My Gibson cat-back exhaust is banging on a bar in the back

[BillDrake]

So, when I accelerate hard or turn sharp, the exhaust pipe just behind the gas tank/above the axle is hitting some metal arm thing. My 4X4 shop says they have to "notch" it because they can't move it forward. Won't this affect the no-kink piping and straight flow I paid so much for? Anyone else with this trouble? Any suggestions and/or solutions from the team out there? On the plus side, my jeep goes now with the bigger tires (only 30's--I have a 2.5 litre) and sounds great downshifting, a little bit a back-burble like the new mustang!

[Snitty]

ahh.. yes.. back-burble... we all love back-burble... i like your terminology there.

I don't really see mandrel kinkless piping to be really necessary in a jeep, but since you DID get it, great.

I'll ask, did THEY make the pipe or was it part of a kit? If they made it, they are responsible for making it clear and should have to reroute it so it does. If it is part of a kit, then you may just have to take a walk on the custom side

[nkdskls1978]

I had a clearance problem with a new exhaust I installed... new mounts were too long in the rear.... it would knock and rub on the TC skid plate... I just used a crowbar and pulled on it and bent it up enough to where it would not make contact.. no more noise

[hoobness]

why not remove the "metal arm thing" its probably the track bar. I had that problem too, worried about it until I read how many people (here) just remove it.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[BillDrake]

thanks for the idea, and you're right, as I read your message, it is the track bar my shop said as the problem, which I thought sounds kind of important? where can I read more about turfing the thing, anyway? also, what does it do? thanks again for the help!

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[Bounty__Hunter]

The rear track bar on a YJ keeps the rear axle from moving side to side. It's not real important as the leaf springs do a good job of locating the axle and the axle tracks relatively straight behind the solid spring hangers on the frame.

The front track bar is needed, as the axle tracks behind shackles, which introduce side to side movement.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[88Wrangles]

Ya, ditch that rear trac bar!!!


I could argue that the front trac bar is not really neccessary as well, but I won't...

[BillDrake]

But i have a tj?

[Green97TJ]

Yea thats what I was worried about... Im not sure, but I dont think its a good idea to totally remove the trackbar on a TJ.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.