If you have ever wondered which part of a Jeep moves the
axles in a lateral direction, wonder no more – the trac bar is responsible for
this movement. The trac bar comes as
part of an assembly that is able to be adjusted in order to make both your
steering and your ride smoother. This
assembly contains bearings, a rod and the bushings. Each one of these components can and will be
worn with use and over time. If your
trac bar begins to fail, there are certain things that will give you warning
signs.
Pulling
to the Side
One of the signs that could indicate a worn trac bar is
when your Jeep starts to pull to one side or the other. This can be indicative of the trac bar,
bearings or bushings beginning to wear faster on one side as opposed to wearing
on both sides evenly. If you don’t take
care of this issue the other components of the suspension – such as the tires,
the axle assembly or the brakes – can end up being damaged which will lead to
more issues and a more costly fix.
Turning
Difficulty
If you notice that your Jeep is harder to turn then this is
also an indicator that the trac bar should be replaced. This turning issue occurs when the front trac
bar gets worn and causes issues with the steering column.
Steering
Hesitation
Yet another sign of an aging and worn trac bar can be
hesitation in the steering response.
Your Jeep will still be able to turn in either direction but for it to
do so, you will need to turn the wheel much further than normal. If you have ever heard the phrase “play in
the steering wheel”, this is it.
If you begin to notice any of these things occurring then
it is imperative that you get the trac bar checked out before you get stranded
out on the trail somewhere with a broken one.
Johnny
Joint Adjustable Front Trac Bar by Currie
This is meant for use on the Jeep MJ/XJ/LJ and TJ. One of the rod ends is offset. Because of this, the bar is able to be put
farther forward which leaves more clearance between the differential and the
trac bar itself. The construction is
chrome moly that is 1 ¼ inches thick and .120 wall. The gusset leading from the bar to the Johnny
Joint is welded. Also, one end of the
trac bar is adjustable and it is equipped with an insert sleeve made from steel
as well as a bushing. These will bolt
directly in to the housing bracket that was installed by the factory. The Johnny Joint Adjustable Front Trac Bar
has been finished with a powder coat in black that makes it more resistant to
corrosion.