Heads Up (Literally) Plus some Synergy parts Feedback

[kevman65]

For those that have the OEM steel front skid plate.

That sucker is heavier than it looks and WILL goose egg your head when it slips and bangs your head.

I am so used to extremely lightweight protection plates under other vehicles that I thought I could just one hand it and move it when last bolt came out. NOPE.

Now, onto the parts.

I installed the Synergy Track Bar, Tie Rod Bar, and Steering Stabilizer Relocation.

Track Bar ;
Yes, it is WAY stouter than OEM. Yes it will fit on a JT with no lift.
I had to do NO trimming to get axle side attached. But it IS a very tight fit with the bushing and had to use a pry bar to get it down low enough to get bolt through. I believe the tolerances on the bracket are huge and that is why there are different problems and trimming needed. No squeaks so far, will drive for awhile and see if any develop and will revisit if needed.

Tie Rod Bar ;
THIS is how it should have come from the factory. No slop whatsoever. Easy install. Matched the just aligned OEM bar measurements, took measurements from outside to outside on rotors after install and was 1/8" toe in. Then measured centerline of tires front and back after reinstalling them and was 3/32" toe in. Will get aligned after Drag Link Bar arrives and is installed.
Drives great, tight steering. Almost zero steering feedback.

Steering Stabilizer Relocate ;
What I thought would be easiest gave me the most trouble.
First was on me. I don't have a bench vise and tried to hillbilly engineer something so I could drill bushing out to 1/2". Don't be like me, find a bench vise to use or go buy one and install.
Instructions say you need a 1/4" allen and a 5 mm allen wrench. No clue what the 1/4" is for.
The 5 mm is for the allen bolt that holds the track bar end. For the collar with 6 allen bolts you need a 5.5 mm allen. Took me awhile to realize this. After fighting with a 7/32" allen socket for too long I finally went and got an old metric set of wrenches and 5.5 mm is exact fit.
Takes awhile tightening them all up this way. If you're going to do this mod, invest in a 5.5 allen socket.

Waiting for the Drag Link Bar. Supposed to have it between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Synergy is still lagging behind on some items so we'll see.

So, all in all, I would recommend beefing up the steering components whether you have issues or not.
Next weekend I will re-torque everything I can get to. Some of the fasteners call for torque values, but due to location you can NOT get a torque wrench in.

Sponsored

 

[GladLad]

I know, old thread necromancer here, but I didn't feel a new thread was needed for my Qs or rant since I don't have a Synergy track bar (yet).

First, I'm gad you had no trimming needed for the track bar, but I was hoping to find someone that did. Mostly out of curiosity at how the Synergy trimming instructions make any sense.

Below is a pic from their install manual where they show to file the axle side bracket IF needed. But that's on the bottom of the bracket, where the track bar would make no contact in any fashion. With the bottom arrow you can clearly see they didn't file upward into the bracket where contact might be possible. I'm guessing they just quickly filed the bracket so they could take a pic, but it makes no sense to me.

If anyone else had trimming needs, I'd appreciate some input. I don't have one, just considering options and looking for "gotchas" ahead of time.


Anyway, @kevman65 how are you liking the Synergy track bar after 5+ years? Any noise, issues, maintenance needed?

I know it's compatible with 14mm oem bolts, or a 9/16" upgrade, which did you use?

How are the tie rod and drag link doing?

Thanks!

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Well I don’t know how his are but mine are alright. I just replaced all the ends with new ones on the track bar and drag link. They had some slop in them so just did that vs replacing with a heavier duty setup. I probably won’t end up with these on the Jeep foreverever but they’re good quality parts. I have no complaints.

 

[GladLad]

Well I don’t know how his are but mine are alright. I just replaced all the ends with new ones on the track bar and drag link. They had some slop in them so just did that vs replacing with a heavier duty setup. I probably won’t end up with these on the Jeep foreverever but they’re good quality parts. I have no complaints.

Just swapping out the bushings? What kind of years/mileage/treatment we talking about here?

Thanks for the input.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Just swapping out the bushings? What kind of years/mileage/treatment we talking about here?

Thanks for the input.

I have no idea when it was installed. I bought it used with a pretty good amount of upgrades already done. Probably a Covid Jeep project. Bought it at 42k changed em out at 57k. Slop wasn’t horrible but it was there and drag link boot was torn so just did all of them to be on the safe side. Synergy was super helpful with everything as far as parts list goes and any questions I had on anything I’ve purchased from them. I picked up the sector shaft bushing as well. First one I got had a hinky angle drilled and threaded so wasn’t able to install it correctly. They sent me a new one on warranty after I sent them a picture and it was in my hand and on the Jeep in 3 days from asking about it. Very quick turn around for vehicle part.

 

[Rusty PW]

If you have to file that area for clearance. Use a 1/4" die grinder with a burr bit. If no die grinder. You can use a drill. If it's a 2 speed. Set it on high. Or if you have a Dremel tool.

Burr bit. Makes for quick work.

Sponsored