WHAT is the purpose of a track bar?(i think it's to center the body over the front & rear axle--right?)

if i've only got a 2.5 BB do i need something adjustable? i added the TF track bar extension which came with the BB kit. i assume if i got a new track bar, i'd remove that rear bracket extension

after reading the writeup from WOL, i have a question. using the writeup example, you have a difference of 3/8" between the left and right side, so you extend the track bar by 3/8", but wouldn't you want to adjust the track bar to make the measurements equal on each side to center the jeep?

is the process the same for the front & rear?

thanks
steve

 

Yes, they are for re-centering the axles after a lift.

No, you do not need an adjustable. Brackets will be fine, just look for the frame mounted or reinforced brackets so you don't put extra leverage on that weak stock bracket. (at 2.5", you don't have to re-center, but do it if you can)

No, you don't need a bracket & an adjustable bar. One or the other

Better just to not use the measurements from the write-up. Measure yourself, then adjust half the difference between the two sides.

 

Yep. The purpose of the track bar is to position the axle laterally and keep there (i.e. counteract the lateral forces). However it must do while the axle travels vertically, so
it ends up providing the pivot for the arcing motion of the axles. Ideally your track bar would be horizontal like the axle, but how could it travel with the suspension and still attach to the frame.

New brackets are usually required when you add more than 3" of lift if you want to get close to the original suspension and steering geometry.

 

You use an adjustable track bar so you can exactly adjust the position. The PURPOSE of a track bar is to limit the movement of the axle "side to side". The control arms keep the axle from moving forward or rearward. This is because you have a coil system. With a leaf spring the spring itself did all of the jobs. The coil spring set up has tons of additional articulation but it a massively more complicated system.

NO you do not "need" one but if you do YES remove the extension bracket. Note: most adjustable trackbars are made for at least 3" of lift, make sure it is rated for the lift you have.

The statement as written here is wrong you would move the axle 1/2 the distance i.e. 3/16" Yes you are going for equal on the front.

Yes but on the rear I beleive you should not be dead centered or there will be rubbing issues. GO for center first and then test suspension to see if off-center adjustment is necessary.

 

Brackets work just fine on the rear, but for the front an adj. trackbar would be better because you want to keep the draglink and trackbar parallel or youll get bumpsteer, so unless you do a bracket AND draglink flip kit (or a drop pitman arm), a bracket for the front wont be good to use by itself, but like whats been said, with just a 2.5" lift, youll be just fine with what came in the kit.

 

I have a 5" lift with out any track bars and I am feeling both a kind of Jerky wheel and a slight wandering. My rear axel is out and you can see it as plan as day but the front you cant tell. But I know there is nothing so it must be out right. I would like to do both of them eventually but for right now what would be the best one and price is a big issue.

 

This is more likely to be your caster (control arms) than the trackbar. Which kit did you get? Do you have the stock arms, cams, new fixed arms, or adjustable arms? Or some combination of those.

At 5 inches, you should probably look at adjustable trackbars instead of brackets. JKS, TeraFlex, Currie, whoever. Shop prices, then do a search here to get some feedback.

 

My lift is really cheap all I have is front and rear coil springs, front and rear sway bar links and brak line extensions.

 

Had wandering and stiff steering. After lots of adjustments and test drives, it was determined
to be warn out ball joints (replaced), need for flip draglink with lowering bracket (replaced), and need to
replace JKS adjustable trackbar with stronger TeraFlex trackbar which will be installed within
a couple of days. So for now, using stock trackbar, which helps, but will be totally 100% fixed
when new trackbar arrives.