I am putting on a RE 4 1/2 short arm kit on a 98 TJ and ran into yet another problem. I am doing the install without directions and took a guess at upper control arm length to point the pinion in the general direction of where the Atlas output should be. I am thinking it is probably a tad bit high right now but thats ok I can fine tune it later once the tc is in.

The problem now is getting the rear trackbar to line up on the same axis as the brackets to insert the bolts. Length is fine and everything lines up on the horizontal plane. I have the lower bolt in at the relocation bracket. It seems that if I rotated the pinion a little bit higher ( I am guessing 2-3 full turns on the upa's) the bolts should go in. I have tried turning the trackbar with a big pair of channellocks and come pretty close but my 4 year old (cheap help) isn't able to get the bolt in.

Adjusting the pinion to get it in isn't that big of a deal but once it's back in place the trackbar is going to be binding pretty bad.

any suggestions appreciated.

lightfoot

Stock trac-bar with relocation bracket??

If so I would get the RE rear bar and skip the bracket. Worked for me.
Nate

Yuppers........the stock track bar with the RE relocation bracket. Is the relocation bracket used with the RE adjustable trackbar?

lightfoot

When I went thru the same thing, I got a Terra adjustable bar (it was all that was available) and deep sixed the reloacation bracket. It's holding up fine with lots of hard wheeling.
Ron

REs catalog says to use the relocation braket but I didn't and unless you have 6+ inches of lift I cant see why you couldn't.
The stock bracket is known to rip off when you add the relocation bracket. That was my main reason for not using it. Figured I can get away with the stock bracket until the axle is toast.
Nate

How many deg is your pinion turned up right now. With a 4.5" lift with a dana 35 it should be around 25-30 deg, is what mine was set at with the teraflex 4" lift without the TC drop. I was running the stock track bar with the relocation bracket and it didn't bind up at all, what I did is put the track bar in first and then adjusted the lower control arms to set the pinion. This may be something to look into doing or going with the RE adjustible track bar.

Lightfoot, that's the kit I have, and there are no problems with the stock trackbar binding up. You might want to disconnect the upper arms at the axle and use a floor jack to tilt the pinion whichever way is needed to get the trackbar bolt in. Then worry about setting the pinion angle later on.

What welby said.

Get the trackbar in first and then work out the pinion angle. do the lower's first and measure the axle position fore/aft then set the uppers.

don't torque the control arm bolts until its on the ground and bouced around a few times.

I wish you the best of luck but:
No way was my stock bar even close to fitting with or with out the relocator.
If you have the pinion angled proper and the axle centered on on jack stands, the track bar should go on last without any binding. If you force it on you will be looking at binding during flex and probably cracked or broken brackets down the road. When you get this all done it might be smart to take out the springs and flex the axle every way possible to check for any problems.
Ron

Thanks for the feedback. Right now I have about a gazillion little projects going on with a new house (aka...longest lift install in history).

I have an Atlas sitting next to my jeep right now waiting for the end of the lift install, so I took a rough guess on the uca length for the pinion angle knowing damn well I was going to have to redo it later.

I think I will try unhooking the uca's to get the track bar in and take another temporary stab at the pinion angle. If that dosn't work then hello RE adjustable. I still need gears, lockers, drivelines and tires and the well is starting to dry up (ie...wife is starting to take notice LMAO).

lightfoot