Josh over at IRO told me "maybe" at 2" back a couple years ago. Tried one and it worked fine. Since then I've sold lots more and no issues.

 

I say no adjustable trackbar at 2" lift. Or if you must have one, JKS.

 

I am not sure why you want an adjustable at 2"of lift. Most use the stock bar because as long as the track bar is the differential body relationship will not change more than 1/16" or so.

If you really must have one BUY THE JKS....I have a brand new IRO bar I didn't use because it does not have an OEM type bend for clearance. I started to install it but it definitely was going to hit the differential before the bump stops hit the diff. I figured it was because my long LCAs were about 7/8 to long with the adjustments bottomed out so the diff was to far forward.

But now I am not so sure that is the case. Others with small lift amounts have reported IRO bars hitting their differential. IMHO Jeep put the clearance bend in the track bar for a good reason, and JKS also put an OEM type bend in for a reason. So I ended up installing a JKS bar. I have the new IRO bar setting in a corner in the shop, I have not tried to sell it because I do not want to stick someone with a possible problem.

The only thing that baffles me is why it hits the diff on some WJs and misses the diff on others.

 

He needs a new trackbar and wanted to get an adjustable while he's at it.

I sold _hundreds_ of the IRO adjustable WJ trackbars in the last couple years. And of course I'm not their only dealer - plenty of people on the board have bought them directly from IRO. I never had one person tell me that it hit their differential cover.

It's a very nicely made product and has been problem free.

 

I guess I wasn't clear. I want to center the FRONT axle. The reason being, at full turn the passenger's side tire just rubs the LCA and the wheel well. The axle looks to be about 1/2" off, so I'm pretty sure getting the axle centered will eliminate any rubbing.

 

I would measure your axle before you spend any money. Does the steering wheel turn as far left as it does right?

 

Iron Rock list the bar to work with lifts from 3" up. The OP called Iron Rock, he said "I even called IRO and they told me the bar does not work for 2" lift".

If that does not settle the issue please consider that I have previously posted on this forum that I could not use the IROs track bar that came with my lift because it would hit my differential cover and possibly the top of the differential or cover bolts. So I choose to set it aside and use a JKS track bar. This is not rocket science....If the darn thing would have worked without modification I would have used it. I posted pictures in another thread of the difference in the bends in my IRO bar V/S my OEM bar. If needed I could post the pictures here.

How often the bars hits or miss the differential is not something I would hazard a guess at, but anyone that denies that it CAN hit is flat out wrong. IMO that may be because some folks are to timid to complain to vendors, or they fear the attempted intimidation from IRO that can happen. IF you post documented details of problems you personally have had with IRO parts.

Another possibility I see..... After spending some time on this forum I think the track bar could be rubbing the differential and the owner would not know the difference. Or they might not drive in conditions that flex or compress the suspension enough to expose the problem.

To prove this one way or the other is not easy....Not everything makes it to the internet. Even if it does a Google search, search for something like this can be very difficult. Because even if it is on the internet the thread title may not give a clue and the problem may be casually or briefly mentioned in a thread on another topic.

Despite the difficulties this morning I had some time....In a brief search and without trying a bunch of different combinations of key words I turned up the following post. In some of the threads people with the same lifts said they had the same bar and it wasn't hitting the differential. The mixed results makes me wonder if the bends are inconsistent. I also notice that IRO bars hit the diffs on other Jeep models that have front suspension much like WJs , so I included a few.

Apparently IROs track bar will not even clear the front differential with IRO track bar drop bracket. IRO claims the bracket will work with 4" of lift. This is a good indication the bar will hit with small lift amounts.

Reno4X4... My biggest issue is that my IRO adjustable trackbar hits the front diff cover on compression. IRO says this bracket can only be used with 4" lift or more. I have 4" lift, but need to add a bend to the bar to clear the diff cover. I'll get pics up tomorrow. /snip/

I ended up having to use my stock track bar, and grind on the new IRO drop bracket to clear the crazy bend it has to clear the diff cover. It cleared my diff nicely, but is about 1/4" too short. I am waiting on the 1.25" die for the bender, and then I will be able to add some bend into my IRO adjustable track bar to clear the diff and reinstall it.

http://www.reno4x4.com/forum/showthread.php/9290-Renojeepster-s-04-WJ-Build/page6

JeepForum WJ 2013

I ended up with some measurements I made myself checking my 4" lift and the jeep drives fine. ONLY ONE BIG ISSUE (that also my jeep has) the IRO track bar does not have enough clearance for the diff housing and they collide when suspension up travels.

I have noticed that the IRO trackbar has slight bends than orginal one. Is that me that I can't adjust the lift or is a bad trackbar design problem?

Thanks

Jeep forum.... Same person.....shortening Ca's a bit (replace the uppers with factory one or cutting the IRO ones) would help but not solve the problem. now the diff hits the trackbar even if the jeep hit speed bump at low speed (10-15 mph)

A different person Same thread....Good read. I had the same issues until I added both UCA and LCA. Its been a few years since I did it so I don't remember the lengths but I do get the loud clunk now and again on a really big bump when the truck is loaded down.

Guess I'll have to check the trackbar for marks. Lol where was this thread 2 years ago.

Another forum

Track bar Hitting Front Diff Cover after lift kit ..

Hey guys :wavzing: i'm new here and i have a question for you. I recently installed the Iron-Rock 3 inch lift on my 03 Wj Overland. The problem i seem to be experiencing is the New track bar hitting (rubbing) the front diff. cover when i go through a dip kinda fast (nothing really above normal speeds). I was thinking about jacking up the front end and removing the swar bars, removing the lower control arms, loosening the upper control arms, and resetting the track bar ...i don't eally think it'll do the trick, but i've tried everything else (as far as re-torqueing everything). I have e-mailed Iron Rock Offroad and awaiting a response. One thing i did notice on some of the various sites that sell aftermarket track bars for the Wj with lifts anywhere from 1-6 inches seem to have an additional bend toward the middle of the bar to compensate or prevent any rubbing or contact with the diff. cover. Has anyone else experienced this problem ? /snip/

Good News....I just spoke with Jason from Iron Rock and he told me that they have had only one other situation with the track bar hitting the diff. and they're going to build me a replacement track bar with the extra bend... and they'll send it out to me in about a week... No extra charges what so ever to me!..No hassle... Great customer Service.. I'm happy... Thanks for your input guys, i appreciate it. /snip/

I had a rare issue (according to Iron Rock this has only once with there Lift for the WJ) with the Track bar bumping into the Front Diff. They are sending me a modified replacement. /snip/

A person in the same thread.....Same problem with my ZJ. Bought a adjustable track bar that was suppose to be for a ZJ. Well it lacks the curve to get around the diff cover on a hard bump but fits otherwise. The only answer I have is to remove it and put a bend in it to get around the cover.

IRO track bars on ZJ-XJ

1. I've driven it for a week now and haven't had any death wobble. But I have heard some clunking from the front and I just found this. That clean spot is where it contacts the stock cover. This is with the sway bar connected the whole time. I haven't disconnected the sway bar and flexed it to see how bad it is, but I think there's enough bushing give that it slids past, but I don't like it. I plan to upgrade the cover in the future but it'll only stick out more then. Any ideas on fixing this?

2. I like the basic design and beef of this track bar, but it ain't perfect. Iron Rock should supply a longer axle-side bushing bolt w/ washers with their kit, and I don't know what I'm going to do about the diff cover contact. Maybe most people with more lift bumpstop enough that it doesn't happen, I dunno. Maybe the bushings have enough give that it's OK, or maybe it'll just "self clearance."

3. I have the iron rock track bar it did hit my diff cover when I had 3inches in the front but now I have 6 inches in the front it doesn't even come close, if you look at a stock track bar it has a bow in it to clear the diff. And yes the track bar is put in the correct way. Here is what mine looks like now with the iron rock steering setup. Most other aftermarket track bars stick out further to compensate for the diff.

Jeep Forum Reviews

Pros: Quality
Cons: Can not run on stock height, I installed my lift in portions over 3 days, after the track bar but before the lift coils the track bar hits the diff cover....oh well....

Pros: Beefy... great price...
Cons: With a 2 inch BB lift, the trackbar hits my diff cover on large bumps...

 

That was quite a dissertation. I know _you've_ had problems with IRO as you continue to post every possible negative thing. But from where I sit, there's no issues with the trackbars. My customers are VERY vocal, but they don't post, they write to me when there are problems, even minute ones such as a missing bolt, causes a lengthy email to be sent to me. So if anyone would know about problems, it would be ME.

Look, I'm a JKS dealer too. Have been for over 18 years. I knew Jim and Mark from nearly the beginnings of their company. I like IRO these days for their trackbars because of various reasons relating to the new owners and corporate structure of JKS. That said, the product still is fine I'm sure so if someone wants a JKS trackbar then so be it. All I wanted to do was to offer a good alternate, that being IRO.

 

Get the JKS, I picked up a used one and fixed my issues up nicely.

 

To be fair it should be noted that I have also posted positive things about some IRO product. It is not my fault that the negatives outweigh the positives, blame that on IRO's piss poor product design.

It shouldn't surprise anyone here that IRO or a IRO dealer would not happy about negative IRO comments. Here is the kicker....When it comes to redundant posts, you will find that IRO dealers positive sales pitch posts far,far out number my posts. My posts are about very specific problems I found with IRO parts that I own or have reviewed. My posts have not been weasel worded, I do not leave wiggle room, I post pictures and dimensions. If someone can point out one error in any of my back posts I would be happy to change what I said if I am proven wrong.

From experience I know that pointing out IRO product short comings will draw fire from IRO or others here. That seldom happens when a person give a negative opinion of other manufactures offerings. Hell most of the negative post on this forum are about a product called Jeep LOL.

Here is how I see it, I did my best here, I posted my experience plus the experience 10 end users had with IRO track bars. Others have recommended that the OP buy a JKS bar, I echo that recommendation. I am in a unique position, I own both bars, the JKS bar is well designed, it is bent to clear the diff and the adjustment is on the axle end so it is easy to adjust.

If my posting about the problems I have had with IRO products hurts IRO's sales but the consumer is better armed to make an informed choice so be it. Upton Sinclair: It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!

 

...If my posting about the problems I have had with IRO products hurts IRO's sales but the consumer is better armed to make an informed choice so be it.

That's the whole purpose of this community, IMHO. So no worries. :thumbsup:

I haven't noticed an issue (not that I'm a hard-core crawler in my WJ), but I will surely crawl under and check to see if I have hit the diff on my trac bar. So at the very least it's an eye opener to me.

Thanks for your efforts.
Pete

 

Responding to an emotional straw man argument is not something I would attempt. However I did use the term "sales pitch". I believe that I used it accurately.

My past IRO comments were referred to as a "mountain of negative IRO posts". They may be a hard hill to climb over if your trying to pitch IRO parts but the numbers are like a mole hill compare to my other post. I think if a person brings the number of my post into question it is only fair to compare mine to his.

In my last 250 post 21 = 8% could be interpreted as negative toward IRO. I stand by everyone of them, as you notice the number was questioned not the accuracy. The 250 post were spread over a nine month period.

In the 250 post that I referred to as "sales pitches" 127 = 51% are flat out "sales pitches" beginning or ending with the words "PM me". A very high percentage of the rest were follow ups on sales, or additional information about a product. They cover a range of offerings. The 250 sales related posts were made in a 3 month period.

IMO All the vendors are here and all over the internet to sell parts at competitive price for the same reason, namely to beat the competition not because they are the mother Teresa of auto parts.

I do not question their motive.

 

Well, to get back on topic to the post, I would confirm the IRO adjustable track bar will not work on anything shorter than 3.0" of lift. I just installed my 3.0" lift from Kolak last week and after struggling to center the front axle (first time and I had it on a 2-post lift and it's much easier to do on the ground) the IRO track bar adjuster sleave is almost all the way in. From my measurements from taking a level from the ground up to the outer fender centered in the middle of wheel, with the wheels straight, measuring into the wheel flange machined edge I'm within 1/8". Not dead nuts centered, but that's the closet I could get it and realistically I doubt the fenders are that close as well for tolerance.

I wouldn't spend the money for an adjustable track bar for a 2.0" lift, you may not have enough adjustment to get the axle centered. I would upgrade to a bigger non adjustable bar with good bushings.

Now, back to the off topic of the IRO adjustable track bar. My personal review is it is a tank of a bar and probably way over built. Good overall quality, finish, bushings, etc. I think adding new replacement bolts would be of value with the bar. I plan on drilling the holes and sleeves out and upgrading to Grade 8, 1/2" bolts. I didn't see any potential issues of clearance or hitting the front diff cover. I'll take a closer look this weekend and take some photos and post them when I have the WJ on the lift again replacing the power steering hoses.

:thumbsup:

 

Thanks for all the input. This really wasn't that difficult to decide..JKS Adj Track bar arrived today. Hope to install it this weekend. I'll make sure to get some pictures.

 

I bought a JKS front adjustable track bar from Kolak. It worked great when I had my 2 inch OME lift.

 

Following-up...

I installed the JKS Adj track bar 2 weeks ago. And so far I think it's working fine now. I centered my front axle just right.

A couple of items I had to deal with...

1. As soon as I finished installing it, I had a clunking noise, and I quickly discovered it was coming from the axle-side bolt. Replaced the bolt with one that didn't narrow down (see pic).

2. Had to add blue Loctite to the Jam Nut to keep it from coming loose.

3. Had to adjust the Draglink to re-center my steering wheel.

Now the alignment is off ever so slightly (to the right). I already re-checked my Tie Rod and my toe-in is just right. So I plan to have the alignment fixed this weekend.

Hope that helps the next person.

 

find someone with a 50ton shop press~ pop that stock track bar in in and give it a slight squat...easy and byspass buying something new works amazing

 

I did the same thing on a TJ with a 2" OME lift. IIRC that was the instructions from OME.