[PWRDrill]

I'm currently installing the RK X-Factor 5.5" with 3.5" springs. I also have the heavy duty tie rod.

My problem is this. The front RK trackbar with the heim joint does not fit into the RK lower trackbar bracket. It's not even close.

The rear track bar bracket is plenty wide, but the front is obviously built smaller. I've searched the web, and have not found an answer.

I can't be the first to have this issue. What am I doing wrong, or are there two styles of front trackbar brackets? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin

 

[Goodysgotacuda]

Do you have the two inserts that go into the heim? The misalignment spacers.

 

[PWRDrill]

Do you have the two inserts that go into the heim? The misalignment spacers.

I do, with them on the heim, it is ~1/4" too wide to fit inside the ears on the bracket.

 

[Broncojohn]

I believe RK uses a 14mm heim joint that doesn't use inserts.

Are you installing the relocation bracket?

Do you have pics.

 

[PWRDrill]

There is clearly a difference in width between the front and rear track bar brackets, however, both track bars have the same heim.

Is the front supposed to have a narrower heim?

 

[Broncojohn]

My RK came with a heim that has an oversized ball and uses a 14mm bolt. I couldn't use a standard 3/4 heim with misalignment spacers.

 

[Broncojohn]

Measure the gap.

check the RK site:

http://www.rockkrawler.com/pages/catalog/index.php?r_cat=127

 

[Broncojohn]

Does it look like this?

 

[Goodysgotacuda]

I believe RK uses a 14mm heim joint that doesn't use inserts.

Are you installing the relocation bracket?

Do you have pics.

My front RK bar with a stock bracket came with and uses spacers on the heim in. The rear RK bar I've installed here with an RK axle side bracket used spacers as well.

 

[Fixerupper]

I bought the steering kit (minus trackbar) after I installed the 3.5 Xfactor plus. I have not installed it yet. The relocation bracket is narrower than the oem bracket. The kit included a heim joint to replace the original one.

 

[Broncojohn]

My front RK bar with a stock bracket came with and uses spacers on the heim in. The rear RK bar I've installed here with an RK axle side bracket used spacers as well.

Pics may help; the above is my RK set up and does not have misalignment spacers. It uses a special Hybrid heim joint, not my favorite subject.

 

[Fixerupper]

This came in the parts box.

 

[Broncojohn]

Do those spacers come out of the heim?

I've bitched about the special 14mm joint. It would be nice if they got rid of it.

Goody - I now understand what you are talking about. Mine looks like fixeruppers but the ball is complete.

 

[PWRDrill]

Hopefully this works. No special heim in my box. Front bracket gap is ~13mm. Rear bracket gap is ~16mm.

 

[Goodysgotacuda]

Goody - I now understand what you are talking about. Mine looks like fixeruppers but the ball is complete.

Cool. Here is a pic anyway

Sent via paper airplane

 

[PWRDrill]

I got the pic to work. Sorry about the size. Same heim as rear track bar.

 

[rdlynch2]

Can you install it without the heim spacers on there?

 

[PWRDrill]

Can you install it without the heim spacers on there?

No, for two reasons. First is that it would be very loose in the ears, and would require a lot of shimming. Secondly, and most important, those spacers hold the bolt that holds the track bar on. Without the spacers installed, it is a very large hole in the heim.

 

[Broncojohn]

They sent you the wrong joint (spacers) it should look like Fixeruppers.

The only "now" option I see is grind down the spacers to fit.

 

[Broncojohn]

From another thread:

That is odd, but we supposse it can happen. If you have one of our standard 2.5" or 3.5" lifts, it is a standard FK 3/4" heim. If you have one of our lifts with our high steer assembly, the heim is custom to us. It is a high misalignment hybrid unit with a 3/4 shank and 14mm bore. Our part number is RK00004. Prior customers also get the prior customer discount!

RK

http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48931