Is anyone running the JKSOGS126 track bar with 4" Currie springs?

[dschubot]

TLDR: Is the JKSOGS126 1-3.5" front track bar long enough to run with 4" Currie springs and hold up to moderate to heavy Rock crawling at near full extension?

The long version:

Had some changes midway through a build for various reasons. In short, pulling a lot of parts off an 02 TJ with a Frankenstein build and moving a lot of it over to a 04 Rubi. Currently running Savvy CAs OME 2.5" springs JKS track bars front and rear Rancho shocks, Savvy 1.25" BL, Currentlync and a few other things.

The Rubi build will get getting some of the take offs but with some of the changes at this point I'm going to ditch the OME springs and go with a 4" Currie Spring. (If you're wondering why, I had some plans to do a LCG lift on this Rubi. A few things changed with vehicles at the house and now looking to do more of a traditional build with a 4" SL 1.25" BL and 35s. Also, the 02 is my parking lot princess. Yes its overbuilt for that. It was my dad's he had bought new in 02 and not something I am looking to damage off-road).

I have a new JKS Track bar for 1-3.5" lift along P/N JKSOGS126 already (and can't return). Looking to see if anyone has run this one with Currie 4" springs instead of the JKSOGS125 which is for 4"+ lifts. (Also already have JKS TB on the existing 02 TJ which will stay there so this isnt a reuse of that one)

Two main items I am looking at is 1) will it be long enough to center the front axle and 2) Extending it to near the max length, will it have enough threads to handle some Moderate+ Rock crawling. (use for Jeep Jamboree TX Spur and Palo Duro as well as Wolf Caves here in the Texas area).

If it wont work I'll take the loss and try to sell it and get the longer one but was hoping to salvage a little money with some of the overspend on this build already.

While I appreciate all the other feedback/ questions and happy to discuss my build with anyone ( why 4", make sure to get different shocks, etc) I'm really just trying to understand the viability of using the JKSOGS126 from someone who has actually run this with 4" springs.

Thanks in advance and have a great weekend!

 

[Chris]

I can’t speak to it from personal experience, but I can tell you that if that track bar is only meant for up to 3.5 inch lifts. It’s likely not going to work well with the 4 inch Currie springs. It will be at max extension and your axle will be offset laterally. Probably not enough to make too much of a difference but when you start to cycle the suspension to set bump stop length you could end up seeing some potential issues.

I’m in the camp of doing it once and doing it right.

 

[Rickyd]

The springs will give different lift depending on weight. Get them in and try the track bar. It will be a free easy test.though it is likely to hit the front cover on a Dana 44 even if you can center the axle.

If you just want a tough track bar that will fit around the front Dana 44 better get a currie bar and grind the gusset down before install.

 

[dschubot]

I can’t speak to it from personal experience, but I can tell you that if that track bar is only meant for up to 3.5 inch lifts. It’s likely not going to work well with the 4 inch Currie springs. It will be at max extension and your axle will be offset laterally. Probably not enough to make too much of a difference but when you start to cycle the suspension to set bump stop length you could end up seeing some potential issues.

I’m in the camp of doing it once and doing it right.

Yea, That's why I am asking for existing experience with someone else has who has run this. Other threads talk about Curries being "soft" or essentially built for a lighter weight load and a lot of people don't get a full 4" out of it. If this was a MC 3.5" springs then this would be the correct one and I can't see 1/2" of lift causing more offset then maybe an extra 1/8th at most on the front axle.

Also, the JKS notes technically call then am "Over 4" on the 125 and 3-4" in the notes for the 126. So its a little different than the product name they use.

 

[jjvw]

Yea, That's why I am asking for existing experience with someone else has who has run this. Other threads talk about Curries being "soft" or essentially built for a lighter weight load and a lot of people don't get a full 4" out of it. If this was a MC 3.5" springs then this would be the correct one and I can't see 1/2" of lift causing more offset then maybe an extra 1/8th at most on the front axle.

Also, the JKS notes technically call then am "Over 4" on the 125 and 3-4" in the notes for the 126. So its a little different than the product name they use.

Some context on understanding how some of this works...

Currie/RockJock is all based on a 4" spring lift, or something close to that. C/RJ track bars and steering put the various joints in the middle of their range of motion at a ~4" spring lift.

Point being that there is available movement in the range of motion on either side of the middle when the joints are realigned for a ~4" spring lift. There is also available range of adjustment on either side of the intended spring lift to change the length of the links for centering the axle and to adjust the steering.

The specific springs in use do not matter. What matters is what the actual ride height is and how far away that ride height is from the C/RJ presumption of a 4" increase in ride height.

Now you get to think about what JKS means when they say their track bar fits a 1-3.5" spring lift. It has to do with the range of motion of the frame side joint and also the adjustment range to center the axle. The immediate thing I would be curious to find out is if there is enough misalignment remaining in the frame side track bar joint to accommodate full shock extension.