Track Bar Noise (Heims)

[jimbo92]

Running a 1.5" DOM Track bar on my explorer with 7/8-14 Heims seen below. The damn thing is clunky as hell. I replaced the giant heims on the duff arms with metalcloak joints, and it drives way better...but didnt soak up the noise like I had hoped. More noise was coming from the track bar than I thought. Am i just doomed to deal with this or is there a better way? I have looked at johnny joint style ends or rubber rod ends but have failed to find anything in the right dimensions. 7/8-14 with a 3/4 bolt and a 2" mounting width. It wouldnt bother me as much if the damn thing didnt turn out being a way better road car than I anticipated. I drive it a fair amount.

Heat Treated Chromoly 7/8- 14 X 7/8" Heim Joint

7/8-14 Threaded shank rod end, 7/8 bore, ultimate radial static load rating -45,051 lbs.

barnes4wd.com

 

[SMI17]

Are they worn out or just making noise in the mounts from twisting?

I have a slight bend in mine that I used cut down leaf spring bushings to keep the hiems from rotating to much, hiems on both ends, have had great luck with this for 5yrs.

 

[BDK]

My track bar uses OEM size bushing on the axle end. I replace them every 4-5 years, but no noise or bump.

 

[jimbo92]

Are they worn out or just making noise in the mounts from twisting?

I have a slight bend in mine that I used cut down leaf spring bushings to keep the hiems from rotating to much, hiems on both ends, have had great luck with this for 5yrs.

You can grab the track bar and shake it and hear the clicking. Its pretty pronounced through the floor. If you go through an intersection with big bump at speed you can hear a solid THUNK that I assume is it rotating on the heims.

My track bar uses OEM size bushing on the axle end. I replace them every 4-5 years, but no noise or bump.

I may need to go that route. I will have to build a new trackbar but its not the end of the world I don't guess.

 

[jimbo92]

I wonder how much an nicer heim like this will help matters:

 

[TTMotorsports]

I have noticed the teflon lined heims like an FK JMX series heim is much quieter than a nylon injected budget style heim. If you spray WD40 on it does noise go away so you have isolated it to the joints?

 

[jimbo92]

This looks to maybe be a good option. Just have to reduce the axle side from a 7/8 to 9/16

 

[jimbo92]

d the teflon lined heims like an FK JMX series heim is much quieter than a nylon injected budget style heim. If you spray WD40 on it does noise go away so you have isolated it to the joints?

Havent tried this, but I can. Ill run out and give it a shot and report back.

 

[jimbo92]

Cant tell if spaying it genuinely worked or did the ol placebo affect. It does seem quieter over the smaller road imperfections. Just some clunk on the bigger stuff.

 

[SMI17]

The bushing or better quality heims will help.

 

[BDK]

If you go the bushing route, do the axle or lower bushing. The upper bushing blows first with OEM track bars. I haven't been able to find the bushings in anything but a set.

As far as rod ends, I've had good luck with RuffStuff heims. They are priced well and hold up. They have a tendency to squeak, but a little silicone spray quiets them right down.

I have the Duff arms. I recently replaced the rod ends after about nine years of use. Out of curiosity, which Metalcloak joints did you use, and are they are a direct swap type application?

 

[94toytruck]

FK JMX joints will last a bunch longer than those injected style joints. I use spray on chain wax on joints to keep them from creaking and well lubed.

I trashed a set of 3/4x3/4 RS in my panhard on my old rig in a few months. I replaced them with some FK JMX and they outlasted the rig.

 

[arse_sidewards]

You can grab the track bar and shake it and hear the clicking. Its pretty pronounced through the floor. If you go through an intersection with big bump at speed you can hear a solid THUNK that I assume is it rotating on the heims.


I may need to go that route. I will have to build a new trackbar but its not the end of the world I don't guess.

Try just replacing the frame side. You won't feel the axle side nearly as much with rubber between the bar and frame and the frame side by itself will likely be enough to deal with most/all of the twist.

 

[welndmn]

If they make noise, they are worn out.
I'd also guess you'd het noise from the heims on the your steering, those always drove me nuts.

 

[BDK]

I have BC Broncos track bar and steering. The bar has held up very well. For $175.00, it might be worth not building your own or modifying your current bar.

54-00341 Track Bar, W/Heim, 66-75 for Early Bronco - Front Suspension | BC Broncos

Our new extreme track bar can be used with any lift. Designed to be cut to fit your lift. It can be adjusted about 1" Comes cut to fit the tallest lift but

bcbroncos.com

Energy or Prothane are the only two bushing manufacturers that seem to last.

I have several off road buddies who have rod end track bars. I think everyone of them has mentioned the bump and clunk. Mine only clunks when the bushings blown.

 

[wvracer821]

I'd switch to an FK Heim like mentioned above. Those seem to be of the highest quality. Triflow lube with teflon stops the squeeks when you get them. The track bar on my daily driver ram 2500 has a FK on one side of it and its been trouble free for 20k miles.

 

[Ghetto Fab.]

Have all FK teflon lined heims on my buggy steering and track bar. I don't street drive it much, but I haven't ever noticed any noise or clunks coming from it in the 10+yrs its been running. Steering feels as tight today as it did 10yrs ago.

 

[jimbo92]

I have the Duff arms. I recently replaced the rod ends after about nine years of use. Out of curiosity, which Metalcloak joints did you use, and are they are a direct swap type application?

I'm running these joints with link mounts from barnes4wd. So far I'm super pleased with them.