Track Bar Fractured

[Daveckelley]

So my Mopar 6 inch lifted 2020 Gladiator’s front track bar broke in half. I was backing up with wheels full left, when I heard it go.
I haven’t abused it much off road, moderate rock hopping. I have 34 inch tires with Fox shocks and dual Fox steering stabilizers.
I ordered a Synergy adjustable track bar replacement.
just looking for installation advice, and if anyone else has had similar problems and or what theories of why it broke?

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[bleda2002]

Mopar doesn't make a 6 inch lift...

 

[Zachanadandy]

Mopar lift (which doesn't address the trackbar being too short) with added spacer lift to get 6"? I wonder why it failed? With that much lift the front axle would be 1.5" to 2" off center to the drivers side with the stock track bar. I'm amazed it made it 5+ years. The synergy bar gets good reviews.

 

[Rusty PW]

That's a weird break. From what I can tell. Almost looks like it was cut. You have any other pictures of the break? Pictures of both ends.

 

[Daveckelley]

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

It might help to tell more about your suspension. Do you have 6” of lift? Maybe you could post some pics from underneath of the front suspension and steering?

 

[Stan H]

So my Mopar 6 inch lifted 2020 Gladiator’s front track bar broke in half. I was backing up with wheels full left, when I heard it go.
I haven’t abused it much off road, moderate rock hopping. I have 34 inch tires with Fox shocks and dual Fox steering stabilizers.
I ordered a Synergy adjustable track bar replacement.
just looking for installation advice, and if anyone else has had similar problems and or what theories of why it broke?

This is caused by an abruptly sideways blow during extreme articulation resulting in a rogue fracture of the Dom tubing . Was one of the first things I changed and went solid forged .

 

[Rusty PW]

You have a close up of the ends?

 

[Josh00333]

OP you need to clear things up.

As said Mopar doesn't make a 6" lift kit. Do you have a 6" lift kit or was that a typo?

6" with 34" would be bazar.

So I'm guessing it was a typo. In that case a break like yours with a Mopar 2" kit is just one them weird well crap things.

 

[Vtur]

You have a close up of the ends?

Looks like a partial cut to me.

 

[Rusty PW]

Looks like a partial cut to me.

That's what I'm thinking until I get a better view.

 

[jac04]

This is a textbook bending fatigue failure. You can clearly see the crack initiation point and the 'beach marks' as the crack propagated over time up until the point of ultimate failure. Neat stuff.

 

[SanTan38]

JMHO…
Looks like some corrosion might have set in. Maybe some pitting. And physics tells us material stresses tend to concentrate at points and sharp edges. Pitting corrosion tends to be very very sharp. So I’m thinking a stress fracture due to corrosion.
That’s my A&P self talking. Lol.
I polished out a few frame scrapes and a few spots of surface rust last weekend. Protected everything and sprayed a few coats of 2x Rustolium paint after.
Just a little bit of preventative maintenance goes a long way.

 

[Zachattack50]

If its a true 6" lift, there must be a heck of a drop to get that track bar set right. Or that axle is shifted driver side like 3"

 

[Daveckelley]

This is caused by an abruptly sideways blow during extreme articulation resulting in a rogue fracture of the Dom tubing . Was one of the first things I changed and went solid forged .

Doesn’t fit, no abrupt sideways blow. First weekend off road was the worst abuse of front end. Hit a big hole at 25 mph (collapsed drain pipe) knock the front end out of alignment badly. Had it realigned. They did a poor job, put rough country upgrade steering stabilizer. When I noticed extreme tire wear. Took it again for alignment- then got the death wobble. Upgraded steering stabilizer to double fox. Found the bushing of the rough country stabilizer, pulled out. Installed the Double Fox, alls good- no more death wobble. Then slowly backing up pop goes the arm.

That's a weird break. From what I can tell. Almost looks like it was cut. You have any other pictures of the break? Pictures of both ends.

No cut, stress fracture. Took place at the apex of the bend in the tube. On a photo that I posted with the rough country stabilizer I think I can see a small crack where the fracture took place.

Looks like a partial cut to me.

Definitely not cut. Looking back at the old photos specifically the one I took after installing the rough country stabilizer I think I see a crack.

This is a textbook bending fatigue failure. You can clearly see the crack initiation point and the 'beach marks' as the crack propagated over time up until the point of ultimate failure. Neat stuff.

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