When I started with my XJ I had a Rusty’s Off-Road Track bar which used a standard Tie Rod End that you could get off any auto parts store shelf. I found that setup just did not work well with an XJ over 3″ of lift as I was replacing Tie Rod Ends every 6-8 months, typically after a summer of wheeling trips.
Then I went to the Rubicon Express Track bar, RE1600 that utilizes a Rod End. Worked much better and only replaced the Rod End once in a little over a year of owning it. Couple weeks ago I came across some noise from my front end only to discover my OE track bar bracket had cracked and the bolt wobbled out.
Alright time to try something different I say and started to look around at all the many setups available. I had a wish list: I wanted it beefy, would use poly bushings that would be cheaper to replace than Rod Ends, or flex joints, and of course included a new double sheer bracket for the frame end.
I came across this company, Iron Rock Off Road. A fairly new company to me, I had not heard a whole lot about them, other than me searching on the net finding posts on some forums criticizing them for being so new and different. However they had some pretty interesting products on their web page for many a Jeep model, including a HD track bar for $189 for my XJ.
“Interesting” as I thought to myself, every company had a starting point sometime in there development right?
So I called them with some questions and after receiving a gentleman on the other end that was eager to answer all my questions and pointing out the track bar itself is a 1.25 SOLID bar (apparently I can not read or I need glasses as it is in the body of the text describing the product), but I was now very interested. Specially telling me it was in stock and could get to my door for $200–so I ordered it.
This was Tuesday, I received on Saturday, four days later on a weekend with no extra charges.
Sunday comes around and I gather my tools and my new assistant wrencher;
Took about half an hour to pull off my old RE1600 and frame bracket. Then pulled out the new Iron Rock Track Bar all the way from the package. I got to say it looked good, very well put together with a very clean cut fabricated bracket and nice clean welds on both items. The track bar was beefy, felt a lot heavier than my old Rubicon Express track bar. The adjustable frame side bushing I was also impressed with the amount of thread they give you for adjusting.
Took another half hour to bolt up and set the track. SEXY!!!
The Good: The price at $200 delivered to my door, in four days and on a Saturday. Who can complain about that? Compared to other brands out there, this one is beefier than others at the same price range. The customer service at Iron Rock Off Road was very pleasurable and was part of my decision to go with them. They offer a great guarantee on their product…………..so should I go purposely break it to test out the guarantee?
The Bad: Unlike my Re1600 there is no outward bend from the axle and I worry I am going to smack the front differential cover upon compression of the driver’s side tire. Awe shucks, I guess I have to go wheeling to test that out, huh?
The Ugly: Hmmm nothing really, how about the fact I get his bad boy on and haven’t had a chance to go wheeling yet? I guess also my head when I came up from installing this thing smacked it on my front hook off my winch. Hurt a lot, in fact in writing of this I remember the sheer pain that I felt upon hitting it, it is a psychological thing……………. or how about mom’s face when she saw how dirty and greasy my assistant wrencher was after helping me and explaining to her it is a: “Jeep thing”, she didn’t understand……………..
Just curious if you’ve wheeled and and had issues with the bar rubbing the front diff due to the bar not having the outward bend as you mentioned?