Trading out my first suspension part tomorrow and looking forward to it, nuts already broke loose, lots of PB. Trading out my old worn out OEM track bar for an OEM Moog, on my 96 XJ.

First question. The trucks up on ramps right now. With that in mind, should I expect any kind of lurching when I break the current track bar out? I just want to make sure there isn't any tension in the track bar right now that I'll be letting loose unexpectedly.

Second...that's a fairly tight spot up there by the frame bracket, so I'm not really sure if I'll be able to get the 81 N*m or 60 ft-lbs the FSM is calling for but I'll try. Any suggestions?

Third...the new piece came with a bag of parts including a nipple looking thing with threads on one end. The bag says 'attn: this bag may contain self tapping grease fittings for threaded and non-threaded holes. Lastly, there's a small hole in the new piece at the bottom of the end where it articulates with the frame bracket. I'm assuming I stick this nipple thing into a socket and thread it through that hole, and use it later to lubricate that joint? I know that's a really simple questions. I really do need to get up on lubing and get the right guns.

Thanks for the continued help.

It shouldn't unless you're jeep is lifted, but it's still a small possibility. The trackbar is what centers/positions your front axle under your vehicle so it might have some tension on it but for the most part I'm pretty sure you'll be ok.



Impact gun or a breaker bar with some extentions to get to it from the top of the vehicle as opposed to trying to wrestle with tightening or loosening the bolt up lying on your back under the jeep <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Make sure you remove the cotter pin from the rod end before attempting to remove the nut...



Yes this is correct, the nipple is used to lube up the rod end... install it once you have everything tightend up to prevent you from breaking it off during installation.

One last tip, your old trackbar probably has never been changed and has some good slop to it (maybe the reason for you swapping it out) so when you go to remove the nut at the axle end braket on the rod end sometimes has a tendancy to just spin the tapered end within the braket and not loosen up, this all depends on if it's rusty or the tapered hole on the frame end braket has been hollowed out because of slop/looseness... IF you're lucky the nut will come right off and you can use a pickle fork/tie rod separator to remove the frame end, IF not I have found that applying slight upwards pressure on the bottom of the end is enough to hold it in place while you loosen the nut... I like using a jack with a 4x4 block of wood to get up in there... Hope this helps... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Fred R.

Fred, thanks a ton for all the advice. That's exactly the kind of info. I'm looking for.