Bolt missing… I Think hmmmm

[Josh00333]

Lost a track bar bolt.

And the dealer doesn’t have any in stock.

Good news is I’m in town and was two blocks from the dealer.

I’ll see if I can source parts when I get home.

What a pita.

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[Renegade]

What’s worse is that you appear to have also lost the flag nut. You can use another comparably strong bolt in place of the factory part, but not having the flag nut means you have to squeeze a wrench back there. It must have been left loose, because those things should have like 110 ft/lbs of torque on them.

 

[Lunentucker]

What’s worse is that you appear to have also lost the flag nut. You can use another comparably strong bolt in place of the factory part, but not having the flag nut means you have to squeeze a wrench back there. It must have been left loose, because those things should have like 110 ft/lbs of torque on them.

BINGO

 

[Vtur]

9/16-18 bolt. I don't remember the length tho.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I think a 9/16"x 3" long works if I remember right. The way I'm reading it sounds like you plan on driving it without the bolt which I sure hope isn't the case? The trackbar comes out of the bracket in a corner and that thing is totaled.

 

[aFatBird]

Seems like a good excuse to get a synergy track bar stud and relocate the steering stabilizer too.

 

[Josh00333]

What’s worse is that you appear to have also lost the flag nut. You can use another comparably strong bolt in place of the factory part, but not having the flag nut means you have to squeeze a wrench back there. It must have been left loose, because those things should have like 110 ft/lbs of torque on them.

Ya I’m thinking it got missed during the lift kit install.

 

[Josh00333]

I think a 9/16"x 3" long works if I remember right. The way I'm reading it sounds like you plan on driving it without the bolt which I sure hope isn't the case? The trackbar comes out of the bracket in a corner and that thing is totaled.

No! It’s parked at the dealer. I was 2 blocks away when it happened so I just drove it there.

I’m going to see if I can find parts tomorrow.

 

[Renegade]

Seems like a good excuse to get a synergy track bar stud and relocate the steering stabilizer too.

I’ve seen that stabilizer retainer bolt on the Synergy bracket freeze up and break more than once. From my experience, if going aftermarket, consider Clayton and Metalcloak, in that order.

 

[aFatBird]

I’ve seen that stabilizer retainer bolt on the Synergy bracket freeze up and break more than once. From my experience, if going aftermarket, consider Clayton and Metalcloak, in that order.

I had a different stud that came with a clayton performance package fail on me( I think it's rockjock) where the threads failed. So far I'm happy with my synergy one.

 

[ErylFlynn]

I know this feeling. Changed the rear shocks on my wife's Tuscon and noticed a nut missing from the sway bar. Had to order one and get it there early so she could go to work. Luckily the bolt did not make it all the way out.

Good luck

 

[HooliganActual]

One thing to be aware of with “replacement” bolts (or original bolts for that matter) is the length of the shoulder of the bolt.

Too many times, and not just in Jeep applications, I see scenarios like this where a long bolt goes through a bushing or something similar and a bolt gets used where the shoulder is not as long as the part through which it passes. By that, I mean that the shoulder ends and the threads begin inside of that bushing insert. The bolt is not as thick and therefore not as strong where the threads are and the threads themselves become stress risers, which can all lead to a bolt snapping where the shoulder to thread transition is inside of the bushing.

Make sure the bolt you use long term has an appropriate shoulder length…

 

[Whiteoak323]

Here is a previous post on replacing the trackbar bolts.
I ordered from McMaster-Carr to replace with my upcoming lift install.

9/16"x 3"

There is a youtube video out there that showed 3.5" long causes some issues. So sticking with 3" is the way to go.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/track-bar-bolts.57296/

 

[Jteakus]

A little more than you require but,

Jeep JT Gladiator Control Arm Suspension Hardware Upgrade Kit | Metalcloak

 

[Josh00333]

Local suspension shop, shout out to K Suspension in Nampa ID, got me set, no bill, just a "I have that here at the shop just swing by" new bolt washer and nut. Got over to the dealership, installed it and presto back in business.

Peterson Jeep in Nampa was good to me as well, wheeling in at 4pm with a messed up truck and trailer in tow. They tried to help, and got me a safe spot to park my trailer, which I was able to pick up a couple hrs later with my aunt's truck. They had no issue with me throwing the bolt in at there parking lot (ok I didn't ask but no one yelled at me).

Bonus points, and this goes back to what we always tell folks with front end issues. Check torque on all your bolts. Once the new bolt was in and torqued the funky steering wander and loose feel I had is gone. Truck is back to pre lift tightness and tracking.

The bad;

This was caused by a loose bolt, that was loosened during my lift kit install. I even took the truck back to that shop for a post 500 mile bolt check. In total it's apx 1200 miles post lift. They didn't catch is was loose during the lift, not caught in the post lift check and I didn't check it in my hmmm why is my steering loose inspections. Because I assssssumed it had been checked in the 500 mile post bolt check up. So, if there is something not 100% right, re torque everything first. It's like the "have you turned your computer off and then on?" again thing.

The Thankful;

This happened at 20 mph, 2 blocks from a safe place to park. In a place I had resources. The day before I was doing 75 mph down I-84 in the middle of the Idaho desert, 100 miles from anything. This all told took me 4 hrs of sorting things out and playing musical trucks, trailers and an uber ride to get all fixed. It could have been a lot more expensive and a much bigger mess/ordeal, and I'm not mentioning what could possibly have happened if I lost that bolt doing 75...

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