The track bar is one of the most vital parts of your vehicle's suspension and steering system if you aren't running leaf springs. It determines the vehicle's roll center, centers the axle in relation to the vehicle, and controls the side-to-side motion and sweep of the axle as the suspension cycles. In most cases the more length, height, and horizontal positioning that you can set the bar up with the better.
But modifications done to the track bar must be mimicked in the steering system.
Failure to do so will result in poor handling and often bumpsteer. Bumpsteer is unwanted movement in the steering wheel that occurs when the suspension cycles. This is usually the result of an incorrect relationship between your track bar and steering linkage. The ideal configuration for the track bar and steering linkage is for both to be of similar or equal lengths and mounted in parallel. Having the lengths the same and the bars parallel will allow the system to cycle in harmony.
One vehicle that has a bit of a tracking issue from the factory is the '07-current Jeep Wrangler JK. From the factory the JK's draglink is made longer than the track bar. In the stock configuration this is hardly noticeable by the driver, but as the vehicle is raised and suspension geometry modified the effects can become more evident.
To address the JK's tracking issues, Evo Manufacturing has introduced a kit called the Correct Track System (CTS). The CTS is a completely bolt-on steering and track bar combo kit designed for JKs running over 3 inches of lift. The CTS works by altering the draglink and track bar configuration to gain a closer parallel and length between the two.
To take a closer look at the kit, we tagged along as our buddy tossed one on his '08 JK, which is equipped with a 5-inch Trail Master lift. For more info you can check out the kit on the web at www.evomfg.com.
Highs & Lows
In a multilink...
Highs & Lows
In a multilink suspension that utilizes a track bar the roll center is determined by measuring from the center of the bar to the ground. While a low center of gravity is good, a low roll center is not. By increasing the track bar's height, you are also increasing the roll center of the vehicle. This helps increase the vehicle's stability, which leads to a safer vehicle both on- and off-road.
The Evo Manufacturing Correct...
The Evo Manufacturing Correct Track System is 100 percent bolt-on and includes a new draglink built to OE specs, a track bar, track bar bracket, and all associated hardware. The track bar bracket is available for Dana 30 or 44 axles fitted with or without C-knuckle gussets.
The adjustable Evo track bar...
The adjustable Evo track bar is around 10 percent longer than the original. While that might not sound like much, it narrows the difference between the draglink and track bar by 30 percent. Having the two bars similar in length allows them to travel in a similar arc. The additional lengths also reduce the amount of axle sweep as the suspension cycles.
The track bar mount attaches...
The track bar mount attaches to either the Dana 30 or Dana 44 front axle by using a heavy-duty U-bolt around the axletube and preexisting holes. For lifts over 7 inches Evo suggest using the upper track bar mounting hole.
Since the new draglink attaches...
Since the new draglink attaches on the top side of the steering knuckle, we drilled a 7/8-inch hole and dropped in the provided tapered sleeve. With the draglink now higher, it parallels the track bar better and creates a more horizontal plane from the pitman arm to the knuckle.
The track bar mount is designed...
The track bar mount is designed to work with most aftermarket sway bar endlinks and steering stabilizers. This particular JK is running a 5-inch Trail Master suspension kit but was upgraded with a set of Evo sway bar links at the time of the CTS conversion.