Hey guys, need some help. I had to pull off in Amarillo Tx to get gas and I started hearing some grinding an funky noises when I took the exit and started making full turns, so I knew something was up..

Looked under the jeep and the top of my jks quick disco came disconnected on the drive, laid over forward and was making contact with the inside sidewall of my tire. It also bent the lower mount and mounting post. I was able to get the disco off with a hammer and some vice grips.

A couple of things:

1) should I disco the passenger side too for the rest of the trip (1000 miles more to go to get there and back, all hwy)? Or leave the passenger side connected and just run the drivers side disconnected?

2) take a look at the tire, it wore it down pretty good. They are MTRs with pretty thick sidewalls, so they aren't bulging or anything that looks too dangerous, but should I be safe and mount the spare, or just run on it?

3) I am pretty sure the jks arm is screwed, the joint that was rubbing on the tire and bouncing around is all jacked looking. Anyone think I could some how get this warrantied? The culprit was the cotter pin combing loose. I specifically inspected it this morning before I left and it was installed by a reputable shop. They are only a week old.

4) how much damage did I do to te lower mount? Is this something that I could bend back in place? Or am I screwed?

Things like this suck when on a roadtrip....

Thanks for any help guys...

 

Take your jeep and disco to the shop that did the work, if they are reputable they will repair and replace parts. And its OK to run with only one, just slow down around turns and try not to do any sharp maneuvers.

 

damn that sucks. glad you found it before something bad happened

 

you can drive it w/ the drop links disconnected - but its dangerous, i would drive it but i would be VERY VERY careful
when turning at at thing other than low speed....and let me further say, driving w/ the front sway bar disconnected is NOT
recommended.

you should be able to HAMMER that mount straight(er)....im gonna guess a small 3 lb sledge would do it.
put the disconnect back on & drive it...even if the bushing is messed up on the outter edge (per the pic) you should be fine, but
again take it VERY VERY easy in turns.

I have a set of STOCK drop links if you want 'em but, even if you paid fedex you wouldnt get 'em for another day.

Surely theres a JK member close to you that can lend a hand & hammer to straighten that mount back enough to get you rolling
again.

Truck stops are 24/7 and usually have a mechanic on duty - theyll even be open on Christmas & should be able to lend you a hammer or straighten the mount/tab for you.

 

I would get that tire checked or swap the spare on too, I can't tell from the picture how bad it is, but you don't want a sidewall blowing out on you @ highway speed.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys. I am going to try Walmart to see if I can get a cotter pin solution, a torch, and a small sledge and do it myself. If not I will just leave the passenger side connected and keep an eye for a truck stop. I have about 250 more miles to go today until I am at the family's, so if I can get it there, I may be able to drop it off for a day at a shop and let them fix it.

 

Thanks for the help! I appreciate the offer for the stock drop links. I have mine at home and may have just figured out something I should carry with me...

I like the truck stop idea, never thought if that.

I know everyone likes pictures, so here is a pic of the jeep yesterday morning all cleaned up, fresh oil change and all fluids checked, lug nuts checked, and the suspension and quick discos were checked as well! Loaded down with Xmas cargo!

 

I am thinking that the snap ring was not properly installed.
http://www.jksmfg.com/support/install_pn_2030-2034.pdf

 

Yep, you could be correct. There's no doubt in my mind that the top snap pin/cotter pin came out. They are only a week old, so I hadn't had time to study them or look too much at the design, but after last night I will be replacing all of the pins with something different. I am not a fan of the design. Of course, my opinion may be a "little" biased after last nights incident...

 

You can fix the lower mount with a BFH.

Can't tell how bad the damage to the fire is from your pictures, much as well swap the spare just in case, that's what it's there for.

If one side is disconnected you basically have no sway bar either way...it works off the torsion or resistance of one side pushing against the other, if one side is disconnected, there is no resistance.

I've been running no sway bar for the past few months and don't have issues cause I'm used to it, actually prefer it. I also stay light though.
Seeing as how you're not used to it and you have a heavily loaded jeep, I'd try to Jerry rig something, or at least take it easy on the turns.