Snapped my Trackbar in 2
#21
JK Freak
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#22
JK Freak
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See highlights....LOL
#25
JK Super Freak
I have a theory as to why it broke.
on my JK i was getting a knock in the steering column that i misdiagnosed as the intermediate steering shaft. It was relaced under warranty, with no change. I lived with it for a few months. Last week i made some tweeks to my alignment, set the toe for the bigger tires is all i did, since it was still at the stock spec. Well my steering wheel has been off center ever so slightly so IO was tweaking that as well. I had my wife in the drivers seat with the engine running to set the draglink and get the wheel perfect. Torqued down the clamps on the drag link. Once done I had her turn the wheel back and forth at a normal speed to check for play on anything. Saw the Teraflex HD track bar(same one you have) moving quite alot in the center where the two halves meet the turnbuckle. I check the torque on them, within spec, and still moving, so I over torqued them a lil bit and it went away for the most part. But I think that play in the threads where the two halves of the trackbar meet the t-buckle is maybe causeing stress and the breaking. I think I've heard off maybe two or three other Teraflex HD track bars breaking. Maybe the stress applied to the bar from the play in the threads fatigues the metal over time? Again just a theory.
Also I should add my trackbar is not adjusted to the point that there isn't enough threads going into the turn buckle. Both sides of the track bar go into the turn buckle by maybe 4-5" or so. With the bolts on the clamps overtorqued there is still a slight amount of movement, but not enough to feel it in the wheel. The clunking noise and feel I was getting in the wheel is gone.
Not bashing Teraflex's product here, just trying to give my input and experience. Hope it helps some.
on my JK i was getting a knock in the steering column that i misdiagnosed as the intermediate steering shaft. It was relaced under warranty, with no change. I lived with it for a few months. Last week i made some tweeks to my alignment, set the toe for the bigger tires is all i did, since it was still at the stock spec. Well my steering wheel has been off center ever so slightly so IO was tweaking that as well. I had my wife in the drivers seat with the engine running to set the draglink and get the wheel perfect. Torqued down the clamps on the drag link. Once done I had her turn the wheel back and forth at a normal speed to check for play on anything. Saw the Teraflex HD track bar(same one you have) moving quite alot in the center where the two halves meet the turnbuckle. I check the torque on them, within spec, and still moving, so I over torqued them a lil bit and it went away for the most part. But I think that play in the threads where the two halves of the trackbar meet the t-buckle is maybe causeing stress and the breaking. I think I've heard off maybe two or three other Teraflex HD track bars breaking. Maybe the stress applied to the bar from the play in the threads fatigues the metal over time? Again just a theory.
Also I should add my trackbar is not adjusted to the point that there isn't enough threads going into the turn buckle. Both sides of the track bar go into the turn buckle by maybe 4-5" or so. With the bolts on the clamps overtorqued there is still a slight amount of movement, but not enough to feel it in the wheel. The clunking noise and feel I was getting in the wheel is gone.
Not bashing Teraflex's product here, just trying to give my input and experience. Hope it helps some.
Last edited by highoctane; 06-27-2010 at 01:22 PM.
#26
Sponsoring Manufacturer
JeepCacher: I'm sending a new trackbar to your home per the text I got from Jen. It's the newest version with the adjustment collars down at the axle end. I'm sorry about that trackbar snapping on you.
Last edited by TeraFlex; 06-28-2010 at 07:44 AM.
#27
JK Freak
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#28
JK Junkie
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Older 2nd gen. Teraflex trackbar with the "shark fin" up top for 40k, rock crawling every month, and still going strong.
And another reason I keep the stocker in the back.
And another reason I keep the stocker in the back.