Rough Country 7572 vs RockJock CE-9120TJS: TJ adjustable front track bar
Published 10 September 2026
At a glance
| Rough Country 7572 | RockJock CE-9120TJS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fitment | 1997-2006 TJ, 2004-2006 LJ, 4WD; also 1984-2001 XJ | All TJ and LJ; also XJ and MJ |
| Lift range | 1.5 to 4.5 in. recommended | 2 in. minimum recommended; no maximum published |
| Tube | 1.25 in. OD x 0.25 in. wall (material not published) | 1.25 in. OD x 0.250 in. wall 4130 chromoly |
| Frame end | Tie-rod end, factory tapered mount | Narrow-body Johnny Joint, offset, gusseted, 5/8 in. bolt |
| Axle end | OEM-style rubber bushing | Forged chromoly narrow Johnny Joint, 1/2 in. bolt |
| Length | Starting lengths 31.312 to 31.940 in.; full range not published | 31.562 to 33.500 in. |
| Drilling | None | Frame bracket to 5/8 in.; axle bracket to 1/2 in. |
| Install time | 2-3 hours | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Warranty | Lifetime on hard parts; 1 year on bushings and ball joints | 2 years from delivery |
| Price | $129.95 MAP as of September 2026 | $466.00 on rockjock4x4.com, September 2026 |
What each part is, and what it fixes on a TJ
The front track bar keeps a TJ's axle from sliding side to side. It runs from the driver-side frame rail to the passenger side of the axle. When a lift raises the Jeep, the fixed-length factory bar pulls the axle off center.
An adjustable track bar fixes that by letting you set its length. Our guide to what a lift breaks explains why this is the first part to buy with a lift. Both of these bars do the job, and they differ in almost everything else.
Rough Country 7572 keeps the factory layout. A rubber-bushed eye bolts to the axle, and a tie-rod end drops into the factory tapered hole at the frame. You adjust it by turning the tie-rod end.
RockJock CE-9120TJS puts a Johnny Joint at each end. That is Currie's greasable, rebuildable pivot. The frame-end joint is offset and gusseted to the bar, and RockJock bends the tube to push it forward for "maximum clearance between large differentials and the bar itself."
Fitment, side by side
| Vehicle | RC 7572 | RockJock CE-9120TJS |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-2006 TJ (SE, Sport, Sahara, X, Rubicon, 65th Anniversary) | Yes, 4WD | Yes, all models |
| 2004-2006 LJ (Unlimited, Unlimited Rubicon) | Yes | Yes, all models |
| XJ Cherokee | 1984-2001 | All models |
| MJ Comanche | Not listed | All models |
| Lift height | 1.5 to 4.5 in. | 2 in. and up |
| Under 2 in. of lift | Rated from 1.5 in. | Dana 30: minimal testing. Dana 44, Dana 60, 9 in. Ford: likely clearance issues |
RockJock's only caution is lift height. Below 2 in., check your front axle model before you order. Rough Country publishes no exclusions for any TJ trim, and it covers the 1.5 in. lifts that RockJock does not recommend.
Specs and construction
| RC 7572 | RockJock CE-9120TJS | |
|---|---|---|
| Tube | 1.25 in. x 0.25 in. wall, alloy not published | 1 1/4 in. x 0.250 in. wall 4130 chromoly |
| Frame joint | Tie-rod end, "larger" than factory | Narrow-body Johnny Joint, offset, gusseted |
| Axle joint | Rubber bushing | Forged chromoly narrow Johnny Joint |
| Grease | Not stated | Zerk fittings at both ends |
| Adjuster | Threaded tie-rod end, jam nut | 1 in.-14 RH threads; jam nut takes a 1 1/2 in. wrench |
| Length range | Not published | 31.562 to 33.500 in. (1.938 in. of travel) |
| Finish | Black (type not published) | Semi-gloss black powder coat; gold zinc adjuster |
| Weight | 10 lb (catalog) | Not published |
| Rebuild parts | None listed | Rebuild kits CE-9112NRK and CE-9110NRK, sold separately |
The tubes are the same size. RockJock names the alloy, 4130 chromoly, and Rough Country does not. So the construction difference is in the steel grade and the ends, not the tube's dimensions.
The RockJock bar is a serviceable part. Its maker page lists the bar body, adjuster, jam nut, two rebuild kits and the grease it calls for, each by part number. Rough Country lists no service parts for the 7572.
What's in the box
| RC 7572 | RockJock CE-9120TJS (install sheet) |
|---|---|
| Adjustable track bar | Trac bar assembly |
| No parts list printed; factory hardware reused at both ends | 5/8 in. x 5 in. bolt and 5/8 in.-18 stover nut |
| CE-9120W trac bar washer (machined, 0.200 in. thick) | |
| 1/2 in.-20 x 2 3/4 in. bolt, 1/2 in. flat washer, CE-9120NP nut plate |
RockJock's product page also lists two rubber washers for the outboard side of the differential end. They are not in the install sheet's kit list, so check for them when you open the box.
Install compared
Rough Country's install is bolt-in. You set a starting length, bolt the bar in on factory hardware at ride height and plumb-bob the axle to center. Rough Country quotes 2-3 hours and a 75 ft-lb jam nut.
RockJock's install is a drilling job at both ends. The driver-side frame bracket is drilled to 5/8 in. and the axle bracket to 1/2 in. In some cases you also open up the access hole under the axle bracket to get the factory nut plate out.
After that you center the axle, measuring from the side of each sway bar link to the wheel lip, with a ratchet strap if needed. The 5/8 in. frame bolt goes to 125 ft-lb and the 1/2 in. housing bolt to 75 ft-lb. RockJock gives no number for the jam nut beyond "really, really tight".
| RC 7572 | RockJock CE-9120TJS | |
|---|---|---|
| Stated time | 2-3 hours | Not published by RockJock (a retailer says about 2 hours) |
| Drilling | None | 5/8 in. frame bracket; 1/2 in. axle bracket |
| Centering check | Plumb bob, coil hat to brake caliper | Sway bar link to wheel lip |
| Torque | Jam nut 75 ft-lb | Frame bolt 125 ft-lb; housing bolt 75 ft-lb |
| Grease | None called for | Both zerks, non-synthetic high-moly grease |
| Re-torque | After 500 miles | Not published |
What it changes on the Jeep, and what else you'll need
Both bars center the axle. Neither is a drop bracket, and neither install sheet mentions one. The track bar and drag link still sit at different angles after a lift.
That angle mismatch is what lets joint play grow into death wobble. Our death wobble guide checks the track bar and its frame bracket first, because the bracket's tapered hole wears oval.
The two bars treat that hole differently. Rough Country drops a new stud into the old taper.
RockJock drills the hole out for a 5/8 in. bolt, which puts fresh metal against a new fastener. That is our reading of the two install sheets, not a claim either maker makes.
The RockJock bar also asks for routine grease at two zerks. Skip it and the joints wear faster. The rest of the supporting list is the usual one for a lifted TJ: caster, bump stops, brake lines and sway bar links.
Warranty and support
RockJock: "all items manufactured by RockJock to be free from defects in materials and workmanship" for 2 years from the delivery date on the invoice. It covers the original buyer with proof of purchase. Abuse, alteration, incorrect installation and competition use are excluded, and you pay freight both ways on a claim.
Rough Country: its warranty page offers a "Lifetime Replacement Warranty on most suspension products". Hard components get lifetime cover against welds, cracks and breakage. "Bushings, Ball Joints, Etc" get 1 year, and so do paint and finishes.
The page does not name track bars. We read the tube as a hard component and the bushing and tie-rod end as 1-year wear items. On paper that is still a longer promise on the bar itself than RockJock's 2 years.
Owner reports
Owner reports, not specs. ExtremeTerrain's CE-9120TJS listing shows 5.0 stars from 7 reviews. That is a retailer average, not a durability test, and the review text was not available to us.
We found no published owner reports for the Rough Country 7572 in this research pass. The Rough Country site blocked automated access, and Reddit and WranglerForum searches were not reachable.
Who should buy which
Buy the Rough Country 7572 for a daily driver or mild trail TJ with 1.5 to 4.5 in. of lift. It needs no drill, it costs $336.05 less, and its hard-parts warranty runs longer.
Buy the RockJock CE-9120TJS if the Jeep sees hard trail use. You get chromoly, a greasable joint at both ends that you can rebuild, a published length range and extra differential clearance. You also give up the bolt-in install.
Overall winner for a trail-first TJ: RockJock. For the street, a mild lift or a tight budget, the Rough Country does the centering job for a fraction of the price.
FAQ
Is the RockJock CE-9120TJS the same as the Currie Johnny Joint track bar?
Yes. RockJock sells it as CE-9120TJS, and many retailers still list it as the Currie Enterprises Johnny Joint adjustable front trac bar for the TJ, LJ, XJ and MJ.
How much drilling does the RockJock need?
Two holes. The driver-side frame bracket is drilled to 5/8 in. and the axle bracket to 1/2 in. to take the heavier supplied bolts. Sometimes the access hole under the axle bracket also has to be opened up to get the factory nut plate out.
Can I run the RockJock bar on a TJ with less than 2 in. of lift?
RockJock recommends at least 2 in. It says it has done minimal testing below that with a Dana 30, and expects clearance issues below 2 in. with a Dana 44, Dana 60 or 9 in. Ford. The Rough Country 7572 is rated from 1.5 in.
Which has the longer warranty?
Rough Country, for the bar itself. Its page gives hard suspension components a lifetime replacement warranty, but bushings and ball joints get 1 year. RockJock covers everything it makes for 2 years from delivery.
Sources
- Rough Country 7572 install instructions, 97-06 Jeep TJ Adjustable Track Rod Kit (PDF)
- Rough Country 7572 product page (blocked to automated access on 10 September 2026)
- Rough Country Lifetime Replacement Warranty page (Wayback capture, 12 July 2026)
- RockJock CE-9120TJS product page
- RockJock CE-9120TJS install instructions (PDF)
- RockJock warranty
- ExtremeTerrain: RockJock CE-9120TJS listing