Jeep Wrangler YJ - I removed my Track Bars 

First of all, here are some track bar / suspension parts if you need or want some:amzn.to/2jfYahs Cool .. Hello Everyone. Just like to point something out. After answering many comments I've realized that this is one of those mods that some people are not comfortable doing. If you are not comfortable pulling the track bars off, it's OK just don't do it. There is nothing wrong with leaving them on. The Jeep will still drive down the road with the track bars. The only benefits to removing the track bars is provide to more flex for the off roaders and a smoother ride for the asphalt. I have had good luck with no control issues at all. But, I am typically a slow driver anyways. I feel safe because I don't drive aggressively to begin with. My '84 GT Mustang that is seen in the background occasionally, it ran real strong. NO problem laying 3rd gear rubber. Yet the car has never been over 100mph on the highway. I've cut it loose on the dragstrip a few times with an older engine set up. Will it bust a 100mph? Not a doubt it will. Does it handle curves well? Its does fairly decent (needs rear suspension work). It will totally out corner the Jeep though .. why? Because the Jeep wasn't ever meant to hang corners to begin with! Drive a Jeep Wrangler for what they are, great capable off-roaders or cruising on the asphalt with the top off .. IN THE SLOW LANE chilling out enjoying life. Again, there is nothing wrong with leaving the track bars on if that is what you want. Any video, instructions, website, person ... etc that spells out mods, hacks, repairs is not twisting anyone's arm to do what they are watching or reading. At the end of the day, it's up to the owner of the vehicle as to whether they want to perform the modifications that is being demonstrated. Thanks everyone and have a great day! Peace out .. Later Y'all! Has this tip helped you? Here is a free way to help me. Here is my Amazon influencer page that has many of the parts I've used in videos and some parts that friends have used. www.amazon.com/shop/poweraddicts-fixjeepscom-jeepcarandmotorcycletips?ref=ac_inf_hm_vp . By purchasing through this Amazon page you help me get a small commission of the sale and you do not get charged a cent more. Keep checking back because I update the Amazon page often. Thanks for your support!

Hi, I have a 1993 yj , 4.0L * I have had it for 25 years now. I'm retired and 69 yrs old. I am 100 % disabled ,, U.s.m.c. Vietnam vet, I can't THANK YOU enough sir, I just did a front brake job ( First Brake job I have ever done ) It took me 3 days to do alone. Because of you and your help, super easy to understand, and your camera work is great. Thank you so very much, GOD BLESS Steve R, Ft. Myers area FL.

I have A93YJ. With the 2.5 liter engine, I was a little skeptical at first, but decided to do this and wow, it made a big difference. It gave me the smoother ride. I was looking for in this Jeep.

Love your delivery. No one on you tube describes in detail the way you do...your the every guy! Thanks

Always great content!! Finally finished my YJ and thanks to you, many of the fixes I got from your channel. Took her out for her maiden off road trip this past weekend and she did great!!! Thank you!

Thanx for this video. It only took me 66 years to finally get my first Jeep. I bought a 88 Wrangler YJ December 2020 and have been steadily doing improvements to it, when the funds, allow it. My "Bet-R-Half" (Jeep Name) rides extremely ruff, bone jarring over bumps. After seeing this video I decided to take the front and rear track bars off. The Front was Easy Peasy to remove. The back was froze up like yours. After about 30 minutes of trying to cut the bolt off, I gave up. I then put a new cutting wheel in my grinder and decided to cut the track bar itself as close to the connection as possible. Hell of alot easier. This 88YJ will be my last vehicle and I have no intentions of putting a track bar back on, especially after taking it for a test drive down the bumpiest street in my neighborhood. What a Freaking difference, thanx again. Oh Yea, I have a kidney belt for sale , lol Guy McDonald

Great video! I took out both track bars and sway bar! Feels way better then before.

I did this modifications with my 4 in lift kit and definitely got more flex on the YJ. Great video.

Well I know what I’m doing this weekend on my 95. Great video and very informative.

Thanks for the video. I’m building a YJ now. I had to cut my bolts off also. Not putting track bars back on.

Ran down a weird rabbit hole while on amazon and found your sway bar disconnect review. Thanks for this video even 3 years after. I bought a project jeep (2.5l turbo :D ) and noticed some missing stuff like the track bar, but this video puts me a bit at ease reminding me leaf cars don't need track bars. I haven't deep dived into your YJ videos yet, but hope you still have it and are making videos!

Removed mine and no problems. Better ride!. I cant say it handles any better, but it sure didn't hurt the handling. Thanks Chuck for the video.

Tearing down my YJ and I'll be removing those for good. I'm also doing 4.88 gears and lockers in both the 30/35. As always I enjoy watching your videos, keep em coming.

Awesome video. I appreciate the step by step details and not just a fast forward version. Thank you. Very helpful.

Crawled under my dads yj and started scratching my head when I saw the track bars. Just glad to know I will be good to remove them. (I don’t put it past any of the makers to do this stuff back in the 80’s). The track bar makes sense on my 79 bronco, but no on leaf springs.

did the same upgrade few days ago! and today fixed the hood locking thing, like in one of your videos, thanks) greetings from Estonia!

I just now completed this. Thank you very much for making this video. Semper Fi !

Awesome upgrade to my YJ . Removed my track bars when I first saw this video 6 months ago. My Jeep now has a 100% improvement in the ride.

I have to say on my 1987 yj I had no track bar before I put one on it road and handled nice I put it on it handled to quickly on corners and dips in the road feels like it’s going to roll over I’m taking it back off thanks for the video and proving I don’t need one

For some reason I enjoy watching the driver point of view shot a lot

I have a 93 with a 2-1/2" shackle lift on 32's. Removed both track bars. The ride is sooooooo much better without the track bars. No bad effects noticed at all.

best video I've seen on this subject. Great work. Your a very smart dude!!!

Yes for sure! Removed my trac bars. 100% improvement.

Gonna take mine off tomorrow night at work !!! Lol. 93 yj. Thx very much for info

I really like the detailed info here and also the sway bar disco vid. These videos are great inspiration for projects with my stock 91 YJ. I think you said you’re running 3” lift... can you give some info on your wheel and tire combo? Thanks and keep these vids coming!!!

First thing to come off a yj Is trackbars and sway bar. Limit so much flex and honestly handles so much better on the road. People who are worried about body roll, gonna sound silly but try driving with wheel spacers turning hard and see the difference it handles. Offset wheels, spacers or both make a large on and offroad improvement.

I did this mod with my 93 and a 4" lift. Good mod.👍thsnkfully I didn't have problems with the rear tracbar. Wondering if it would have been easier to just cut off the bracket though. 😉

Oh man! I removed my track bars amazing, it help my steering some but it rides like a Cadillac now .. can’t believe it have seen no problems with it as of now

Another great video. Going to take them both off very soon. Front is new with new hardware, so I know that one will be done in minutes. The back not so sure. Original from 94 Might be a problem

Thanks for doing what you do Chuck! Any advise on removing brake booster bracket from under dash...the top two fasteners are a bear! 93 yj 6 cyl

Thanks for posting this very informative video! I have a 95 YJ and it has major frame rust issues that I am fixing with lots of welding and fabrication. The track bar brackets are completely rusted to the point of they don't fricken do anything! Now I will just remove them and weld up the frame were they were at! Thanks again!

Have you ever been in an old CJ7 with bigger tires and start to turn the wheel the body will roll before the axle turns hints that is why they put in a track bar it creates an oversteer

I am building a 1944 wwII ford GPW putting 4 inch yj leaf springs planing on stretching the frame like you did with rust bucket I like your ideas I keep watching your videos for new ideas do you mined if I use some of them on my build

Hi chuck, interesting video! the most important thing, should be no negative effects on the Long-term! right? however the YJ needs to be more flex as you said, thanks for your efforts and have a nice day:)

@poweraddicts I'm a religiously waiting for that swaybar disconnect video , no one on RU-vid has a full video showing you how to take them off either they skip a step and don't show it or they show the before and after , me and you have the same set up and same sway connectors so I'm excited for this video , I can't seem to take mine off ,

Too cool. I have just finished up my 95 Hardtop installation on my 93 with half doors. Ended up modifying the half window frames a little so the windshield angle and top contacts fit. Now I am going to try your suggestion on the track bar. I have already tried to loosen the back when I installed the exhaust and gave up on it at the time. The front it pretty oiley, so it probably will come loose. I have a 1.5 lift with just heavy leaf spring shackles. And large tires. I carefully set toe-in to 1/4 in and Jeep was quite twitchy. It also made the off center a heavy. Interesting when I first started, it was 3/16" out. (think someone got confused before me) twitchy but no pull which was interesting I kicked it back from 1/4" in to 1/16" in and that actually made it pull to the right on a crown road. So I set it just a tad over 1/8" in. Still a little heavy off center but good. My Jeep is pretty much around town under 35-45mph hobby. MY QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY IT RIDES BETTER ON THE HIGHWAY, DO YOU MEAN LESS TWITCHY? IT ACTUALLY AS IS FILL LIKE EVEN EVEN BUT LITTLE BUMPS TEND TO STEER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MINE ACTUALLY STAYS STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD THEN MY WONDERING TACOMA. HOWEVER, THE CONSTANT TWITCH IS A LITTLE WORRISOME. MY SUSPENSION AND TIERODS AND SUCH ARE LIKE NEW TIGHT. NO PLAY ANYWHERE. JUST LOOKING AT THE PANHARD TRACK BAR MAKES ME FILL LIKE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR UNEVEN ON SAY RIGHT TIRN, IT'S UPWARD MOVEMENT IS PULLING LEFT TIRE. SORRY ABOUT THE RANT..SO JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT,, MY QUESTION. WHEN YOU SAY IT RIDES BETTER ON THE HIGHWAY, DO YOU MEAN LESS TWITCHY.??

My Jeep feels like driving a fork lift. I bought it new in 1996 i thought it would loosen up by now. No it still hard ride and I took them off when I put my shackle lift on and put them back on. I could have left them off and have a softer ride....DAMN!!!

i took the plunge and finally took off the front track bar on my 93 yj still have taken the back off yet but ill get to it in future

Great video! Love the channel, I have a 92 YJ with a 2in and 31". Doing this would be completely ok if I only daily drive it??

I’m doing this for sure I like easy mods especially the ones you don’t have to pay out of pocket for lol 😂

Been jeeping since about 75. None of my old jeeps had track bars or sway bars. When I got a 93 YJ, that crap went real quick. Have to admit the sway bar took a little longer. Have the quick disconnect but is a pain in the ass. Must be on level ground. So the sway bar is now held up by zip ties.. The lift I have is very stiff and don't notice sway in It.

Yea I ditched mine right after I put my 4" lift on and never looked back. I also ditched my sway bar up front as well. It rides so much smother. Love the videos. Keep them coming. Check out my build zombicon 13.

I must say that I have subscribed and watched this video three times. Best explanation on this topic I have found. Question, do you think that with a lift the center of gravity or top heaviness would effect cornering? I have a six inch lift and am considering taking out the track bars. Thoughts? Great Video.

My first experience with that rear track bar was trying to put new exhaust up in there. After trying to break those bolt, I finially gave up and sawed the rear hanger off the exhaust. Could get it in then and reweld the hanger on with it in that rear hanger first and then to the pipe. If and when I decide to remover the rear track, think I will just take the reciprocating saw and cut the pipe just before the bolts. My concern if just how much the state inspector man here in VA might flip out. On these old 4X4, they really look under them even for rusty frames.

It works alot better!!! Rides better and I would say its safer.

Hey. I'm going to replace my shekels (stock currently) and shocks soon... I hope. Should I do that first before removing trac bars or just hold off and do first things first.? It drives like a brick and bouenced me to the moon over bumps and want a better ride. I don't rock crawl and it's a daily driver for the most part. 92 Sahara

I have been trying to figure out how to make my YJ ride smoother. I recently put new leaf springs, shackles & shocks on it & it is a rough riding son of a gun! Looks like this is my next project. I hope it helps cuz I'm getting too old to take this abuse! 😂

Nice vid great to have u back. What about them sway bars.

I did exactly the same and it made a significant differnce to the ride, comfort (LOL) and physical control of my wifes YJ - research this and look at why Jeep installed these massive track bars to elliviate a public concern that was unjustified.

Ok I'm going to try this. I added a 2.5" suspension lift (new springs with an increased arc). It rides like a buckboard. I added a corbeau suspension seat which helped, but it's not fun. I installed the sway bar disconnects already too but haven't tried them out yet. I even added the track bars extensions front and rear to keep the diff centered. I only plan on trail driving, not Moab rock crawling so I want this riding as soft and smooth as possible. I'm doing this. Next is better shocks. I'm disconnecting the shocks as a test to see how soft I can get it, then ordering properly valved shocks. I'll let you know my results.

I've watched this video twice now, a year apart. Still haven't taken my track bars off. but I think it's a good idea to. I think my YJ handles well on road as it is, but it rides poorly. It's only four bolts, and I've swapped the axels so I know 2 will come out. Maybe its time I try it with no track bars.

You should take the sway bar off, i did to mine and i have way more flex and a smother ride too!

At 21:38 as you shook the Jeep the wheel turned a little, emergency brake not set?

I removed my rear track bar as you suggested. I haven’t had the time to drive it much to decide if that works for me. My question is my front suspension has a sway bar and a track bar. If I go off roading or go into deep snow, would I need to disengage both or what? My jeep is street driven a lot. Great Videos!!

I know this is an old video, but I just put a 4 in lift on my 91 YJ. I did away with my track bar as well. My question is, do I need to replace my pitman arm? I have clearance on the ground and at full lock, but everywhere I look some people say yes replace it and others say it doesn't need to be replaced.

Hey Chuck, what tire size are you running in this vid? My YJ is out for new shocks and leafsprings and as it returns I am deleting the trackbars

My father and I just put a lift kit on his YJ and the track bars were giving us problems. We removed them and came to the realization... Why did this vehicle even have these when it has leaf-springs? We're not even going to bother getting longer ones for the lift, just keep the old ones out.

Have you experienced changing a 4cyl engine with a 6cyl on a yj? I have a 4 banger and it just isn't enough for me.

New to YJ's here, you mentioned S-10 leaf springs, what years do you use, do they require mods to install? and do they carry more weight than the stock springs? Thanks

Track bar in the back makes no sense. But the one in the front i wonder about. Does it cause extra stress on the steering box mount?

So what use have you found for them once removed? Anything interesting?

I'm not planning on climbing just driving. What was Chrysler s reason for these? Could something else wear without these?

How do you explain the body being crooked and the steering wheel being turned to the right after taking the front and rear off?

I think the track bar should help limit lateral frame swaying on turns, even more excessive on a lift kit?

Quick question kinda off topic, is there a cold air intake that could be added to a 89 yj???

Do you have to run away bars if you do this? My 92 I bought doesnt have them the PO took them off.

I’m taking mine off in the spring

old video but i have a 1991 jeep wrangler 4.0 and its lifted 4 inches on 33" tires. It rides ROUGH to say the least. How much of a difference would you think ill feel if i take these off. I practically jump out of my seat if i drive over a penny...

This may have nothing to do with my trac bar being on but I bought a 90 just from my buddy with a 4 inch lift and 33 muds and I have had it for 6 months and I have had 4 rear u joints pop on me I do have the yoke slip eliminator. Could having my trac bar have anything to do with that

I have a question for you, my YJ is a 91 and its kinda weird because my leaf springs in front will move side to side... When facing the jeep I noticed one day when I took a photo and my leaf spring was angled to the left side, then the next time I took a photo it was angled to the right side. What would cause the leaf spring to move side to side just a bit to be noticeable? My YJ has a 3" body lift and a front shackle that looks extended a bit for height... I get a slight wheel wobble when braking from a high speed... Any help would be great... Thanks a ton

can you do an under the hood video for the newbies just to show what parts are ?

Awesome video and your descriptions, detail and demeanor is far better than mine when I get onto this trac bar issue with people. (Have NO PATIENCE for dumb people) Gonna copy and save this one to post every time the issue comes up and shut this issue down once and for all. One of many moronic solutions the hacks at NHTSA have come up with over the decades! Often wonder if any one of the morons there ever took a single day of engineering classes or have ever worked on any vehicle... Or let alone a dang 10 speed bike!

I'm going to do that

With all stock suspension will this make any difference? I've only heard of people with a lift actually doing this, although most people put a lift on their YJ haha

I have a 4 1/2 lift on my yj and it’s all over the road will this help that

I got rid of track bars and sway bar with no problems (4 inch lift).

Does the Jeep need to be raised up to take the truck bars out?

You should really consider sway bar disconnects too. My competition YJ I completely remove the sway bars. My street YJ I use the disconnects and get the best of both worlds. Check out JKS for those.

I know this was posted forever ago, but I ran across this today while working on a death wobble situation. I have an 88 Wrangler YJ with 4.5" lift. It does have a pretty big pitman arm drop to compensate. I've replaced the tie rod, drag link, all four ball joints and both front wheel bearings/hubs. It drove fine for one trip then on the way home I started getting the death wobble again when I hit bumps generally below 40mph. I had my wife turn the steering wheel while I went over all the parts and noticed that the track bar bushings and the extended bracket for the track bar on the axle moved about 1/4" when she moved the wheel. I realized that that bracket used to come loose on me and would cause this death wobble when I first put the lift on. Do you think remove the bar all together would eliiminate that or make it worse? I'm wondering if the bar being loose but still attached could cause the axle to just ping pong back and forth. Eitehr way, thanks for the video and I may pull it off just to see. The wobble is very easy to reproduce.

Im installing a 4" lift on mine this weekend, i know whats NOT going back on my jeep 😂

Hey chuck what kind of tires do you have on your yj?

Hey there! Love your videos- they’ve helped me a ton. What are your thoughts on sway bar removal? Broke my front track bar off on a trail but had plans to remove those anyways. I also lost a bolt on my sway bar, debating just removing the sway bar? Got a 4.5” lift on 33s

Thanks for the video! Keeping the trials and tribulations real... My one question, did taking rear track bar off cause your parking brake cable to max stretch? That's the only reason I'm keeping my rears on. Looking forward to your next video!👍🏻

I have a 2 1/2 in lift can I remove the track bar and still be good

Good video!!!!!

I'm so scared....just can't do this..but... My yj drives like a log truck.. horrible suspension...bang bang bang...and I have had a professional lift and new shocks..4Wheel Drive in Vegas...damn I want to do this..!

Thanks for this video. I will be removing mine very soon. Hope I dont have to cut and grind and cuss, so much lol

Got a 1990 yj would it mess anything up if i daily drive with the track bar and sway bar off and i only off road it acupal times a month

Instead of grinding the bolt head off you should have tried heating the bolt with a torch.

Track bars on a leaf sprung vehicle make no sense.

Get rid of that sway bar too. I run no track or sway bars on my YJ for a long time. No problems.

Do you think having a lift would make a difference as far as safety goes? I'm still a little worried about body roll. I have an older four inch lift kit.

i only have my front track bar but not the rear i don't need it

Is the track bar the same as the pan hard?

You just passed my house in this video didnt think you were that close

GOOD TIP

I cut mine off with a harbor freight reciprocating saw

P.B. Blaster is your friend...

Just watch yourself if those leaf spring bushings go you will get death wobble with track bar removed. Mine didn't start until I ran 33" wheels, no track bars, no sway bars & then over time leaf spring bushings wore down... Buying new lift kit so all new leafs and bushings soon.

Hey Power Addicts...why didn't you just cut the whole bracket off in the back. Great vid though. Going to do this to mine.