Getting JET Back on Track Again : Rancho rockGEAR JL Wrangler Front & Rear Track Bars

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Getting JET Back on Track Again : Rancho rockGEAR JL Wrangler Front & Rear Track Bars

Among the many projects that we've been working, getting JET back on track again has been pretty high up on our list of things to do. Up front, we've been trying to address a wobble in the steering wheel that we sometimes get, especially when it's cold out. Some people with the same sensation have been referring to it as a "ghost death wobble lite" and mainly because it never really goes full blown death wobble. Needless to say, one of the things we've done to help mitigate this wobble was to install a Rancho rockGEAR adjustable front track bar. With the all new D2 bushings they use, we now have significantly better, bind free articulation and one that requires no servicing and does a great job of reducing if not eliminating any side to side movement. This alone has done wonders to rid us of the wobble we've been feeling.

Of course, while we were at it, we decided to install a Rancho rockGEAR adjustable rear track bar as well to help us shift our rear axle more to the driver side. In spite of the fact that we're now running a much narrower aftermarket driveshaft and have an EVO track bar relocation bracket, we still found that our pinion yoke would make contact with the gas tank skid plate at a full flex. With this track bar, we've been able to eliminate that problem. Of course, we have a video of this coming soon but for now, here are a few pics of what they look like installed. :cool:

Rancho rockGEAR adjustable Front Track Bar
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Rancho rockGEAR adjustable Rear Track Bar
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BUY Rancho rockGEAR Track Bars for your JL Wrangler
Rancho RS62128 rockGEAR Suspension JL Wrangler Front Track Bar
https://amzn.to/2CuK9Dw


Rancho RS62131 rockGEAR Suspension JL Wrangler Rear Track Bar
https://amzn.to/2JqT52N


Buying from the links above will help to support this forum and at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! :cool:
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Were your axles off that much or just decided to install for the wobble issue?

Front axle was dead on at ride height but we were running a Rough Country track bar which has clevite bushings. It still allowed for movement and we still had some wobble when cold. In the rear, we were only off by about 1/4" at ride height but we were still getting big time rubbing of the gas tank at a full flex. The front track bar pretty much got rid of the wobble but we'll still install a new tie rod and drag link just for good measure. The drag link joint is bad anyway. In the rear, we purposefully pushed the axle out toward driver more to help things out.
 

JAGS

Member
Li is just about ready to go big. You gonna go to coilovers next, or something like an enforcer for another coil/shock? [emoji6]

Look forward to videos of all these new installs. It will really be helpful for the rest of us. [emoji106]
 

doubletapdaddy

Caught the Bug
Orange boots up front AND non-factory track bars. Who are you, and what the hell have you done with Eddie? Lol. The Times They Are A-Changin'
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Li is just about ready to go big. You gonna go to coilovers next, or something like an enforcer for another coil/shock? [emoji6]

Look forward to videos of all these new installs. It will really be helpful for the rest of us. [emoji106]

It's tough, I know we should be testing out more 3.5"-4" lifts but at this height, we really should be upgrading to long arms and truth be told, I really want to make the jump to coilovers. We'll see.

Orange boots up front AND non-factory track bars. Who are you, and what the hell have you done with Eddie? Lol. The Times They Are A-Changin'

:cheesy: The JL is no JK and times have definitely changed. Of course, it's not like we hadn't tested out a myriad of parts back in the day including orange boots and non-factory track bars. It was because of our experiences that I started to come to the conclusions that I had. :yup:

I can’t keep up. I didn’t even know it had a prorock under it lol

LOL!! look away for a minute and things will change again. :crazyeyes:
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Alright, that makes sense. Look forward to seeing what you end up going with. Thanks for educating me.

At what height do you estimate it is important to worry about fixing the roll center and geometry?

At a true 2"-2.5" of lift, absolutely nothing is needed.

At a true 3" of lift, as would be what you get with MOST coil lift kits that are advertised as being 2.5" of lift, a correction isn't really needed but adjustable track bars will help to recenter your axles if it really bothers you that much.

At a true 3.5"-4" of lift, I would recommend a track bar relocation brackets be installed. Of course, up front, you would also need a drag link flip to go with it.

At over 4" of true lift, an adjustable rear track bar will most likely be needed AS WELL to purposefully move the axle out toward the driver side and to help mitigate your drive shaft from hitting the gas tank at a full flex.
 

DavidDJL69

Member
I get a bit of wobble at around 40-45 mph and then it seems to go away after I get up to a higher speed. Is this similar to what you were experiencing Eddie? It does appear to be enhanced when the outside temperature is cold.


Sent from my iPad using JL Wrangler Jeep Forum mobile app
 

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
I get a bit of wobble at around 40-45 mph and then it seems to go away after I get up to a higher speed. Is this similar to what you were experiencing Eddie? It does appear to be enhanced when the outside temperature is cold.


Sent from my iPad using JL Wrangler Jeep Forum mobile app

Yes. What you're describing is what we were feeling as well. Mostly when cold and at medium speeds. We have a video about all this coming soon.
 

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