It's worse than I thought.

Tradarcher

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Creedmoor, NC
For more than a month I have had a loud pop coming from the rear end. I couldn't figure out what it was. I considered it being control arms needing greased, trackbar maybe and I finally wrote it off as the Detroit getting old. Coming home from the school the other day the rear end was really squirrely and I figured the trackbar bracket had finally come loose since I hadn't welded it when I put it on, only bolted it. It was so bad that the tires were rubbing the upper coil brackets. Upon inspection it looked as though the trackbar bracket had indeed come loose and was rotating on the main mounting bolt.

I pulled it in to weld it up and this is what I found. The drives side UCA and trackbar bracket are completely ripped off the axle. Apparently the popping I was hearing was where the outside of the bracket had broken but the inside was still attached. The break is worn smooth on the top and rusted so I've been driving around for awhile like this. The inside break happened on Thursday coming home from the elementary school. I only see one clean break and it's not very big. Looks like it was holding on by a thread.

I'm not exactly sure what to do at this point. I think I'll be taking the axle out completely because I don't have the skills or the welder to weld the bracket back on. I'm not sure the bracket is salvageable either. This is a real bummer because there is not money in the budget for fixes much less upgrades.

Any ideas?

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You should be able to salvage it. that happens alot. If you can pull it out and bring it down, I will be happy to fix it for you real quick, shouldn't be a big deal. Give me a shout if we can help

Andy
 
as with any Jeep/4x4 you gotta expect this sometimes. It all comes with the sport.

Suggestion: keep a lot of $$$ in a BIG jar for this stuff


Rob
 
The axle is out and it looks like it can be welded back with no problems. I'm running a RE 4.5" short arm and the RE rear track bar and bracket for CV shaft and SYE. The rear axle is rotated up so the pinion is pointing at the t-case output. My worry is that this will be a constant worry with this set up. The track bar bracket puts more leverage on combo bracket.

I have been considering upgrading to the Rock Krawler longarms which would get rid of the track bar and eliminate the need for the UCA axle brackets. I could sell all my RE adjustable short arms and rear track bar and bracket and my rear bumper and tire carrier and just about cover the cost of the RK upgrade. Or I could thow on some leaf springs. :flipoff2:

'preciate the offer Andy but it's a fer piece down to your place from my house.
 
DO NOT under ANY circumstances go for one of RockKrawler's parts, ESPECIALLY any of there "3-link" CRAP. If you have a question about this comment call me and I will discuss it with you further.......

With a little bracing you will be fine. Very seldom do the brackets fail after they have been properly supports/rewelded/reinforced. They were not fully welded from the factory and it causes some issues from time to time.

Andy
 
Kevin, Remeber when we installed my lift? I welded the inside of that bracket, rewelded the factory brackets, and then welded the RE bracket on. It never failed once I did that. Andy is right, the factory welds are not enough for the extended bracket.
 
I can see one weld inside the trackbar bracket but I don't see any others unless you are as good as the factory welders. :flipoff2: I cut the RE bracket off that you welded on 'cause it was the one for non CV shafts and replaced it with the one used for CV shafts. After the switch the trackbar didn't rub the Tomken skid supports. Wonder if that had anything to do with tearing off the factory bracket?

No way I can make it to Charlotte to get Andy to fix this the way he's done in the past. I need to find out how to reinforce it so that the reinforcement is not in the way and I can tell someone how to do it. I'll probably prep the axle and make the reinforcement myself and maybe tac it and just have someone weld it. I've got a Lincoln 100 with gas but this is not something I want to do myself even if the welder could handle it. As far as reinforcement goes, are we talking just some flat gussets or will I need some square tube or something else. I have a little 1x2 square tube in the garage.
 
zubz said:
DO NOT under ANY circumstances go for one of RockKrawler's parts, ESPECIALLY any of there "3-link" CRAP.

Andy
Click to expand...

X2! Without a doubt RK has the worst products, customer service, and about everything else of anyone in the business.
 
Hmmm, could have sworn I re-welded that bracket. But it's been a while. Don't see the skid causing that issue, as it barly rubbed. But anything is possible.
 
OK guess I'll stay with the short arm and maybe a flat skid. I thought the RK second gen stuff corrected all the problems.
 
Rob said:
Could be, was it taller then the other? More leverage?
Click to expand...

Tall enough I think. Wonder if I can use the RE XD rear trackbar in the stock mounting locations? Is this bracket for use with the stock track bar only?

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You should keep the bracket. It can be used with the adj tbar without a problem. You will want to keep it to correct the angle of the trackbar from twisting the pinion up with the SYE.

Add some 3/16 or 1/4" plate triangles ont he sides and you should be good, just clean the weld surface real well and add a full weld across the back where they don't from the factory.

Andy
 
I agree with Andy on this. We have also had to re-weld factory mounts just like yours and add some gusseting to them as well.

We also like to use the Tri-County Gear UCA/trackbar brace they produce. It ties into th ediff cover bolts and runs to the UCA mount to brace it side to side.

Either of these solutions will be more than enough for ya. If you were closer, I would be more than happy to fix it up for ya...
 
Made up some gussets this morning. They are 1/4" and "L" shaped. This is the bet I can do ensuring that they don't interfere with anything. Will they work?

gusset1.jpg

gusset2.jpg

gusset3.jpg

gusset4.jpg
 
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