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New Rear Track Bar bracket installed in only 9 hrs
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TOPIC: New Rear Track Bar bracket installed in only 9 hrs

New Rear Track Bar bracket installed in only 9 hrs 1 year, 9 months ago #1

  • gary sheets
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My old rear track bar bracket came to the end of it's days so I replaced it. I replaced it with the same aftermarket bracket made by JKS. I had to grind and then eventually use the SawSall to get the old bracket off the factory axle mount. It had broken several times (for a couple of different reasons)over the last 5 years so I can't really fault the bracket itself since I put undue abuse on it. I spent the 1st 1/2 hour wrenching off bolts and nuts and realized there was still considerable un broken weld holding parts of the bracket to the axle. I started with the bottom tail piece and cut it off with a cutting wheel then ground down the weld remaining on the mounting area. The next few hours I spent wrestling with the new bracket and bar putting it on and taking it off again, plus using the SawSall on one big Bracket bolt and some unwanted welding from some prior fixes. There is one huge bolt that is sleeved and attaches the bracket to the axle and even though I liquid wrenched it several times in prior days, I could not remove it. The washer and the bolt head were partially welded into the bracket. I got out the SawSall with fresh #8 cutting blades and began cutting. It took two hours almost to finally cut through the grade 8 bolt sort of between the bolt head and the washer I actually had to cut through it twice and then punch the bolt out through the sleeve. I then mounted the new bracket, attached the bar to it then tried to attach the bar to the passenger side frame only to realize it didn't line up and couldn't fit that way. So, then I removed everything and attached the bar to the passenger side, then applied the new bracket to the mounting area, then attempeted to mount the bar to the new bracket, and realized again there was no way this could line up close enough to get it tightened dow. So, again, off with everything. I kicked my tool box thenI attached the bracket to the bar 1st this time, then manuevered the bar and attached the passenger side in place. Then hammered (BFH) the new bracket into place and tightened evrything up and reinstalled the driver upper control arm. This may have gone faster had I had the foresight to remove the rear tires and put the axlel on stands, but I just high lifted the body up off the axle a few inches to give me very litle space to work with. I have no idea where the directions went. All is fine now and it's beer thirty!
2011 Unlimited - Almost stock
Last Edit: 1 year, 9 months ago by Gary.

Re:New Rear Track Bar bracket installed in only 9 hrs 1 year, 9 months ago #2

  • Tom Willis
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Let's see....
Labor is $85/hr. Nine hours at $85 is $765. Man, you earned some real cash that day!
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