same as the rear, I installed in the frame end only and and torqued =same type of binding. Has anyone else had a problem with this, I have a call into Full traction but have not heard back yet. I really don't think these should bind like this for the price. Thanks in advance for any info. 
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham, AL
I didn't notice any weld keeping the bushings from seating but the end result is the same: frame tightens down on the bushings which clamp down on the bar eye. This set-up doesn't allow for non-binding rotation. There IS a steel sleeve that presses into the bushings for the bolt to ride in but it's very thin material and doesn't offer a shoulder wide enough for the frame to clamp down on. 125 ft/lbs on the bolt causes the steel bolt sleeve to eat into the metal surrounding the bolt holes in the frame.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 1
From: Middle river, Md
I didn't notice any weld keeping the bushings from seating but the end result is the same: frame tightens down on the bushings which clamp down on the bar eye. This set-up doesn't allow for non-binding rotation. There IS a steel sleeve that presses into the bushings for the bolt to ride in but it's very thin material and doesn't offer a shoulder wide enough for the frame to clamp down on. 125 ft/lbs on the bolt causes the steel bolt sleeve to eat into the metal surrounding the bolt holes in the frame.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
CJK, Did your the sleeve eat through the frame mount or is this just a theory. I think it is definatley possible and if thats the case they are coming off.
Wheelerbob
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,326
Likes: 0
From: Central Georgia
I didn't notice any weld keeping the bushings from seating but the end result is the same: frame tightens down on the bushings which clamp down on the bar eye. This set-up doesn't allow for non-binding rotation. There IS a steel sleeve that presses into the bushings for the bolt to ride in but it's very thin material and doesn't offer a shoulder wide enough for the frame to clamp down on. 125 ft/lbs on the bolt causes the steel bolt sleeve to eat into the metal surrounding the bolt holes in the frame.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
The stock bar also had a steel sleeve around the bolt but it was like 1/8" thick - enough material to clamp down on and lock it in place. The sleeve and the frame were the only parts in contact. The rubber bushing was not compressed and neither was the eye - if the DC engineers can design a joint to allow for movement why can't FT????? Something similar to what's on the other end of the bar would be perfect!
Curious to hear what response (if any) you get from FT. It's a bad design in my opinion. A larger hole in the bushings and a thicker sleeve would cure it.
I thought that this was a problem with the Teraflex bar that has since been corrected. I haven't heard about this before from anyone with an Full Traction track bar.