2005 rear steer (bad track bar?)

[Chippy]

Me again,

Slowly getting all the issues sorted out but one thing that’s happened from day one is sometimes when I hit a bump or dip in the road when going 30+ the rear of the jeep almost doesn’t track with the front. The back wheels aren’t sliding, but it’s almost like I have to counter steer for a second and the rear isn’t connected to the front.

This is my first Jeep and I’m used to performance cars with independent rear suspensions that are super planted so maybe this is just how it feels?

So far in the rear I replaced driveshaft u joints, upper and lower control arms with MOOG replacements, and new sway bar bushings and end links/bushings. It feels better, but still does it. Could it be the track bar?

If I decide to replace the track bar anyways how can I ensure the axle stays centered? Should I get an adjustable or stay fixed length. Jeep lifted up or replace on the ground?

I am on stock height OEM suspension if it helps. Thanks!

 

[lBasket]

When one of my control arms failed and telescoping it felt like that. Not sure if a bushing (or bushings) bad enough on a one piece arm could do the same

 

[Ashim]

Get under the Jeep and have a helper try to rock the rear tire forward and back while you look for any slop.

 

[Chippy]

Get under the Jeep and have a helper try to rock the rear tire forward and back while you look for any slop.

Would rocking it forward and back show anything on the track bar? Control arms are new and I thought that’s what affected the front/back movement and the track bar was side to side.

 

[GregBelleville]

I wonder if it's bump steer you are describing. Is your Jeep lifted with any aftermarket steering components like a drop pitman arm?

 

[Chippy]

No, stock height and stock pitman arm and steering components. I’ll look up what bump steer is though

 

[GoldenGorilla]

The 5-link suspension design causes specific problems. Even at stock height I would say, yes, that disconnected feeling is part of the "charm" of the TJ.

Even at stock height the track bars have some slope and they are attached in opposite directions. As a result the arc in the front causes the axle to shift slightly to the passenger side when bumped up before a moment later the rear is moving to the driver side. Or from the driver's perspective you might feel like the jeep is rotating counter-clockwise. It is worse with a lift as the track bar angles steepen.

The Ranger Raptor attempts to mitigate this movement on the rear axle by using a Watts Link to reasonably good effect.

The track bar bushings are reasonably protected from the elements, but they can degrade just as your control arms did. Having someone rock the wheel back and forth while you're under it would allow the observer to visibly check for slop in the bushings. Slop in the bushings would feel more random with the possibility of some clunking if they're in very bad condition.

Even though I've owned my TJ longer than any other vehicle (20+ years) and have recently done alot to improve the suspension and handling- it still feels strange to me after driving our other cars for any time.