Front Track Bar- likes/dislikes, recommendation

[Escape.idiocracy]

Had a steer smart at first put to may clearance problems
I now have Synergy on both my jeeps
The Synergy is also bent to clear a sector shaft brace. A sector shaft brace is must have if you want to stop the steering box from flexing on the frame

Thanks- another big help is going hydro assist. ???

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[willys 41]

Yap
hydro assist is my next upgrade put I will keep my Steer smart sector shaft brace to keep the steering box from flexing on the frame and it greatly reinforces the upper track bar bracket

 

[SoK66]

A vote here for Teraflex. I’ve run their Monster track bars front & rear on my JK for years and 90k miles with no issues whatsoever. Still on the original joints. Easily adjusted on the vehicle, sleeve & clamp design.

 

[dayusmc]

Steer Smart makes different clamps that are smaller to help with clearance issues. Not sure if they can be used on other bars or not. I just ordered them myself...

 

[Stan H]

Hello to all.
In the market for a front track bar. Rear I went with Clayton for tire clearance.

Front- looked at synergy and read about clearance issues on the axle mount.

Steer smarts I am reading clearance issues with aftermarket covers (running a nodular iron Dana cover…)

Next looking at dynatrac? But haven’t read much.

My only “requirement” is the ability to adjust while bolted on the vehicle….

Opinions/recommendations, and lessons learned are appreciated.

if they all have quirks I’ll probably fall back to the synergy and get happy with a grinder. ??? their stuff held up great on the JK…

Rubicon Express Forged front track bar 0-6" inch lift . Highly recommended. It can be ordered on Extreme Terrain. Arrives in box marked for JL but it is the same bar for JL and JT and inside you will find a short sleeve and long sleeve. Long sleeve is for the JT. Mine was JT Rubicon with the wide 44 Dana axles. Worked ? perfectly. It is a super strong SOLID Forged steel track bar.

 

[Forum Crawler]

I went with metalcloak because they gave me the most differential clearance and easily rebuildable. Been on for over 40000 miles and no problems to report

Metal Cloak here. After two other brands I won’t bash here, I finally have the front dialed in after going with MC track bar, drag, and tie rod. Very happy.

 

[DanW]

I've got the Rancho, but it is not adjustable while bolted. It took a minute to fine tune the length, but the bushings are excellent and the track bar is solid beef. STRONG. I've had zero issues with it, most importantly, no noise from those bushings!

 

[AverageJoe]

Metal Cloak here. After two other brands I won’t bash here, I finally have the front dialed in after going with MC track bar, drag, and tie rod. Very happy.

You may need to bash a little here, friend. We need to rule out what doesn't work!

Thanks.

 

[kevman65]

I have a Synergy, I didn't have to clearance anything but did have to spread the mounting location a tiny bit to get the joint to drop in.

All my steering is Synergy, can adjust while everything it attached and know from having to use jam nuts at work how easily they back off.

 

[Forum Crawler]

You may need to bash a little here, friend. We need to rule out what doesn't work!

Thanks.

TBH, they all work. There’s some variables that affect how well they work though. Lift, tire size etc.

These days I’m a fan of adjustability when it comes to track bars. Being able to dial it in is key.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

TBH, they all work. There’s some variables that affect how well they work though. Lift, tire size etc.

These days I’m a fan of adjustability when it comes to track bars. Being able to dial it in is key.

^^ ? This

 

[Bbannongmu]

I went with Steersmarts and I have a Dana aftermarket diff cover. I had previously shaved down the top of the diff cover - took about 1/4” off my of a fin to clear my Rusty’s Trackbar (which I don’t recommend - the heim joint failed in 33,000 miles). Seems to be fine but I have not had a chance to get it off road yet. Good luck.

Here’s the heim after 33k miles

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Here’s the heim after 33k miles

I am not actually sure if we are joking or serious…. Heim joints definitely move around like that…. They are not like Johnny joints, or duraflex joints….

And on the more serious side, if we aren’t joking our JK ran synergy track bars and the Heims needed to be replaced every 20-25k miles…. But the play wasn’t like what’s showing in the video, there is a polyurethane piece that sits on the outside of the “ball” that wears out and has slop in the opposite direction in which the bolt passes through…

I like heims for crawlers….. but not for a daily driver/vehicle that does 80-90% of its time on road. There is a lot of noise and just by nature nothing to absorb any shock before it’s transferred into the frame….

 

[Bbannongmu]

I am not actually sure if we are joking or serious…. Heim joints definitely move around like that…. They are not like Johnny joints, or duraflex joints….

And on the more serious side, if we aren’t joking our JK ran synergy track bars and the Heims needed to be replaced every 20-25k miles…. But the play wasn’t like what’s showing in the video, there is a polyurethane piece that sits on the outside of the “ball” that wears out and has slop in the opposite direction in which the bolt passes through…

I like heims for crawlers….. but not for a daily driver/vehicle that does 80-90% of its time on road. There is a lot of noise and just by nature nothing to absorb any shock before it’s transferred into the frame….

Not joking. Probably hard to tell in the video. There is supposed to be some fluid, controlled resistance and a limit to the rotation and x axis play. It would move 1/4” in and out of the out sleeve. When I took the joint out, it rotated completely inside the socket just by swinging it around. My front end was flopping around - probably would’ve been death wobble except for the steering damper. I replaced the heim temporarily and it worked as designed …then I went to Yeti Trackbar to get rid of heim.

 

[Jefe1018]

Anyone have a recommendation for an adjustable track bar on a JT running a Mopar lift? I've developed what I would describe as a shimmy between 45-55mph that is starting to become more frequent. I believe I will start to upgrade my steering and suspension piece by piece for the next little bit here.

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