Track Bar Help

[Tonka Jeep]

New issue in bold, but thought I would use old thread as it has been an ongoing issue.

Thought I would re-visit this thread, it looks like the tapered hole on the frame mount for the track bar TRE has ovaled and will no longer tighten. Results in massive death wobbles and the like.

My questions are what to do next?

1.Try and get the hole on the frame mount fixed with an insert or the welder washer trick?

2.Use a larger TRE?

3.Replace TRE with a Johny Joint and drill tapered hole out to accept larger size Johny Joint, assuming I can get one that will thread into the track bar.

Thoughts?




Hi all,

So I have been trying to find the cause of a clunk in my steering and after a little work I have found out it's the track bar. The end where it joins the frame I have a tie rod end with a castle nut. (after market-adjustable track bar).

I tried to tighten the nut, but the nut and threaded rod is all turning as one! I am assuming this shouldn't happen (it's not tight, and hence the cause of my clunk).

Am I right in thinking I need to replace the rod end? And any trick as it seems I cant tighten or loosen this nut.

Cheers

Tonka.

[Jeepin It]

Originally Posted by Tonka Jeep

Hi all,

So I have been trying to find the cause of a clunk in my steering and after a little work I have found out it's the track bar. The end where it joins the frame I have a tie rod end with a castle nut. (after market-adjustable track bar).

I tried to tighten the nut, but the nut and threaded rod is all turning as one! I am assuming this shouldn't happen (it's not tight, and hence the cause of my clunk).

Am I right in thinking I need to replace the rod end? And any trick as it seems I cant tighten or loosen this nut.

Cheers

Tonka.

Well if the movement is i'n the joint then it's stuffed, if the movements i'n the tapered hole i'n the frame then I'm not sure if you can buy sleeves to suit or if you can buy bigger tie rod ends. And to stop it spinning get a set of vice grips and hold onto the part where the rubber grease cover is, or sometimes by pushing on it whilst tightening/ loosing can be enough to move the nut.

[greasemonkey]

Use a large set of multi grips and squeez the ball joint into the hole .

[Tonka Jeep]

The movement is in the hole (can't tell yet if it's just loose or the hole is stuffed). Once it's off I can check that out...

Cheers guys.

[Wooders]

Tonks,
As greasemonkey said - you want to squeeze the TRE up into the mount to have some friction so you can loosen the nut. Big vice grips, G clamp, even a jack will do the job,
Also I find using a hammer on the spanner is more effective in loosening the bolt cause of the "Shock loading".

[killa]

Tonka,
Unless you've changed it the track bar is a standard Jeep one. That particular TRE has gone before, I had a replacement shipped over from Dave just after I bought the Jeep (OEM one lasted nearly 1500km from new).
I think the adjustable track bars have a better angle at the top which doesn't flog out TRE's as much.

[Tonka Jeep]

Ah ok. I looked up some pics of stock ones and mine looked different! But if you say it isn't...

Will try to tighten it and if that fails, I'll replace it.