Baystate Jeepers

so it's finally happened, the frame side front trackbar bracket is starting to crack. it is a cast, single shear mount welded to the frame. i am thinking about this instead: http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/Syn ... 27797.html

the biggest issue is that i need to cut and reweld the front trackbar end 90 degrees (double shear) to work with this mount. not sure about the strength welding to the barrel of the johnny joint. (i have this: http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestor ... px?id=3487 front trackbar)

another option is to weld in a bung and get a new johnny joint: http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestor ... px?id=2789

any thoughts on the best approach? i obviously need something even stronger than what i have, so opinions are welcome.

That track bar mount should do the trick. I've always prefered the double shear mounts and having both mounting bolts pointing in the same directon just seems to make more sense.

Seems to me that your track bar is strong enough.

What to do with the track bar itself all depends on how much clearance you have around the axle.... if there's room, the easy way would be to cut the track bar in the middle of the straight tube off the Johnny Joint then sleeve the tube on the inside (DOM tube or a BF bolt with the head cut off) weld it all up making sure to drill holes for plug welds an to chamfer the butt joint. All of this is if your existing joint fits the new bracket of course!

THE BUNG OPTION IS OUT!!!!!!! "Other features include 1 1/4" x .250 wall 4130 chrome moly construction" That leaves you a 3/4" I.D. for a bung.... not good. you could get a new joint with a forged 3/4" threaded stud, cut your existing joint off at the housing, then plug and radius weld the new joint (that's how my lower track bar is done) This seems like it might be the easiest and lowest cost option if your existng joint doesn't fit the new bracket.

From there, you could buy an Rubicon Express extreme duty bar to replace the Currie.

Looks like this joint could do the trick...

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestor ... px?id=3579

thanks for the info john. i really like the idea of sleeving the tube. mcmaster offers a 1ft piece of 4130 solid 3/4 rod for $10! can't much cheaper or stronger then that. http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-steel-rods/=ja1f6q

oh yeah, and ballistic fab makes a bracket which should be the right width for the existing johnny joint: http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/NEW ... _1669.html

Looks like your best bet! And you should be able to position the bracket to compensate for the loss of offset on the joint.

any tricks to MIG welding 4130? I plan to clean everything up and pre-heat the joint, any other tricks to a proper MIG weld of chromoly?