4" Lift ,what to do about track bars?

[EZ]

Ok the GW is up 4" but what have you guys done about the track bars on your GW's? Just throwing them behind the house sounds like a good idea but I think I need them.

[ClarkGriswald]

Im dying to throw mine behind the house but my springs are so shot that I think they need some lateral support for those thin thin Grand Wag leaf pacs.

I would say toss em.

[EZ]

I guess I'm reluctant to toss them due to not being exactly sure what they are for

[ClarkGriswald]

They keep the axle from moving from side to side. XJ's have them on the front, keeps that mess of coil springs and those 4 support arms straight.. On the later fsj's, they have em front and rear.. I think its cause they were trying to for one make a little tighter vehicle for the highway (along with the stupid 2.72 gears).
And the springs on mine for instance are real thin for a soft ride. theyre probably week from side to side.

[Snakeyes_Tx]

EZ, toss them! Let me reassure you.. my 86 J-10 didn't come with them.. my 83 Wagoneer Limited didn't come with them either. Leaf springs are REALLY hard to get lateral movement out of. Besides, you got a superlift, you'll be lucky to get ANY movement out of them! :D

[EZ]

Ok you guys talked me in to it :D in the heap they go.
here are a few before & after pix looks like more than 4" smile.gif
http://home.earthlink.net/~dzeasley/_wsn/page2.html

[ August 05, 2001: Message edited by: EZ ]

[scotty]

that was one of the first "mods" that i made-removing both front and rear trac bars,and the front sway bar.i think a trac bar on a leaf sprug vehicle is kinda silly. you may need em to locate a coil sprung axle,but as snake mentioned,a leaf spring is tuff to get lateral movement out of,and does a nifty job of locating the axle without such devices as trac bars.

clark,i doubt you springs are any more worn out than mine. i doubt that youd ever notice that theyre missing. you will notice a world of difference in articualtion and offroad perfoprmance with them gone.i wouldnt want to do it daily, ;) but i can still drive mine on the street with no swaybar,no trac bars,no springclamps,and 38 inch tires.till i got my 'burb and a towbar,i used to drive it 70 miles each way to haspin this way,even loaded up with camping stuff,tools,and spare parts.

[Ralph]

Southwest 4x4 did the install of a Skyjacker 4" kit for a buddy of mine. They drilled the slots longer on both the frame and axle mounts, enabling the original track bar to be retained.

The best solution I've heard on this forum is to remove the track bar, cut it in half and thread the ends, then use a tie rod adjusting sleeve between the two pieces.

I suppose pitching them is always an option. But if you've got them why not try to get the most out of your ride?

[ClarkGriswald]

Thats it.. Mine are Outta there.

Fact is the front one pisses me off cause the bushings are loose so when I go up into the dunes.. I can feel a clunk coming from the front driverside. (where it mounts to frame)..

Ive been running without my sway bar all year now.. I dont need it.

They will be gone before I touch sand again.

[Ralph]

Careful about using the word "sand" in vain, Clark.

There are a few Marines on the forum, and they're all a bit sensitive to the old joke:

Q: How do you kill a Marine?
A: Throw some sand against the wall and tell him to 'Hit the beach'!

[Scott]

I took my track bars off when the lift went on and I notice no difference.

[River Beast]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ralph:
Careful about using the word "sand" in vain, Clark.

There are a few Marines on the forum, and they're all a bit sensitive to the old joke:

Q: How do you kill a Marine?
A: Throw some sand against the wall and tell him to 'Hit the beach'!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

GOOD ONE Ralph!!! :D :D :D

I'm not insulted...even though the "sand box" is my playground... ;) LOOK WHERE I'M AT!!!!

Jason knows better.....don't you...
tongue.gif tongue.gif tongue.gif

[ClayM]

Track bar, Huh??

Help me out here, this may seem like a dumb question but I have never seen nor even heard of a track bar used on a leaf spring suspension. Are we talking about an axle locating bar that connects to the frame on one side and the axle on the other? Like the ones used to locate a live axle with coil springs. This sure sounds like what you are talking about.

The problem I see with this is that as the axle moves up and down the rotation of the track bar forces the axle to move laterally. Since a leaf spring already locates and controls lateral motion of the axle this seems that the track bar would work against the springs. I would think this would cause more problems than it solved, unless the leaf springs were specially designed to allow this lateral motion. Are the springs different on FSJs with the track bar?

I don't think I have to worry too much as I am pretty sure my '83 Cerokee S does not have any track bars.

Just thought I'd ask, thanks for any info you may add.......

[Iron Horse]

That's in interesting point~ When did the track-bars appear on FSJ's, or is only on G-Wags? Mabey we can put a "reason" behind their use; then someone might be able to confidently decide if they should ditch them or not.