How "easy" should it be to have these holes ovaled? Did the lift few weeks ago, drove the car for a few hundred miles and voila, the trackbar starts to jerk when turning the wheel (no DW yet, just some jerks in the steering from time to time). As a remedy I am going to weld the Artec HD tracbar bracket to my axle, which seem seriously beefier than the stock, but will that be enough? What is the cause of the ovaling anyway - just the extra strain from the lift? Is the stock bracket really so weak, that it will let go right after you lift your rig?

 

Thin metal. The ovaling is usually a result of under-torqued bolts. The HD bracket is 1/4" steel - plenty strong.

 

Under-torqued AND the bolts supplied by Jeep are too small....
Get some 3" 9/16 Grade 8 course threaded shoulder bolts to replace the stock ones with

 

Thought we tightened it up pretty well... Whats the momentum, to double check?

 

I torque mine to 110-125. I had the same problem but couldn't wait for a HD bracket to arrive.. I welded some grade 8 washers to it and bought new bolts, and then replaced the bushings in the trackbar. No more DW. When I have time to get back in the garage, I'll slap on some real brackets, but the 4 dollar fix has held up so far!

 

They need to be torqued to 125 ft lbs. Recheck after driving for a week.

 

With a torque wrench?

 

Track bar is torqued to 125 ft/lbs. It is unlikely you'll get there with a 1/2'' ratchet.

The washers welded to both TB brackets works well. Did mine over 50k ago without issue.

 

Yes, and get 9/16" grade 8 shank bolts, washers and keps nuts for both ends of the track bar. The stock bolts are your worst enemy.

 

This is what I worry about with lifting

TF sells a washer kit that is supposed to help hold the bolts in place and I will try when I install the lift this spring