Steer Smarts track bar hitting ARB diff cover

[TxJeepers]

Anyone else running Steer Smarts front track bar and ARB diff covers?

I regeared today and put on ARB diff covers. Got home and noticed the track bar is contacting the diff cover where ARB has the dipstick. Anyone else have this issue with this combo or any other? How did you resolve?

I’ve got adjustable lower control arms and factory uppers. I’m thinking I either need to get adjustable uppers and between them and the lowers move the axle to clear or swap the Steer Smarts TB for maybe a Synergy.

Pictures show the contact point and note this is from from normal under 45mph driving and not even fully compressed yet. Going to talk to the shop and get their thoughts on it today.

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[plex]

I am not surprised by this, since all SS steering components are beefy and chunky at the same time. Actually, they can't even fit aftermarket steering stabilizer with drag link attenuator together, if the drag link is not flipped.

ARB diff covers on the other hands are also chunky, so you kind get two thicc ones competing with each other for space.

 

[Headbarcode]

Anyone else running Steer Smarts front track bar and ARB diff covers?

I regeared today and put on ARB diff covers. Got home and noticed the track bar is contacting the diff cover where ARB has the dipstick. Anyone else have this issue with this combo or any other? How did you resolve?

I’ve got adjustable lower control arms and factory uppers. I’m thinking I either need to get adjustable uppers and between them and the lowers move the axle to clear or swap the Steer Smarts TB for maybe a Synergy.

Pictures show the contact point and note this is from from normal under 45mph driving and not even fully compressed yet. Going to talk to the shop and get their thoughts on it today.

Same exact contact spot, but my covers have been on for several weeks now.

Never saw it with the Dynatrac 2" lift, but space opened up under there after installing the 3.5" Metalcloak. I mentioned in our conversation about it only contacting when closer to driver side stuff, but I was mistaken. I just drove through a rutted path with a bit more speed than usual, and i felt it. I've also felt it hit before, but thought I fixed it when I slightly shifted the stabilizer away from the track bar adjustment clamp bolt. I guess my tenancy towards slow rolling has kept it from being a regular thing.

Just a heads up concerning the Synergy front track bar. A couple other members are having issues with the axle side of the bar making hard contact to the axle mounting bracket. Looks to me like Synergy needs to do a bit of reshaping for clearance.

 

[Headbarcode]

Also, I forgot to add that I have all 8 Synergy control arms. I added them to the Dynatrac lift, because I dont at all agree about everything staying within specs. Nothing steering or suspension linkage related has been factory on my jeep since last winter. My ocd required being able to center the axles both side to side and fore and aft, on top of adjusting the caster and rear pinion.

I'm either going to shave the arb cover, because it's plenty thick and wouldn't need much removed or maybe try out the Metalcloak track bar.

 

[TxJeepers]

Also, I forgot to add that I have all 8 Synergy control arms. I added them to the Dynatrac lift, because I dont at all agree about everything staying within specs. Nothing steering or suspension linkage related has been factory on my jeep since last winter. My ocd required being able to center the axles both side to side and fore and aft, on top of adjusting the caster and rear pinion.

I'm either going to shave the arb cover, because it's plenty thick and wouldn't need much removed or maybe try out the Metalcloak track bar.

What about dialing back, maybe one turn, on both the front uppers and lowers? Wouldn't that keep the caster yet move the axle back just enough to clear it? This is one of my thoughts on rectifying it before doing some grinding. I really don't want to deal with a jam nut on a track bar. Been there done that and not interested. Maybe consider Teraflex if not Synergy.

I've got calls into Synergy and my shop, waiting to hear back on their thoughts.

So you've totally stuffed one side or the other or both and know for sure that the amount contact you have is all there ever will be?

 

[Headbarcode]

What about dialing back, maybe one turn, on both the front uppers and lowers? Wouldn't that keep the caster yet move the axle back just enough to clear it? This is one of my thoughts on rectifying it before doing some grinding. I really don't want to deal with a jam nut on a track bar. Been there done that and not interested. Maybe consider Teraflex if not Synergy.

I've got calls into Synergy and my shop, waiting to hear back on their thoughts.

So you've totally stuffed one side or the other or both and know for sure that the amount contact you have is all there ever will be?

Off roading is illegal in New York, so my stuffing moments have been limited to playtime here and there. My winter off season is my chance to get out of state and enjoy the fruits of my labor and see what the Jeep is really capable of. This rub definitely needs to be addressed because it will continue to happen and I'd rather not found out what else would be turned into collateral damage from this hitting.

I'm going to experiment with shortening the control arms, to see how far the axle needs to move for proper clearance. Hopefully I'll get an open window of time this weekend. I'll report back asap.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Off roading is illegal in New York, so my stuffing moments have been limited to playtime here and there. My winter off season is my chance to get out of state and enjoy the fruits of my labor and see what the Jeep is really capable of. This rub definitely needs to be addressed because it will continue to happen and I'd rather not found out what else would be turned into collateral damage from this hitting.

I'm going to experiment with shortening the control arms, to see how far the axle needs to move for proper clearance. Hopefully I'll get an open window of time this weekend. I'll report back asap.

I don’t think you’ll get appreciable movement with the control arms to gain the clearance needed without really changing things up. We’ve installed this Diff cover with an MC track bar and there’s not clearance issues. On our shop JL it has the motobilt covers and no issues with the steersmart stuff. The SS stuff is incredibly beefy but almost to a fault and sometimes it’s an exercise in patience to get everything to fit just right.

brett

 

[TxJeepers]

@AllJumpStyle Will a Synergy front track bar clear the ARB diff covers on JL Rubicons?

 

[TxJeepers]

@Tech Tim Any thoughts on this issue? I bought both from N4x4.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

@AllJumpStyle Will a Synergy front track bar clear the ARB diff covers on JL Rubicons?

It will rub the cover slightly on the ring gear bulge at stock caster.. at 5+ degrees it won't touch it.

 

[TxJeepers]

It will rub the cover slightly on the ring gear bulge at stock caster.. at 5+ degrees it won't touch it.

I'm close to 6 so good to know, thanks.

 

[4xFUN]

I have Steer Smarts trackbar, drag link (NOT top mount) and Rubi-length tie rod, also have Fox 2.0 TS top mount stabilizer and they all work great together. When I was looking for a heavier duty front diff cover and or front skid, some such as the ARB cover were just to bulky and looked like it they might pose a problem...I went with Metalcloak's front diff cover and skid and have plenty of clearance with these. I also replaced all 8 of my control arms with the Teraflex IR and have my caster dialed up to 6.7 left and 6.9 right, no interference with anything in the front. Really happy with the Steer Smarts steering setup!

 

[Fire Burns]

Honestly I think its a take your pick kinda thing. Either keep the incredibly bulky SteerSmarts trackbar, or the incredibly bulky ARB diff cover. Can't have both. Probably cheaper to go with something more low profile like the Motobilt or Metalcloak diff covers than an all new trackbar, but results may vary and depends on what you want.

For me the SteerSmarts bulkiness brings with it other fitment issues that @rustyshakelford mentioned that its probably not worth the perceived benefits, but again, to each his own.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

Beefier lower control arms with 30 degree joints at BOTH ends helped steering (and RIDE) more than some overbuilt massive trackbar. The JL steering is better controlled with strong, non-binding, 30 degree flex joint control arms than some massive trackbar and steering stabilizer solution.

 

[Headbarcode]

I don’t think you’ll get appreciable movement with the control arms to gain the clearance needed without really changing things up. We’ve installed this Diff cover with an MC track bar and there’s not clearance issues. On our shop JL it has the motobilt covers and no issues with the steersmart stuff. The SS stuff is incredibly beefy but almost to a fault and sometimes it’s an exercise in patience to get everything to fit just right.

brett

Yeah, I was thinking the same. That I'd have to adjust the arms a considerable amount to clear the axle. Enough that I could see having turned tire clearance issues with the body panel. Not to mention a non centered axle and lots of approach angle.

I'm wondering if i could shave a bit of meat off both parts? What are your thoughts? How much air space would help them play well together?

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