Mopar 2 inch Lift-Need Longer or Adjustable Track Bars

[cjoanzy]

Hello Team Gladiator. I'm new to this forum since I have only had my '22 Overland a couple months.
Want to install the Mopar 2 inch lift (2.5"). Want to keep the warranty intact.
The Mopar kit (77072468AE) does not come with track bars.
According to my quick geometry, The track bars will need to be extended at least 3/32, maybe 1/8.
Thought maybe an OEM Mopar Mojave Front Track Bar would solve the length problem, but it's the same part number?? (68496317AA)
Now I'm thinking that I need to buy aftermarket Bar - Clayton or Yeti to correct tracking of vehicle.
Has anyone else installed a Mopar 2 inch Lift on an Overland and corrected the possible crab walk issue?
This will be 99% daily driver on road, no extreme rock climbing.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Hello Team Gladiator. I'm new to this forum since I have only had my '22 Overland a couple months.
Want to install the Mopar 2 inch lift (2.5"). Want to keep the warranty intact.
The Mopar kit (77072468AE) does not come with track bars.
According to my quick geometry, The track bars will need to be extended at least 3/32, maybe 1/8.
Thought maybe an OEM Mopar Mojave Front Track Bar would solve the length problem, but it's the same part number?? (68496317AA)
Now I'm thinking that I need to buy aftermarket Bar - Clayton or Yeti to correct tracking of vehicle.
Has anyone else installed a Mopar 2 inch Lift on an Overland and corrected the possible crab walk issue?
This will be 99% daily driver on road, no extreme rock climbing.

Factory track bars will be what it came with. AFAIK, they don't even offer a longer one.

 

[Rusty PW]

To correct the off set axle. You will need to buy an aftermarket track bar. There is a ton of them out there.

 

[JTenn]

I installed the same lift on my wife's Overland. I decided to install core 4x4 tier 3 track bars in the front and rear just to have the ability to center everything back up. Necessary? Probably not, but it's available so why not. If you decide to get the alignment checked after install, DO NOT expect the dealer to understand what an adjustable track bar is or how to properly set it. They will however gladly charge you for doing the work. Good luck and keep us posted on the build.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I installed the same lift on my wife's Overland. I decided to install core 4x4 tier 3 track bars in the front and rear just to have the ability to center everything back up. Necessary? Probably not, but it's available so why not. If you decide to get the alignment checked after install, DO NOT expect the dealer to understand what an adjustable track bar is or how to properly set it. They will however gladly charge you for doing the work. Good luck and keep us posted on the build.

With a lift, it's not a bad idea to have a tougher - stiffer - track bar anyway. It's now operating at an angle and more prone to flex.
Geometry is everything (at least according to my HS geometry teacher and my college professors.)

 

[OHJeeper]

I would highly recommend the Yeti Steersmarts XD. SUPER beefy and it's done well for me for 12k miles so far.

 

[mdyucca]

I put the Mopar lift on my 80th anniversary with no track bar upgrades. The Gladiator drove perfect. I am running Rubicon take offs for wheels and tires. Put the lift on and see how you like the drive. If you feel you need to spend some more money buy a set of track bars.

 

[Jammer]

I got a JL Rubicon 2018 I put the Mopar 2-inch lift but it actually lifts it 3 inchs when you're done. I put adjustable control arms but the factory track bars is a stock one I can let go of the wheel mine drives perfectly straight at 80 mph I'm not going to put one on it wheels are fine they're not sticking out too far If it's not broke don't break it. I did the adjustable control arms to be able to do a better alignment on it but Mopar did come out with a Mopar did come out with one that was a little better and stronger and we put that one on free but mine drives perfectly straight right now. I'm not going to mess with it tires wear great If i start doing stuff the next thing you know something will happen you know what I mean If it's driving perfect right now why mess with it. I have 37 12.50 17 ridgegrapplers on it and it rides great

 

[MattK]

I put a AEV 2.5" lift on mine about a year ago and I have to steer slight left to go straight. If I let the steering wheel go it will straighten out dead center but drift me right. I assume I need to get another alignment after the previous one was done, look into adjustable track bar etc. as well. I've just been lazy about doing it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I put a AEV 2.5" lift on mine about a year ago and I have to steer slight left to go straight. If I let the steering wheel go it will straighten out dead center but drift me right. I assume I need to get another alignment after the previous one was done, look into adjustable track bar etc. as well. I've just been lazy about doing it.

You need to adjust the drag link so that when the tires are pointed perfectly straight ahead, the steering wheel is at 0 degrees.
But center the axle first - 2.5" of lift will have shifted the axle to the left and IMO is borderline on needing to be recentered.
If you aren't going to first center the axle, then at least adjust the drag link to set the steering wheel to 0 degrees while the wheels are pointed straight ahead.

All an alignment on these is setting toe and centering the steering wheel.
If it pulls or drifts, no alignment will resolve that unless it's a shop that digs really deep and places tapered shims around the ball joints which means tearing things down - expensive.
Alignment is a bit of a joke on these - what alignment? They can't change caster unless you have adjustable control arms and they can't change camber unless you let them tear things apart.

Alignment on a Jeep solid axle with stock control arms and stock track bar consists of checking things, then adjusting toe and centering the steering wheel and most dealerships don't get that last part right. And they charge $100+ for that??

 

[Jimmij]

I put the yeti steersmart trackbars on the front and rear. Drives perfect

 

[Puch]

I would highly recommend the Yeti Steersmarts XD. SUPER beefy and it's done well for me for 12k miles so far.

I’m curious. I had the yeti track bar and found it to be overkill IMO. It seems to be a solid bar. Which isn’t a bad thing. But, it’s extremely heavy and it’s a large diameter tube which shrinks down to half the size at both ends. There isn’t a lot of room in that area to begin with. Why not just make all of it the same thickness if you’re going to make both ends smaller?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bigger bar, more bragging rights? At least for a 99% street machine.

 

[Badunit]

Why not just make all of it the same thickness if you’re going to make both ends smaller?

Because then it would be a lot less stiff. Instead of being less stiff for a couple of inches at the ends it would be less stiff along the entire length with the result of it being a lot more springy/bendy. But the whole bar is probably overkill anyway, like you said, and for bragging rights, as ShadowsPapa said.

 

[tysongladiator]

@ShadowsPapa said it in a comment to someone else about making adjustments. The reason I bring that up is because if you're attempting to correct the tracking of the jeep, you may need to just make adjustments. Just because you change to an aftermarket track bar, that most likely won't fix it because that's probably not the cause.

Although an adjustable track bar will correct the centering of the axle. I had the Mopar lift kit installed around 5,000 miles and didn't install an aftermarket track bar until around 122,000 miles. Mine was just worn from a lot of offroading and rock crawling.

I think your first move should be what @Shadows papa stated. Make adjustments and check all of your suspension components for proper torque. IF you feel the need for a track bar after that, go for it. Hell..... If having an aftermarket track bar makes you feel more comfortable, still go for it. You're the only person you have to please. At least when it comes to the jeep. Haha!

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