All track bar reinforcement bracket options

[Old Jeeper]

Agreed! Thanks for the perspective! The one who created the original proof of concept/product to address the identified problem deserves the credit, and the one who improves the product based users feedback deserves continued support too!

It took me back to my TJ build. I had a full set of Dynatrac Pro Rock 60s, Hi Pinion, Hi Steer, ARBs, 4:88s and IIRC 40 spline shafts.

Then I developed DW and what a bitch it was, those heavy axles. When DW began it would shift my front end back and forth over the road.

This was when I decided this engineer was NOT GOING down, I was going to beat DW and I did!

What did I do: Put the Track bar, and Drag link along with the Tie rod parallel to the axle/ground plane and above the axle..

One of the inputs to DW is the angularity of the Track Bar and Drag link.

Cut off the Steering box and Rotate to align the Pitman arm and Drag link.

Cut off the Trackball connection, then fab a new box welded to the frame that drops down to get the Trackball parallel.

Never had DW again in 7 years and almost 80k miles. Note I did change my SS about every other year. I used a Rancho Ford F 450 HD SS. All F 450 was were 4X4 and what front axle did Dynatrac use to build their ProRock 60? Ford F 450!

If I can get out of FL and back to the ranch in Texas I will build another TJR...love my JL but its a delicate Jeep, the electronics are its Achilles heel.

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[Roky]

I got my synergy brace a few years ago, and it was close to when they first came out. Back then they had trouble with the brass bushing spinning in the housing which would misalign the grease fitting with the hole in the bushing resulting in no grease in the bushing….. I don’t know if I was the first to do it but I fixed mine and about another dozen of them after….. I emailed Dave with synergy and showed him the fix, he said I could’ve just used red loctite…. ……. Shortly after that, they came out with a revised version with two set screws in them, a little different than mine but basically the same thing………mine is still working great, but if it ever fails, I’ll likely replace the bushing with the new sealed bearing….

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...bar-and-sector-shaft-brace.50148/post-1159126

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

It took me back to my TJ build. I had a full set of Dynatrac Pro Rock 60s, Hi Pinion, Hi Steer, ARBs, 4:88s and IIRC 40 spline shafts.

Then I developed DW and what a bitch it was, those heavy axles. When DW began it would shift my front end back and forth over the road.

This was when I decided this engineer was NOT GOING down, I was going to beat DW and I did!

What did I do: Put the Track bar, and Drag link along with the Tie rod parallel to the axle/ground plane and above the axle..

One of the inputs to DW is the angularity of the Track Bar and Drag link.

Cut off the Steering box and Rotate to align the Pitman arm and Drag link.

Cut off the Trackball connection, then fab a new box welded to the frame that drops down to get the Trackball parallel.

Never had DW again in 7 years and almost 80k miles. Note I did change my SS about every other year. I used a Rancho Ford F 450 HD SS. All F 450 was were 4X4 and what front axle did Dynatrac use to build their ProRock 60? Ford F 450!

If I can get out of FL and back to the ranch in Texas I will build another TJR...love my JL but its a delicate Jeep, the electronics are its Achilles heel.

Oh man over 20 years you would think Jeep could have totally addressed the DW issue... Maybe that's how we can support the aftermarket companies R&D.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I got my synergy brace a few years ago, and it was close to when they first came out. Back then they had trouble with the brass bushing spinning in the housing which would misalign the grease fitting with the hole in the bushing resulting in no grease in the bushing….. I don’t know if I was the first to do it but I fixed mine and about another dozen of them after….. I emailed Dave with synergy and showed him the fix, he said I could’ve just used red loctite…. ……. Shortly after that, they came out with a revised version with two set screws in them, a little different than mine but basically the same thing………mine is still working great, but if it ever fails, I’ll likely replace the bushing with the new sealed bearing….

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...bar-and-sector-shaft-brace.50148/post-1159126

I appreciate your contribution to the improvement of this product! Many would have just stopped from there and you sir put extra effort into solving the problems for our followers to benefit these days.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

Today I added the Rusty's Front Track Bar Mount Brace into my consideration too, thinking the sector shaft brace may be not really needed since the new JL has cast iron steering box. And I also noticed the center bolt hole that Synergy has too but SteerSmarts doesn't. This design difference makes me think that bolts to the factory bracket for extra strength.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

Noticed this extra backing metal plate, and some members reported install issues and they had to trim that piece with Rusty’s brace. Wanted to post it here to give viewers more info. The early JLs (before 2022MY) didn’t seem to have this piece.

The Metalcloak brace seems clear this metal piece by looking at the pics from https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ft-and-track-bar-brace-first-thoughts.123970/

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

WFO Concepts also makes a bracket and it clears the extra metal plate. Their bracket uses 3 of the 4 bolts to the steering box, which is less ideal and the two lower holes to secure to the factor bracket may cause binding, possibly due to variations of the welding.
Their version does clear that extra metal piece welded to frame.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I think I’ll go with the SteerSmart bracket (without the sector shaft brace) due to their 4 hole design and 1/4” beefy material. They don’t use extra holes to secure to the factory bracket and this doesn’t cause additional binding force. I may have to trim the extra metal for clearance.

 

[AnnDee4444]

FWIW: More total bolts & different panes likely makes the Metalcloak brace stronger than the fourth steering box bolt.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

FWIW: More total bolts & different panes likely makes the Metalcloak brace stronger than the fourth steering box bolt.

I don’t disagree. MetalClosk uses 3/16” steel and requires to drill while SteerSmart bracket is 1/4” thickness. Different variables. I bought the SteerSmart bracket without the sector shaft brace, thinking it should be good enough for my use case.

 

[OffRoadPatriot]

This is a good thread. For anyone else that finds it and decides to order the Steer Smarts bracket, make sure you get the new version if you have a '24+. The part number is 79041001 and is backwards compatible with earlier years. The earlier 79040002 does NOT fit '24+. Some resellers don't know this (ask me how I know).

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

For anyone who may find this useful. I ended up only getting the trackbar bracket: https://steersmarts.com/products/yeti-xd-jl-frame-side-trackbar-reinforcement-bracket

Fits 2018-2023 model year JL Wranglers and 2020-2023 JT Gladiators (does not fit 2024+ model years)

 

[John VonJeep]

Do we have any idea why both they and Synergy are saying these braces don’t fit 2024+? I wonder if there’s some design change, or maybe they just haven’t gotten around to confirming?

 

[JT1]

Do we have any idea why both they and Synergy are saying these braces don’t fit 2024+? I wonder if there’s some design change, or maybe they just haven’t gotten around to confirming?

There is a reinforcement on the trackbar bracket on 24+ that is in the way of the old style bracket.

 

[John VonJeep]

There is a reinforcement on the trackbar bracket on 24+ that is in the way of the old style bracket.

Thanks. We can add this to the list of small, running changes that Jeep made — but did not announce — for the 2024s.

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