Rough Country 1015 vs JKS 2942: TJ rear sway bar links
Published 10 September 2026
At a glance
| Rough Country 1015 | JKS 2942 | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Rear | Rear |
| Type | Fixed length | Adjustable length |
| Lift range | 4 to 6 in. only | 2.5 to 6 in. |
| Vehicles | 1997-2006 TJ, 2004-2006 LJ, 4WD | 1997-2006 TJ and LJ |
| Length | 10 in. center to center (Quadratec answer) | 7 to 10-1/2 in. (install sheet) |
| Finish | Black powder coat, steel | Zinc plated |
| Bushings | Not published | 1/2 in. poly hourglass |
| Install | Bolt-on, 2-3 hours (Rough Country) | Bolt-on at 4-6 in.; rod cutting below 4 in. |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | Lifetime, bushings included |
| Price | $39.95 MAP as of September 2026 | $79.95 on jksmfg.com, September 2026 |
What each part is, and the problem it solves
On a TJ the rear sway bar rides on the axle. Two end links run from the bar's arms up to brackets on the frame. Lift the Jeep and that gap grows, but the stock links stay the same length.
The result is a bar that sits at the wrong angle. JKS puts the goal plainly in its install sheet: the bar's arms work best when they sit close to parallel with the lower rear control arms. JKS also says a correct link keeps the bar from hitting the axle housing at full droop.
Rough Country 1015 answers that with one fixed length for 4 to 6 in. of lift. Its feed says it only fits in that band. Quadratec staff give its length as 10 in. center eye to center eye.
JKS 2942 answers it with a threaded rod and two eyelets. You set the length for your lift, from 7 to 10-1/2 in., and JKS prints a recommended length for each lift band.
A note on part 1028. Rough Country also sells 1028, which looks like a sibling. It is not another length of this link. Its install sheet calls it a front TJ and XJ link, with a bent link and a U-shaped bracket bolted to the front bar, for 4 to 5 in. of lift.
Fitment, side by side
Rough Country 1015
| Item | Rough Country 1015 |
|---|---|
| Years and models | 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ; 2004-2006 Wrangler Unlimited (LJ) |
| Trims in the fitment data | SE, Sport, Sahara, X, Rubicon, Unlimited, Unlimited Rubicon, 65th Anniversary Edition |
| Drivetrain | 4WD |
| Lift | "ONLY fits models with 4in - 6in of suspension lift" |
| Will not fit | Anything under 4 in. or over 6 in. of lift |
JKS 2942
| Item | JKS 2942 |
|---|---|
| Years and models | 1997-2006 Wrangler TJ and LJ |
| Trims listed by JKS | Base, SE, Sport, Sahara, X, Rubicon, Unlimited, Unlimited Rubicon, 65th Anniversary Edition |
| Drivetrain | 4WD |
| Lift | 2.5 to 6 in. |
| Will not fit | Aftermarket sway bars. JKS says to use it with the factory bar only. |
| May also need | "Although rare, some TJs with 4-6" of lift" may need JKS OGS915, a weld-on mount |
Rough Country's fitment data skips a 2005-2006 Sahara row. Nothing in its notes excludes that trim, so treat it as a gap in the data rather than a real exclusion.
Specs and construction
| Spec | Rough Country 1015 | JKS 2942 |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Steel | Steel rod and eyelets, zinc plated; rolled threads (Quadratec) |
| Length | 10 in. center to center (Quadratec staff answer) | 7 to 10-1/2 in. per the install sheet; 10-1/2 in. recommended at 4-6 in. |
| Bushings | Not published | 1/2 in. poly hourglass, four |
| Finish | Black powder coat | Zinc plating |
| Weight | 4 lb (Rough Country feed, packaged) | 2.6 lb (jksmfg.com) |
| Country of origin | US (Rough Country feed) | US (SEMA data); JKS lists a Coldwater, Michigan address |
The two sources for the JKS length disagree. The product page says 8.75 to 10.5 in., while the install sheet says 7 to 10-1/2 in. The install sheet is the more detailed document, so we use it.
JKS makes the 2942, and the same part is sold on the Zone Offroad site under Zone's warranty. SEMA data lists it under BDS Suspension. Those brands share a catalog, which matters if you are comparing across them.
What's in the box
Rough Country 1015: a pair of rear links and installation hardware, per Quadratec and ExtremeTerrain. We could not find a Rough Country install sheet for this part, so the full hardware list is not published.
JKS 2942: the install sheet lists two connecting rods, four 1/2 in. jam nuts, four bushing eyelets and four 1/2 in. poly hourglass bushings. You reuse the factory mounting hardware. The product page says bushings are not included, which contradicts JKS's own sheet and Quadratec's listing.
Install compared
Both parts replace the factory links at the same two mounting points. Neither needs drilling or welding in the normal case. The work diverges on length.
The Rough Country link goes in at its one length. Rough Country's feed quotes 2 to 3 hours, and Quadratec rates it Level 2, intermediate. ExtremeTerrain says about 30 minutes, which is a big spread.
The JKS install sheet adds a measuring step. You rotate the bar until the gap between the bar's mounting hole and the frame hole equals the recommended length, then thread the eyelets to match. JKS publishes no install time; Quadratec says less than an hour.
| Lift | JKS recommended length | Connecting rod length | Cutting? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 in. | 7 in. | 5-1/2 in. | Yes |
| 2-4 in. | 8-3/4 in. | 7-1/4 in. | Yes |
| 4-6 in. | 10-1/2 in. | 9 in. | No |
Below 4 in. you cut the same amount of thread off each end of the rod with a die grinder or saw. JKS then has you run the jam nuts off and back on to clean up the threads. Its tool list includes a torque wrench, a 3/4 in. open-end wrench, medium strength threadlocker and wheel bearing grease for the bushings.
Neither maker prints torque values for these links in any source we found. Use the factory service manual figures for the rear link fasteners.
What it changes on the Jeep, and what else you need
A correct rear link restores the bar's working angle after a lift. It does not add lift or change alignment. JKS's check is simple: cycle the bar and make sure its center never touches the axle housing.
The front needs its own links. A 4 in. lift stretches the front gap too. Rough Country's front answer is 1028, for 4 to 5 in. of lift. The lift follow-on parts list covers the rest.
Fixed or quick disconnect? On a TJ, the quick disconnects that JKS and Zone sell are front parts. JKS's own is the JKS2001, $176.95 on jksmfg.com, adjustable from 8 to 11.625 in. with quick-release pins. The rear usually keeps a fixed or adjustable link like the two here.
If you run 4 to 6 in. and the JKS still cannot reach a good bar angle, JKS names one more part. The OGS915 is a weld-on axle mount, $22.95 per side, that moves the bar mount 2 in. higher than stock.
Warranty and support
JKS offers a lifetime warranty to the original retail purchaser. It explicitly covers bushings and flex joints. It excludes modified parts, parts used outside their recommended application, and finish damage from tools, road debris, trail use, maintenance or salty and corrosive conditions. Labor and downtime are not covered.
Rough Country describes a limited lifetime replacement warranty against manufacturer defects, in its product copy as reproduced by retailers. We could not load Rough Country's own warranty page, so its exclusions are unverified here.
Owner reports
These are retailer reviews, not specs. One Quadratec reviewer of the Rough Country 1015 (John J., May 2022, 3 stars) said the kit was short on washers. He added that the old hardware could not be reused because the factory bolts and sleeves were too small for the new bushings.
Two Quadratec reviewers of the JKS 2942 (German P. and Jason P., October 2019, both 5 stars) called the install easy. ExtremeTerrain shows 4.8 stars from 24 reviews for the Rough Country and 4.9 stars from 12 for the JKS.
Who should buy which
Settled 4 to 6 in. lift, factory bar, tight budget: Rough Country 1015. It fits the same band for half the price. The trade is a thinner paper trail: no install sheet and no published bushing spec.
Lift between 2.5 and 4 in.: JKS 2942. The Rough Country part does not fit there at all.
Lift still changing, or you want the bar angle right rather than close: JKS 2942. You can reset it when the springs settle or the lift changes. The lifetime bushing coverage is the tie breaker.
Aftermarket rear sway bar: neither, as sold. JKS rules it out in writing. Rough Country sells the 1015 as a replacement for the stock links.
FAQ
Does the JKS 2942 need cutting on a TJ with 4 to 6 in. of lift?
No. The JKS install sheet says no cutting is required for 4 to 6 in. of suspension lift. Cutting the connecting rod is only for lifts under 4 in.
What length should the JKS 2942 be set to?
JKS recommends 7 in. for 0 to 2 in. of lift, 8-3/4 in. for 2 to 4 in. and 10-1/2 in. for 4 to 6 in., measured center to center of the bushings. Fine tune from there until the sway bar arms sit close to parallel with the lower rear control arms.
Is Rough Country 1015 the front or the rear link?
It is the rear link. Rough Country's front TJ link for a similar lift is a different part, 1028, which uses a bent link and a U-shaped bracket on the bar.
Will either link work with an aftermarket rear sway bar?
JKS says the 2942 is not compatible with aftermarket sway bars. Rough Country lists the 1015 as a replacement for the stock links and publishes no statement about aftermarket bars.
Sources
- Rough Country 1015 product page (blocked to automated fetches on 10 September 2026)
- Rough Country 1028 install sheet (front TJ/XJ links)
- JKS 2942 product page
- JKS 2942 install instructions (PDF)
- JKS OGS915 weld-on sway bar mount
- JKS2001 front quick disconnects
- JKS product warranty
- Quadratec: Rough Country 1015
- Quadratec: JKS 2942
- ExtremeTerrain: Rough Country 1015
- ExtremeTerrain: JKS 2942