Is minimal track bar movement normal?

[fuelfox4949]

Well i just cranked down the track bar bolts with a breaker bar instead of a torque wrench and they still wiggle.

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[Roky]

What did you replace it with?

I went aluminum…… RK Pro X steering……

 

[BDinTX]

@Roky that Steer Smarts one that is making the thunking sound. I guess that's bad?
My factory ones are doing that on both ends of the drag link.
Think that could be allowing the vibration to get out of hand?

 

[Roky]

@Roky that Steer Smarts one that is making the thunking sound. I guess that's bad?
My factory ones are doing that on both ends of the drag link.
Think that could be allowing the vibration to get out of hand?

Yeah, it shouldn’t be moving…..hard for me to say, not being able to physically check it out, but if you’re having issues, I’d look there first…

 

[word302]

Right and I may for a spare. But I wanted the adjustable while in the jeep and also I was impressed with there rear track bar and steering setup so I got it to go with my current setup of steer smart steering, track bar mount, bolts and rear track bar.

Adjustable while in the Jeep for what? Once you get it dialed in you’ll never touch it again. Pinch bolts will never be as strong as jam nuts and those SS linkages are just stupid big, especially the track bar. Things are tight enough as it is without those massive adjusters that SS uses. Rebuild that RK track bar and you won’t have any clearance issues.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

Johnny joints..you will never have another issue with 'play'

 

[fuelfox4949]

I agree the SS track bar does take up alot of room.
I contacted SS and sent them the video and they said that it looks normal.
I went to discount tire today and got the tires checked to make sure there balanced.
I still have massive steering wheel wobble between 50 and 60 mph.

My next move is check the Teraflex ball joints and make sure they are "preloaded" then re-torque the nuts also I will be pulling Each Control arm off and checking the bushings and Re-tighten the jam nuts and mounting bolts.
It will take time, No biggie these things happen.

On my old XJ's in this situation it was either track bar bushing or control arm bushing on the axle side.

 

[Roky]

I agree the SS track bar does take up alot of room.
I contacted SS and sent them the video and they said that it looks normal.
I went to discount tire today and got the tires checked to make sure there balanced.
I still have massive steering wheel wobble between 50 and 60 mph.

My next move is check the Teraflex ball joints and make sure they are "preloaded" then re-torque the nuts also I will be pulling Each Control arm off and checking the bushings and Re-tighten the jam nuts and mounting bolts.
It will take time, No biggie these things happen.

On my old XJ's in this situation it was either track bar bushing or control arm bushing on the axle side.

Just rebuild the RK track bar, parts are probably 20.00 ish….put it on and see how it feels, if nothing else it will eliminate or confirm the track bar as the culprit…….

 

[fuelfox4949]

Just rebuild the RK track bar, parts are probably 20.00 ish….put it on and see how it feels, if nothing else it will eliminate or confirm the track bar as the culprit…….

I emailed RK looking for the part number and tool to rebuild it.
I want to make sure i order the correct parts.

 

[fuelfox4949]

Can any one that has a steer smart draglink please look and see if yours has a bend in it like mine.
While tearing out the front end to fix a shimmy it appears to me that the draglink has a slight bend in it.
If you guys see it also let me know or if you can look at your steer smart steel bottom mount drag link for the rubicon model.

 

[fuelfox4949]

So right next to the yeti sticker it looks like its bent.
And this is the passenger side attachment

 

[fuelfox4949]

so just a update for those in the future needing help, I fixed my shimmy that would go into death wobble at 50 mph.
tires were checked for balance, alignment was checked.
I replaced my steer smarts steering stabilizer relocation bracket which is on the axle side and the steer smart track bar frame reinforcement also the track bar bolts.
both of these appeared to have worn bolt hole, not egg shaped... I always torque the bolts with a torque wrench so I'm surprised they enlarged after maybe 7k miles.
I also had to reset my ball joint preload on the Teraflex ball joints, that made the largest difference.

next I am going to try to add caster to help with the wandering. right now I am at 5.2 degrees, and I am aiming to get to 6.2 driver side and 6.3 passenger side.
it drives straight down the road but any small movement and your all over the lane.

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