Wallowed out holes axle side track bar

md21722 · May 7, 2017

Hey Guys,

I'm changing out my axles and I noticed the axle I'm putting in has fairly wallowed out holes on the axle side. Both the front and back holes. I am not aware of any way to repair the back side hole short cutting the mount off and welding one back on.

Since I have a lifted Jeep with an adjustable track bar, I am thinking of drilling a new set of holes and adjusting the track bar for the new hole location.

Anyone see any problems with this solution?

I figure on drilling a new hole about 3/4" to the right. I believe the factory hole is a 7/16" should I deviate from that? I have Fractional in 1/64th increments.

Thanks!

Francesco · May 8, 2017

I'd drill the smallest hole you can and still get the bolt in. I would make sure your bolt is shanked properly too.

trippled · May 8, 2017

What about drilling it all out to 1/2? Or is it too far gone for that?

md21722 · May 8, 2017

Its elongated down and to the right. It's longer than wider. Looks longer than 1/2" to me but I haven't measured. And then I think I'd have to deal with reaming out the bushing inner sleeve?

anthrax323 · May 8, 2017

Factory hole and bolt are both 10mm, by the way.

trippled · May 8, 2017

Idk what you have, but I drilled out my craptastic Rusty's track bar to 1/2". Wasn't too hard, no problems since.

md21722 · May 8, 2017

trippled said:
Idk what you have, but I drilled out my craptastic Rusty's track bar to 1/2". Wasn't too hard, no problems since.

The front hole is .58" long and .48" wide. JKS trackball which uses the familiar MOOG style double sleeved "mostly metal" bushing.

old_man · May 8, 2017

I don't remember what vendor had them, but one had weld on hardened "washers" to repair wallowed out holes. It might have been

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/WWASH.html

I don't know if they have what you need but give them a call.

RWKHausSupply · May 8, 2017

Re-drilling a hole where you (I think) are mentioning to drill it, is very common with the people that are lifting a TJ only a short amount and too cheap to pony up the $$ for a new adjustable track bar.

I havent seen any XJ's with this method yet, but since they are in essence the same front axle housing bracketry and design, in theory it should be perfectly fine to do, as long as the axle can be centered after relocating the axle side mount, with the adjust-ability in the track bar.

md21722 · May 8, 2017

old_man said:
I don't remember what vendor had them, but one had weld on hardened "washers" to repair wallowed out holes. It might have been

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/WWASH.html

I don't know if they have what you need but give them a call.

I thought of welding a washer or plate on it until I realized the rear was also wallowed out.

Hopkins · May 10, 2017

Here's your fix: https://kevinsoffroad.com/product/track-bar-upgraded-hardware-kit/

And XJs do run the track bar bracket that is notorious for wallowing out the hole. I made that mistake... Switched to an adjustable track bar once I saw the bracket wiggling and opening up the hole. Never got bad enough to need fixing, but that kit from Kevs Off-road is what I was gonna buy if needed.

GordoSmasho · May 10, 2017

Your answer here is not hardware its repairing the mount.
I replaced mine with this bracket from rustys. Super beefy and replaces everything. It comes with 10mm wholes already drilled in the stock location.
http://www.rustysoffroad.com/rustys-hd-front-track-bar-bracket-tj-xj-zj.html

lazyxj · May 12, 2017

Hopkins said:
Here's your fix: https://kevinsoffroad.com/product/track-bar-upgraded-hardware-kit/

This has got to be the simplest way to fix the problem for good, assuming the hole has not wallowed out more than a 9/16".
My 2001 XJ track bar was loose when I bought it and the hole was slightly wallowed.
I have been running a Kevin's track bar and bracket for about 12 years, it came with 1/2" bolts that required drilling the axle-end bracket.
It eliminated the wallow problem and has never loosened since..
The 9/16" bolt kit should cure most wallowing issues.

Wallowed out holes axle side track bar

md21722

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Francesco

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trippled

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md21722

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anthrax323

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trippled

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md21722

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old_man

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RWKHausSupply

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md21722

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Hopkins

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GordoSmasho

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lazyxj

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