Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: fony3 on October 12, 2006, 08:53:59 AM
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A week or so ago i started hearing a knock when i went over bumps, my first thought was the exhaust. Last night when i went out and rocked the jeep back and forth i could clearly hear the knock from the front passenger side wheel well. Upon investigation, i could see that my swaybar was really loose on the top bushing of the end link. When the suspension flexed, the sway bar came knocking down on the end link.
2 questions...is this a common problem? What’s the fix?
My ideas were...can i just tighten the bolt on the top of the end link? or do i have to replace the rubber bushing on the top of the end link?
Thanks,
Brad
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Get a lift, then you can get disconnects
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RIP EM OUT!!!!!!
I removed mine front and rear and love it!!!
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I agree with the star... I ripped mine out and wouldn't regret it...! Alot more flex ability! :wink:
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Well, ripping out the swaybar on a TJ with coiled shocks is not a good idea for street use, at all.
If you have a lift, and your shocks n coils are stiff, and you see limited street use, then by all means leave the front disconnected. Otherwise, do it back up. As for the rear, leave it on, unless you get a good lift. Cause if you want to feel body lean, drive around with the rear one disconnected. The body is really floppy then!
As for your worn link, undo the link from the bar, see what the bushing looks like, goto autovalue, and see if there is something close that can be used. Otherwise, the dealership may be your only route for the proper part.
Also, make sure you do your wheeling, with a disconnected sway bar! Leads to more flex, and less wear n tear on the swaybar.
As for the YJ's and their leaf spring suspension, yes they can run without swaybars, as leafs can be stiffer. They can also run without trackbars as leafs usually are stiffer, and as such its rare to see a YJ out flex a TJ, but it can happen!
As for TJ's, sadly, we need our trackbars, and the rear swaybar connected near 100% of the time. As for the front, I really don't like driving around town with the front not connected. But when its not, the whole front of the jeep comes up and leans over when I dump the clutch hard, scares the street racers pretty good!
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Elsifer is right, TJs need trackbars and swaybars.
Also there are lots of people on this baord that have their old stocker links that I am sure you got get for cheap as another option
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You don't *NEED* a trackbar or swaybar as long as you intend on driving in a straight line...
I've got a bunch of swaybar endlink bushings that are just sitting around if needed.
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You don't *NEED* a trackbar or swaybar as long as you intend on driving in a straight line...
This is so true! Trails are not always straight, roads often are. :P
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You don't *NEED* a trackbar or swaybar as long as you intend on driving in a straight line
Offroad is okay because it is slow speeds, but a any road speed I would be scared because there would be nothing to locate the axle side-to-side, and any slight bump or camber to the road could cause the axle to walk
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there would be nothing to locate the axle side-to-side
Sure there would...what do you think your draglink and tie rod does without a trackbar :D
...Maybe it's time to replace my CA bushings if my axle is moving a few inches before my wheels even begin to turn...
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You don't *NEED* a trackbar or swaybar as long as you intend on driving in a straight line
Offroad is okay because it is slow speeds, but a any road speed I would be scared because there would be nothing to locate the axle side-to-side, and any slight bump or camber to the road could cause the axle to walk
TJs need sway bars for lots of street driving. I have left my front one off and driven home from the trail but always put it back on the next day.
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Thanks for all the advice...
kevman, i may need to hit you up on those bushings. Tonight i am gonna pull it off and check it out...hopefully i can just tighten the bolt up.
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UPDATE: Pretty sure my rubber bushings are toast...
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/fony3/Jeep%20Stuff/BlownGromet.jpg)
Pretty ugly, i think i need a cleaning down there too, lol...anyways, kevman, any chance i could follow up on that offer?
I also have a slight concern from these pictures. The one on the top is from 4x4xplor write up on JKS discos...the one on the bottom is mine...His seems to sit on top, whereas mine sits right on the side of the bushing. Is there anything to be worried about?
(http://www.4x4xplor.com/images/JKS-QD/jks02.jpg)
(http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i54/fony3/Jeep%20Stuff/IMG_0123.jpg)
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Looks like you might have a bent bolt.
Take it apart and see.
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BAH i got coil front suspesntion with no sway bars...
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Thats exactly what i looks like now that you mention it...I was gonna take it apart when i took the pics, but i didnt realize i needed a tie rod puller. Hopefully tomorrow i'll be able to take it apart and see whats going on.
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BAH i got coil front suspesntion with no sway bars...
Don't you also have radius arms?
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Thats exactly what i looks like now that you mention it...I was gonna take it apart when i took the pics, but i didnt realize i needed a tie rod puller. Hopefully tomorrow i'll be able to take it apart and see whats going on.
You dont need a tie rod puller.
Use two hammers
Smack the sway bar itself on each side of where the bolt goes through, at the same time.
Repeat that until the tapared bolt is jared loose.
What you are doing is shocking it to release tension on the tapared fit.
hth
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Ok, so i called the jeep dealership...55 bucks a side and the guy thought the 27 dollar bushings were not included.
Called Modern, they have Warrior Products Discos for 140 bones, and National has JKS for 200.
Just hoping to get an opinion on these discos in case no one in the forum has any stock ones for me.
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i have stock swaybar links with healthy bushings sitting (somewhere) in the garage. is that what you are looing for? Build your own discos with $1 cotter pins from Princess, a drill press, and zip ties.
going to come to the next meeting? I can bring them with.
Greg
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apex, that would be exaclty what i am looking for. How much are you looking to get for them? I kinda need them now, as i have a very hard knock from the sway bar. Thats why i was looking at just buying some discos.
NEW Question...is the "ZERK" grease nipple on the JKS discos the same as those on the ball joints?
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Back when I had disco my JKS's were the bomb. Loved them. Wouldn't run anything else.
As for the zerks, the same gun end will grease them. Or are you asking about their thread into the links themselves? Not sure on that.
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I'm going to voice a negative review for the JKS...well not negative, neutral.
They're great at what they're designed to do and that's disconnect quickly. I also applaud the spherical bushings with zerk fittings. What they overlooked though is bushing tolerances and wear. While the spherical surface of the bushing gets a generous amount of lube the cylindrical surfaces run dry and can be very hard to lubricate. Not on your disconnect end but your fixed end (for those with two disconnect ends this does not apply) These bushings end up wearing out real fast resulting in annoying clunks at each end. They're a real PITA to replace to boot.
That's my 2 cents on them, it seems like I'm the only one in the world that has had any problems with them.