Modified XJ Cherokee Tech XJ (84-01)
All modified tech questions. If it modifies your XJ beyond stock parts ask it here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Sway bar hits

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-05-2015 | 04:46 PM
  #1  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default Sway bar hits

I put some extended links on finally after having my 3 inch lift for a while but now my sway bar hits the bumper tie in bolt head. Has anyone had this problem? Is there a wider sway bar I could use or something? Thanks in advance for all help
Attached Thumbnails Sway bar hits-photo762.jpg  
Old 10-05-2015 | 04:58 PM
  #2  
toasterknight's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 5
From: Oregon Coast
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Default

Mine is doing this same thing at stock height. I'm curious to see what solutions people have come up with.
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:02 PM
  #3  
peligro113's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 514
Likes: 15
From: South Georgia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
Default

What's the length of your sway bar link and what angle does your bar currently sit it?
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:07 PM
  #4  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

I'd say like 9* on the sway bar and the link is ~8 inches long
Attached Thumbnails Sway bar hits-photo185.jpg  
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:14 PM
  #5  
peligro113's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 514
Likes: 15
From: South Georgia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
Default

They should be around 15 degrees. Is the sway bar even on both sides? Maybe you can replace that bolt with a carriage type bolt, if you find the right grade bolt sae grade 8 or metric 10.9.
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:25 PM
  #6  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by peligro113
They should be around 15 degrees. Is the sway bar even on both sides? Maybe you can replace that bolt with a carriage type bolt, if you find the right grade bolt sae grade 8 or metric 10.9.
So it should be higher than it is now? And it's a round hole so I don't know how I'd get the carriage bolt to keep from spinning.
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:38 PM
  #7  
peligro113's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 514
Likes: 15
From: South Georgia
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
Default

how about something with an allen socket in a rounded head? I'm just trying to figure out something that will work

http://images1.mcmaster.com/mvA/cont...ver=1378284769

Last edited by peligro113; 10-05-2015 at 06:50 PM.
Old 10-05-2015 | 06:40 PM
  #8  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by peligro113
how about something with an allen socket in a rounded head? I'm just trying to figure out something that will work
I have never seen one that big, but I'm going to ace tomorrow so I guess I could look around and see what I could find. If I could find something like a wheel stud that would work great. Just put an impact on the other side and pull the splines into the bracket. Wouldn't stick out much.
Old 10-05-2015 | 07:32 PM
  #9  
Velcro's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

You might need an adjustable track bar. That one looks stock. Don't usually see this problem. I have a ton on room between my sway bar and the frame.

Depending on how big the hole is you could also run the bolt without a washer, shouldn't need one.
Old 10-05-2015 | 07:50 PM
  #10  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Velcro
You might need an adjustable track bar. That one looks stock. Don't usually see this problem. I have a ton on room between my sway bar and the frame.

Depending on how big the hole is you could also run the bolt without a washer, shouldn't need one.
Both sides hit. The tie in plate is like 3/16 or 1/4 and the bolt sticks out another 1/4ish so that's half an inch less room
Old 10-05-2015 | 08:06 PM
  #11  
Velcro's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I've got enough room to move my big hand around in there, probably about 2 inchs. I don't have bumper brackets, but there definitely should be room. Here is a picture sorry it's not the best.





A ZJ sway bar might be wider and I think will fit. A sway bar is a spring, kind of like a torsion bar. Try rotating your links around the other way and seeing if you can get them to fit that way, it should make a bit of room.
Old 10-05-2015 | 08:08 PM
  #12  
SteveMongr's Avatar
Beach Bum
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,123
Likes: 21
From: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Year: 2000 WJ
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

I used grade 8 carriage bolts.
Attached Images   

Last edited by SteveMongr; 10-05-2015 at 08:11 PM.
Old 10-05-2015 | 08:14 PM
  #13  
Velcro's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Velcro
I've got enough room to move my big hand around in there, probably about 2 inchs. I don't have bumper brackets, but there definitely should be room. Here is a picture sorry it's not the best.

Image



A ZJ sway bar might be wider and I think will fit. A sway bar is a spring, kind of like a torsion bar. Try rotating your links around the other way and seeing if you can get them to fit that way, it should make a bit of room.
Never mind don't think rotating the links will work. I'm pretty sure something is wrong with either the links or the sway bar or something set up weird. Maybe try going back to factory links and/or getting some sway bar drop brackets or making your own.
Old 10-05-2015 | 08:23 PM
  #14  
SatiricalHen's Avatar
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,920
Likes: 190
From: Greenville, SC
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by SteveMongr
I used grade 8 carriage bolts.
The only problem I see with this is I believe the hole is too big in the tie in to use a carriage bolt, you think if I used an impact to tighten the nut up maybe the friction would keep it from spinning?
Old 10-05-2015 | 08:25 PM
  #15  
toasterknight's Avatar
CF Veteran
 
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 5
From: Oregon Coast
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
Default

Originally Posted by Velcro
Never mind don't think rotating the links will work. I'm pretty sure something is wrong with either the links or the sway bar or something set up weird. Maybe try going back to factory links and/or getting some sway bar drop brackets or making your own.
There may not be anything wrong with your suspension as I'm stock and having the exact same problem on both sides.


Quick Reply: Sway bar hits



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:29 AM.