Broken Front Track Bar Mount

[cv2065]

Hi all. Wife's 2022 JL went down today. I'm out on business so can only go off of the picture she sent. Looks like maybe the front trackbar mount broke away? Jeep has a 2" Dynatrac Endurosport lift with JKS adjustable track bar. Jeep only has about 5K miles on it and she has done zero off roading. Only highway. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow but any ideas? Thanks.

Sponsored

 

[BDinTX]

I think you’re right. Pretty sure driving it like that would be very bad, nothing to hold the axle in position laterally. Also, it looks like a piece of the mount is still under the nut on the back side. When you get a chance pull that out and see if you can tell if the hole was wallowed out. If the bolt wasn’t properly torqued it may have been a factor.

 

[Vinman]

That track-bar looks like it was installed in single shear on the outside face of the mount instead of between the two surfaces in double shear.
The outside face appears to have a witness mark that corresponds with the diameter of the bushing instead of just the bolt head and there’s no remnants of the broken mount between the bolt head and bushing.

 

[BDinTX]

That track-bar looks like it was installed in single shear on the outside face of the mount instead of between the two surfaces in double shear.
The outside face appears to have a witness mark that corresponds with the diameter of the bushing instead of just the bolt head and there’s no remnants of the broken mount between the bolt head and bushing.

Man good eye - I think you're right. I saw the witness marks but was thinking it was from a washer. Yet there is no washer (that big) on the bolt...

@cv2065 I don't think a dealer is going to help you with this. Do you know who installed the lift?

 

[Rangemaster]

Might be time to get one of these
https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-front-track-bar-reinforcement-bracket.html

I think I will order one for myself.

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

Vinman is correct.. the trackbar was mounted to the front side of the trackbar bracket.. did you install the trackbar? dealer? off-road shop?...

a metal shop can fix the mount, but since the integrity of the trackbar mount has been compromised, a reinforcement bracket would be a good idea.

https://metalcloak.com/jl-wrangler-front-track-bar-reinforcement-bracket.html

 

[jaymz]

From the looks of it, and the countless stories about vehicles being flagged to have warranty voided due to aftermarket components being installed - I'd advise not to take it to the dealer.
Just as a precaution.

 

[garyji]

Pretty sure the dealer will not touch that one. Somebody screwed it up when they put it back together after the lift.

G.

 

[jludave]

Pretty sure the dealer will not touch that one. Somebody screwed it up when they put it back together after the lift.

G.

Yup. Pretty substantial screw up there.

 

[Mocopo]

Very clearly an issue with the lift install. I'd be taking it right back top whoever installed the lift and try to get them to fix it at no cost, whether they offer a warranty or not.

Also, I don't mean this as a slight at all, but knowing and understanding what parts are being replaced and installed by a shop can help prevent something like this from happening in the future. You likely signed something saying you "inspected the vehicle and all looks good" before you took it back from the mechanic. If you know how the parts are supposed to look, then you can do a real inspection before driving away with it and catch mistakes, especially a very serious and obvious mistake like I would consider this to be (assuming people are correct and the track bar was installed on the front of the mount rather than inside the mount, which I agree looks exactly like what happened). Again, not a slight at all, just food for thought for future upgrades.

 

[cv2065]

Thanks for the replies. I installed the lift and front track bar. I’m certain that I installed it between the bracket and not on the front side and torqued to spec. I’m not sure it would have installed on the front side as it was a pretty rigid fit to begin with, even with the adjustment.

I agree with leaving the dealer out. Does the factory mount need to be repaired prior to installing a reinforced mount from metal cloak or synergy? Looks like these are bolt on.

 

[BDinTX]

I installed the lift and front track bar.

Man you're gonna have to pay ALL of us so we keep quiet about your attempt to off the old lady. Solid attempt though, I'll give you that.

Edit: I'd repair before reinforcing it but I'm no expert.

 

[Vinman]

Thanks for the replies. I installed the lift and front track bar. I’m certain that I installed it between the bracket and not on the front side and torqued to spec. I’m not sure it would have installed on the front side as it was a pretty rigid fit to begin with, even with the adjustment.

I agree with leaving the dealer out. Does the factory mount need to be repaired prior to installing a reinforced mount from metal cloak or synergy? Looks like these are bolt on.

A picture of the inner mounting hole will tell whether or not the bar was installed correctly between the mounts.
The lack of any trace of the broken frame mount behind the bolt head leads me to believe it wasn’t.

Whoever that was driving (your wife?) at the time of failure was extremely lucky to maintain control once that bar stopped doing it’s job.

 

[Remorseless]

Thanks for the replies. I installed the lift and front track bar. I’m certain that I installed it between the bracket and not on the front side and torqued to spec. I’m not sure it would have installed on the front side as it was a pretty rigid fit to begin with, even with the adjustment.

I agree with leaving the dealer out. Does the factory mount need to be repaired prior to installing a reinforced mount from metal cloak or synergy? Looks like these are bolt on.

Did both bolt holes tear out or just the one at the front of the vehicle?

 

[Pig-Pen]

Edit: I'd repair before reinforcing it but I'm no expert.

neither is he

Sponsored