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Track Bars Stress Me Out!

NPE102414

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thanks! For tires, 37” BFG KO2’s. Tire pressure currently is around 32. I’ve ran up to 37 and as low as 26. The higher tire pressure made it a little more squirrelly. And the lower tire pressure was really sluggish. Goal is to replace the track bars. Then I’ll to the tie rod and steering stabilizer together and move the SS up out of the way. Last the drag link. Also, metalcloak advises some people have had luck changing out the front UPPER control arms for adjustable ones.

And in all honesty, none of this is a big deal. Some people act like the wander is dangerous and uncontrollable. It’s a little fatiguing on long trips. But otherwise it’s what I would expect on solid axles and 37” tires.
You just hit the mail on the head, “with 37’s”. I have the same lift, but with front and rear track bars, falcon 2.1 SS and 35’s all my previous wandering issues went away. Im willing to bet your entire wandering issues are related to the 37’s.
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Is there a big difference between jam nuts and pinch bolts? Is one easier to adjust? Does one maintain better? Someone in a tread made a comment that jam nuts can loosen over time but I wasn’t sure if it was a user error or they can actually loosen.

I think my biggest thing is I want whatever front track bar I pick to work well with a tie rod and drag link later. These things all play in a limited space and it takes some thought for the suspension to not bind at full flex.

The rear is probably less of an issue. My mind likes when I use the same brand just so things match. However, depending who you ask, you get a different answer on if a relocation bracket is good or bad in the rear. The rear is no longer parallel to the ground. Should it be? Does adding a bracket create a weak point for future issues under stress?
 
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You just got the mail on the head, “with 37’s”. I have the same lift, but with front and rear track bars, falcon 2.1 SS and 35’s all my previous wandering issues went away. Im willing to bet your entire wandering issues are related to the 37’s.
I won’t say it’s the “entire” issue but I’m not oblivious that it’s part of it. 37’s on 17” rims is a lot of sidewall and obviously more weight. There are some underlying issues though. What’s weird is the wander will change. Which I’m guessing is a steering box issue. This other stuff has to help, right?
 

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I won’t say it’s the “entire” issue but I’m not oblivious that it’s part of it. 37’s on 17” rims is a lot of sidewall and obviously more weight. There are some underlying issues though. What’s weird is the wander will change. Which I’m guessing is a steering box issue. This other stuff has to help, right?
The difference between 35s and 37s is not really that much. Get that track bar replaced and get your caster dialed in around 6 degrees. If you're still getting wandering you might consider changing out the tie rod and drag link. For reference I'm lifted 3.5" with 37s and I'm running the stock tie rod and drag link. I have 0 wandering. I do have the Rock Krawler track bar and Fox ATS steering stabilizer. Is your wander changing on different roads? Road condition/crown can have a major affect on handling.
 
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The difference between 35s and 37s is not really that much. Get that track bar replaced and get your caster dialed in around 6 degrees. If you're still getting wandering you might consider changing out the tie rod and drag link. For reference I'm lifted 3.5" with 37s and I'm running the stock tie rod and drag link. I have 0 wandering. I do have the Rock Krawler track bar and Fox ATS steering stabilizer. Is your wander changing on different roads? Road condition/crown can have a major affect on handling.
thanks. Good advice. I agree road conditions will change some of the handling. I don’t count that. I will say that wind amplifies though. Or maybe makes it more noticeable.
 

NPE102414

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The difference between 35s and 37s is not really that much. Get that track bar replaced and get your caster dialed in around 6 degrees. If you're still getting wandering you might consider changing out the tie rod and drag link. For reference I'm lifted 3.5" with 37s and I'm running the stock tie rod and drag link. I have 0 wandering. I do have the Rock Krawler track bar and Fox ATS steering stabilizer. Is your wander changing on different roads? Road condition/crown can have a major affect on handling.
I agree 100% change out your front track bar and depending on what your caster is set at get a set of adjustable LCA’s and go from there. I got about 3 1/2” out of my Mopar lift and it drives amazing. My caster is at 6 and I have front and rear track bars with the Falcon 2.1. What is your caster currently at?
 

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Not being a suspension guru... I’d say the relation to the front track bar is more of what is altered. Right? The rear is closer to “flat” at road height. But the front would not be. Isn’t that a thing?
It's actually the center of the bar that determines the roll-center height. Raising one end 2.5" only raises the roll-center 1.25". Changing the angle of the bar does have different tuning effects, but not something that is applicable to a Jeep.
 
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I agree 100% change out your front track bar and depending on what your caster is set at get a set of adjustable LCA’s and go from there. I got about 3 1/2” out of my Mopar lift and it drives amazing. My caster is at 6 and I have front and rear track bars with the Falcon 2.1. What is your caster currently at?
great question. Just ordered a tool on amazon to measure my caster angle. Related question though, everyone changed out their lower control arms. When I talked to metalcloak, they said some had benefits from swapping out their upper control arms. Thoughts?
 

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great question. Just ordered a tool on amazon to measure my caster angle. Related question though, everyone changed out their lower control arms. When I talked to metalcloak, they said some had benefits from swapping out their upper control arms. Thoughts?
Thoughts are if your axles are centered and your caster is good no need to throw parts at a problem that doesn’t exist. Take it step by step and address the issues that come up. Get it on a rack and see where you stand before you throw parts at it. Everyone can give you opinions of different parts to throw at it, at the end of the day you may not need anything, never know till you get it on an alignment rack. I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but even at over 3” of lift my caster is perfect and she tracks straight as an arrow. Im a Snap on dealer so I had one of my customers at the dealer install my lift and he is a master of all things Jeep. His advice was exactly what I just gave you, wait and see. I’m glad I listened to him.
 
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Thoughts are if your axles are centered and your caster is good no need to throw parts at a problem that doesn’t exist. Take it step by step and address the issues that come up. Get it on a rack and see where you stand before you throw parts at it. Everyone can give you opinions of different parts to throw at it, at the end of the day you may not need anything, never know till you get it on an alignment rack. I don’t know if I’m just lucky, but even at over 3” of lift my caster is perfect and she tracks straight as an arrow. Im a Snap on dealer so I had one of my customers at the dealer install my lift and he is a master of all things Jeep. His advice was exactly what I just gave you, wait and see. I’m glad I listened to him.
Thanks! and I couldn't agree more. Thats why I was starting with track bars. Not expensive and easy to swap. I know that the axles aren't centered so seemed like an easy place to start. Was going to go from there like you said. I also don't want to just throw money at it.

And relatedly.... I think I mentioned before. It does NOT drive "bad". some people get pretty interesting about their dislike of the steering and how it drives. I think this vehicle drives amazing. I was even re-accessing this morning. There was no wind and I was on a strait road. It tracks strait and at 35 mph requires very small correction. At cooler temps, the steering is fairly responsive, given a solid axle and larger tires. So I just want to be clear, this thing isn't all over the road by any means. At high way speed, it gets more wander and requires more correction. At highway speed for along periods of time, it gets worse. I'm just hoping some minor adjustments and "beefier" parts will stiffen that up.
 
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Back on the topic of track bars.... does everyone not like EVO? I know people here hate the ponytail man. But is EVO good stuff? They offer a front and rear track bar and a rear track bar relocation bracket if needed. Also, their stuff seems to work well with synergy steering components if I need them in the future. Any thoughts???
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