[Mark_ZZ3]

As it seems to be a common question "What happens if I remove the front track bar", I thought I would start a dialog using my experiences. It might help some, or none.

My Jeep: 93 YJ. 4" rock krawler lift (sagged to 2.5 :-) ), Daystar 1/2" shackles, 1inch BL, 1inch MML, 31" MT's.

My front suspension: 4 leaves in the pack, with clamps still wrapped (not opened). Urethane bushings on the leafs, rubber on the frame. Front sway bar connected with rod ends quick disconnect. Track bar has huge rod end connected to axle, and urethane on the frame.

I disconnected my track bar for a while to test out the drive. What I noticed is that there is certainly more left to right axle movement compared to when the track bar is connected. I need to correct the steering more often to keep it centred on the road. It also seems that "centre" on my steering wheel spans a few inches of travel. With my track bar connected, it is much more positive.

Driving around corners, over bumps, and so forth is not much different. With larger tires you get more sway, so any sway due to leaf springs moving is not as noticable.

So over all ... I don't like the way my jeep drives without the track bar. For on-road, I am keeping it. Just need to figure out a quick disconnect for off road.

Mark.

[dell2028]

Try removing the rear. There is less of a difference with it gone and it doesn't effect steering.

[wraithyjeep]

I agree with everything you said about removing the front track bar.
I have 2 inch leaf lift 5 leafs a pack with 235/75 r 15
the very true part is constant steering correction and steering centre moves from 1 oclock to 11 oclock depends where the suspecion rested after the last turn ya made.

I have my front track bar connected and when disconnected i only pick up about an extra 1.5 inch of travel down ward and it seems like there is no force/weight on the tire to give it any contact/traction advantage with that extra 1.5 inches.

[Mark_ZZ3]

The rear has been gone for a long time. Did not notice much change. However once the front was gone ... quite noticable.

Originally Posted by dell2028

Try removing the rear. There is less of a difference with it gone and it doesn't effect steering.

[Mark_ZZ3]

Yes ... the 11 and 1 o'clock is exactly what I mean. Great summary ... much better than I wrote!

Originally Posted by wraithyjeep

I agree with everything you said about removing the front track bar.
I have 2 inch leaf lift 5 leafs a pack with 235/75 r 15
the very true part is constant steering correction and steering centre moves from 1 oclock to 11 oclock depends where the suspecion rested after the last turn ya made.

I have my front track bar connected and when disconnected i only pick up about an extra 1.5 inch of travel down ward and it seems like there is no force/weight on the tire to give it any contact/traction advantage with that extra 1.5 inches.

[fratis]

Originally Posted by mississippi_xj

If you rotate the tre's on your tie rod opposite ways you will get rid of a whole lot of that play..... it keeps the draglink from rotating the tie rod from steering input.

please explain at present this makes no sense...

[mississippi_xj]

If you rotate the tre's on your tie rod opposite ways you will get rid of a whole lot of that play..... it keeps the draglink from rotating the tie rod from steering input.

[JeepsOLot]

Just today, I unbolted my sway and front track bars, and zip-tied them to the frame for now just to see what the differences were. So far, driving it isn't much different, you do see some body roll when turning, but, it's not bad in my book. Here are several pics from several different angles so people can see the differences, and doing this REALLY does help.

Ok, From the front:

With sway-track bars:


Without sway-track bars:


Now, the driver's side:

With sway-track bars:


Without sway-track bars:


Passenger side:

With sway-track bars:


Without sway-track bars:


Now, if you look at the front-on pics, you will see that, without the sway-track bars, the body isn't tilted as much as when the sway-track bars were bolted up, BUT, the front axle is flexed MORE when the sway-track bars are unbolted vs. bolted.

I hope this helps anyone that was wondering what the gains would be with unbolting the sway and track bars, vs. keeping them bolted up.

Jerry

[bigredcherokee]

nice pics and info.

[JeepsOLot]

Thanks. I just wanted to show people how not having a front track bar and either not having a sway bar at all or if they were disconnected would affect the flex. I know mine doesn't flex that much now, but they should get the picture. Now, I still have my rear track bar on, but, as you can see, anymore flex, and I'll be hitting the flares. I might get a 2" body lift, or, I just might go to a 4" RE lift to help with that issue.

Jerry

[Mobile_Homie]

jeepsalot: Go with the 4.5 RE you wont regret It is a very all inclusive kit, shackles, brake line extentions, shocks are extra. But do yourself a favor and do an SYE W/ driveshaft, and throw out that Tcase drop kit, along wilth your rear track bar

[JeepsOLot]

Kingcandy, that's why I haven't gone any farther with the suspension, I need a SYE kit. The one thing that is hard to stomach is paying over $350 for a drive shaft!! I do see that the SYE prices are alot cheaper then they used to be even several years ago. The SYE is the next mod I will be doing after I replace my whole exhaust system.

I will ditch my rear track bar as well, just haven't got around it it. Depending on how the Jeep drives on the interstate, I might either take the sway bar totally off, or, get discos, and hook it back up. The front track bar is going to be totally gone, as soon as I can break the upper bolt on the frame loose, gotta love Torx fittings,

So, as the RE 4.5 kit is concerned, all I need to get outside the kit are the shocks? Will I be able to use my 5/8 More Booms with it as well? Will my 33's look rediculously small with that lift and the Booms? I have a 1" BL, I guess I could take that back off if it looks bad.

Thanks,

Jerry

[navman]

exactly what kingcandy said 4.5 kit has it all. I do have the rear track bar removed but do use the sway bar discos and a jks telescope frnt tracbar, I think it helps the onroad feel and then unlock everything in the woods.

[Mikerp97]

whats every ones opinions about not running a rear track bar, right now all i would be driving to would be to college, into town, to my work (30 seconds down the road from my house) and then the rest in the woods , theres always a possiblity of the high way but i usually steer clear of that

iam already running with out sway bars

[Pylot7]

All suspension must be located in three planes.

Up and down, fore and aft and side to side.

Your track bar locates your suspension from side to side.

You remove the track bar and you go around a corner and the axel stays in place while your jeep slides to the outside.

You crash.

You don't want to know how your obit reads.

Nuff said??