Back when leaf springs reigned, there were few uses for a track bar. But with link suspension and coilovers, something has to keep the front (and rear) axles from moving side-to-side. That’s the function of a track bar. There are a plethora of factory and aftermarket track bar offerings for many vehicles. When we built the Ultimate CJ-7 for the 2010 Ultimate Adventure, we took a stock CJ-7 with leaves and threw some coilovers under it. For a track bar, a simple stock JK Jeep unit was used, as they are big and beefy and have a curve to clear the front diff cover. Plus, we already had one. Currie’s Rock-Jock JK track bar is made from 4130 chromoly steel tubing, with a 11⁄4-inch diameter and a 1⁄4-inch wall thickness. This is far stronger but lighter than the stock JK bar. It’s also adjustable for different heights of lift, and greaseable. The close-ups show the major difference between the worn stock rubber bushing and the special skinny Johnny Joint.Currie’s Rock-Jock JK track bar is made from 4130 chromoly steel tubing, with a 11⁄4-inch The problem is that the stock bar is not adjustable for different suspension heights, and the bushings in either end are stock rubber units. With death wobble impending on our 4x4, we looked for something a bit better to keep the axle centered. Currie Enterprises is known for its custom 9-inch Ford axles as well as unique Jeep suspension products and involvement in all sorts of racing. One of the things Currie is known for is the Johnny Joint, a specially made style of spherical rod end bearing that is rebuildable, greaseable, and far better than any other on the market. The joint offers 30 degrees of movement instead of a standard 22, and the inside is a special urethane that is tougher than normal stuff. These joints have been used for years in all sorts of suspension applications, and we have a bunch on many of our own Jeeps. The stock bar in our custom axle bracket is a breeze to get to and remove. Some vehicles will have to be lifted with a jack on the bumper to relieve the sideways pressure on the bolts in order to remove the track bar. The frame end is a bit harder to access, but this is still an easy afternoon wrenching job.The stock bar in our custom axle bracket is a breeze to get to and remove. Some vehicles w Since we had the axle centered exactly while on the ground and supported, the old track bar came off and the new went on just as easily. The Johnny Joint is threaded into the tubing so the 1-inch threads allow it to be matched to our application. The skinny joint fits right into the stock bracket. Make sure that you tighten the jam nut on the joint then lube both ends of the bar.Since we had the axle centered exactly while on the ground and supported, the old track ba The stock track bar end compared to the new end from Currie. SOURCES Currie Enterprises 1480 North Tustin Avenue Anaheim CA 92807 714-528-6957 www.currieenterprises.com By Rick Péwé Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
