Track Bar/pitman arm
- Thread starter gwayms
- Start date
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
Some people say you do, others say you don't.
I just did a 4.5 Rubicon Express on my '98 XJ, and I needed one. There are guys on NAXJA that still don't believe me, but I took it to 3 different shops, and they all said that I needed it, and the geometry would not have been correct wit the stock pitman.
I trust the shops over the internet.
Especially when one of the shops was a specialty 4x4 place, and another specialized in front end work.
You can finish the lift and check the steering when you're done, and if it's not working and you're getting bump steer, you can order the larger drop pitman at that point.
I think my larger DP was around 100 bucks, or thereabouts...
I just did a 4.5 Rubicon Express on my '98 XJ, and I needed one. There are guys on NAXJA that still don't believe me, but I took it to 3 different shops, and they all said that I needed it, and the geometry would not have been correct wit the stock pitman.
I trust the shops over the internet.
Especially when one of the shops was a specialty 4x4 place, and another specialized in front end work.
You can finish the lift and check the steering when you're done, and if it's not working and you're getting bump steer, you can order the larger drop pitman at that point.
I think my larger DP was around 100 bucks, or thereabouts...
Maximus Ram
Expedition Leader
I got my drop pitman off of e-bay for a good price at the time(about a year or so ago)
Also, what adj trackbar are you looking at ? I had a rustys on mine and kept snapping the TRE's. Ended up getting a RE HD double shear with the drop bracket. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but after all is said and done..I should have done it right the first time...
here's a few with a quick check
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ch...arm&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313
Also, what adj trackbar are you looking at ? I had a rustys on mine and kept snapping the TRE's. Ended up getting a RE HD double shear with the drop bracket. A bit more than I wanted to spend, but after all is said and done..I should have done it right the first time...
here's a few with a quick check
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=ch...arm&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
I haven't yet, but I probably should have gone to heavier steering components.
I am running MT tires, 33x12.5R15's, so there will be a lot of stress on those steering components when I'm bombing around on the trails.
(I'm not very gentle to the XJ when I'm 'wheelin.)
I am running MT tires, 33x12.5R15's, so there will be a lot of stress on those steering components when I'm bombing around on the trails.
(I'm not very gentle to the XJ when I'm 'wheelin.)
wjeeper
Active member
Cheap upgrade is to run the linkage off of a ZJ with a v8. The tubing is thicker. And at local self serve yards here in Utah they are $15-20. Plus you can keep your stock linkage for a trail spare.
TOTJ
Adventurer
What is comes down to is you want them to stay in line or I should say at the same angle.
As example if you have a 4" lift w/ out a new track bar or droped pitman arm the y will both still be equal. If you put on a pitman arm and a trac bar but the track bar is in the stock location the you have two difrent angles.
One angle from the trac bar and now less angle from the drag link.
On the other hand if you install a droped pitman arm and a track bar that has a drop down like the one from Rubicon Express it keeps the two in line.
You want to keep the drag link angle and the track bar angle as close as you can or you may get bump steer.
The only other reson to run a droped pitman arm is if your steering is binding.
during droop.
As example if you have a 4" lift w/ out a new track bar or droped pitman arm the y will both still be equal. If you put on a pitman arm and a trac bar but the track bar is in the stock location the you have two difrent angles.
One angle from the trac bar and now less angle from the drag link.
On the other hand if you install a droped pitman arm and a track bar that has a drop down like the one from Rubicon Express it keeps the two in line.
You want to keep the drag link angle and the track bar angle as close as you can or you may get bump steer.
The only other reson to run a droped pitman arm is if your steering is binding.
during droop.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
Thanks for the tip!
yeah, this is probably what I'll do, too. All my TRE's are blown.
I'd LOVE to get the Currie Correctlync setup, but $350.00 is a lotta money. :Wow1:
alosix
Expedition Leader
I just can't see spending that much on a TJ/XJ/ZJ front end that doesn't get rid of the inverted Y setup.
after many years of driving a TJ with an ORO uturn on it, I have a hard time driving stock Jeeps
Jason
robert j. yates
Explorer
The Currie kit is the best and strongest bolt on system out there. As to your question, if you are now running a dropped trackbar bracket, then you need a dropped pitman to restore the relationship of the trackbar and draglink. If you haven't installed a dropped trackbar bracket, then run with your stock pitman.
Toolman
Explorer
go to the junk yard and take one off a grand cherokee ($10)... it's the same as Rubicon Express ($60) and a lot cheaper.... I have worn out 3 of the RE in 6 months... I lowered my jeep 1" since the last one so we'll see if it lasts.
anything over 3" lift you need drop to get the geometry right
BTW the way currie recommends the stock pitman arm with there set up and their TRE are junk... replaced Drag link a few times as well.. I'm going to a high steer as soon as I get the $$$$$ and hoping to sell my Currie set up .. To me the bars are great but they need to work on their customer service and TRE.
Really lost respect for that company since my last conversation with "Tech-Support" couldn't answer simple question about degree angles and tried to make me feel inferior... however the customer wins.... I was very close to buying the anti-rock sway bar until that conversation.. I will never give Currie another penny of my money.
Currie is also great at displacing the blame... so in other words. THEY DON'T WARRANTY ANYTHING !!!!!!!! F CURRIE
anything over 3" lift you need drop to get the geometry right
BTW the way currie recommends the stock pitman arm with there set up and their TRE are junk... replaced Drag link a few times as well.. I'm going to a high steer as soon as I get the $$$$$ and hoping to sell my Currie set up .. To me the bars are great but they need to work on their customer service and TRE.
Really lost respect for that company since my last conversation with "Tech-Support" couldn't answer simple question about degree angles and tried to make me feel inferior... however the customer wins.... I was very close to buying the anti-rock sway bar until that conversation.. I will never give Currie another penny of my money.
Currie is also great at displacing the blame... so in other words. THEY DON'T WARRANTY ANYTHING !!!!!!!! F CURRIE
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