2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2001 Track Bar

[scourcy]

TRACK BAR QUESTION FOR 2001 3/4 TON FWD 24 VALVE. NEED TO REPLACE THE TRACK BAR. ANY SPECIAL CONCERNS OR CAUTIONS?. TRUCK HAS 52 THOUSAND AND TRACK BAR IS SHOT. ALSO DOES THE TRUCK NEED TO BE ALIGNED AFTER IT IS CHANGED?. :{

 

[pcarlson]

Do yourself a favor and get a track bar that lasts. Try a Luke's Link or DT Track Bar or one from Lindstat's. These are adjustable for wear and should last the life of the truck. I have the Luke's link and it is a really slick setup and the front is really tight now. All of the others will do the same.



The bolt to the axle will be a tough one to get out as it is locktight'd on, atleast mine was and that was the hardest part of the process. Us a pickle fork to get the tie-rod end out of the frame, I didn't have one so I used a breaker bar against the frame and the track bar and it popped right out. If you pound it out from the top be carefull not to ruin the treads on the track bar if you plan on going with a Luke's Link that is.



Use locktight on the nut going back to axle and the track bar when you reinstall and torque all your nuts to specs, 130 ft lbs to the axle bolt and 70 ft lbs for the ball end.



An alignment is not required unless you need one anyway. Good luck.

 

[scourcy]

THANKS FOR THE REPLY. I HAVE A TRACK BAR FROM NAPA,(LIFETIME WARRANTY) DID CONSIDER THE LUKES LINK HOWEVER IF PARTS ARE BEYOND USEABLE LIMITS YOU NEED A NEW TRACK BAR AGAIN. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE FRONT END SHIFTING AND THE ALIGNMENT. I HOPE THE NEW TRACK BAR FROM NAPA IS HIGH QUALITY. NOT THAT THIS LOOKS BAD TO CHANGE BUT IT IS JUST ANOTHER THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE INFORMATION.

 

[NVR FNSH]

scourcy,

Please turn off the caps lock. It's difficult to read and is considered to be the equivalent of yelling.



Brian

 

[satmike]

Is the slop that everyone talks about when the tie rod end at the end of the track bar moves up and down 1/2" ?

Thanks Mike

 

[illflem]

Mike, the bar is shot if the ball end moves just a few hundreths of an inch.

 

[scourcy]

track bar 2001

did not mean to yell at anyone, it was the keyboard. and even if i was at least it is soft on the ears!. the track bar is changed and all is well. did not have to jack the truck at all and it took about 45 min from start to stop. per the maint manual if the track bar has 80 thou or more of movement it is bad. the old one had much more that that. thanks for the help with this.