Early 99 vs late 99 track bar and mount

[tristanlee85]

I got the RC 8" lift and specified that it was for an E99 and was told that the only thing I would need to do was drill out the holes in the track bar mount on the axle because the track bar shipped with the kit was made for the larger bolt. Ok, no problem. $50 later on a large drill bit and 22mm grade 8 bolts I have the right hole size. Now I look at the track bar and can't get the bushing hole to line up with the mount holes. The bushing on the new track bar is about 57mm thick while the stock track bar is 46mm thick. So when the bushing sits in the mount, the center of the bushing hole is about 6mm offset.

It looks like this track bar mount is welded to the axle so swapping that out is out of the question. Rough Country says this is the first they've heard of anyone not being able to use the track bar on an E99 as long as the hole is drilled... any thoughts?

[dazdillenger]

So you're saying that the track bar won't go into the mount enough for the bolt hole to line up?

[tristanlee85]

Pretty much

[dazdillenger]

Have someone rock the wheel side to side while you push the bolt through. It'll fit.

[tristanlee85]

It got about as much wheel turning and prying as it could get. It's also disconnected from the upper mount so there is no tension on it... meaning it SHOULD slide right in to place. The issue I see is that on the later 99's, the bolt hole must sit a little higher within the mount as I have that track bar smacked down against that mount as far as it will go.

[dazdillenger]

Yes, on the late 99's the bolt hole is higher so as to allow a larger diameter bar end to be used. You could make a small flat spot on the trak bar, or get a different brand bar if you can't get it to fit. Another option is to weld the hole closed, and re-drill it 1/4" higher up. I've run into a similar issue, I just modified the trak bar a bit.

[boominblueford]

I saw the same problem on mine when installing a tuff country bar. I checked it out before I drilled the hole. I used a carbide burr bit on my die grinder and enlarged the entire hole up, leaving the the bottom edge of the orginal hole on the bottom.

[tristanlee85]

I ended up cutting the mount off where the current holes are, welded up 1/4" steel back in its place with the new holes placed a little higher. Hopefully the welds hold good enough to where I can take it to a shop, have them grind everything down and do a good weld on it. 120v Chicago Electric gas welder can only be so good :-\

[tristanlee85]

Fingers crossed that this works!





Old lower hole: