2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission After market Trac bar

[b1 det]

You know what everyone says about opinions but I am in the market and cant seem to find much info so lets here it pro & con any insight is appreciated.

 

[JKinney]

You have two choices a 3rd gen track bar conversion, or a thuren track bar. Do some searching on this site, you will find enough info to read all night.

 

[JMcCoy]

I don't know much about your vehicle. I have a 3rd gen track bar in my '98 4x4. It is the best mod along with the steering box support. DO IT!!! You'll thank yourself.

 

[Curious Dave]

I am taking off a 3rd Gen track bar and puting on a 3rd Gen Thuren Solid bar. If your interested in the bar let me know. It needs a new bushing and you will need the adapter bracket.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

DiPricol Gauges for the DSS trac bar.

some like BD products. they have a trac bar.



loved my DSS untill I lifted the truck now I have

DT PRODUCTS love it.



there is also a thuren. never used this bar. I still have mine as well the dss 3rd gen coversion trac bar in my shop. sell it cheap to get rid of it.



any of these bars are great and will last along time plus all are rebuildable on the bushings or heim joints

 

[WilsonF]

Actuality there are more than two choices. You can use your old track bar, if it not a moog, and get a Luke's Link. If had one on my truck for about three years now and still haven't needed to adjust it.

You need to let us know what truck you have, makes things easier.



Floyd

 

[Missouri Mule]

Thuren Fabrication-products

 

[SMorneau]

This has been working for me since 1998. Inexpensive and easy to install.

Lindstad track-bar adjustable-end repair kit for 4x4's correcting steering problems for a fraction of the price.

The only downside I am aware of is possible interference with front differential cover. I think that may happen with the Lukes link as well.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

yes lukes link is a choice may have went there. but alot of times I have seen not just the end of the bar but the bar it self bent. so lukes link wont fix this. aftermarket companies that made a bigger stronger bar plus adjustability for centering your axle. pending what you want bushing or heims plus if your truck is lifted and how much of a lift. not going to down talk anyones bar or what works for them. just can talk of my past use.

 

[Arctic Taco]

Rare parts makes a decent one but I only have about 3000 on it so far, adjustable

rareparts.com



So far so good

 

[Tinman]

I have the RareParts bar and it is a good unit at a good price. It appears to be the same unit KORE uses. I'm not a fan of KORE anymore, but the products are of good quality. If they use the same supplier, it ought to be good. Time will tell. I had a Luke's Link for >100K but it ultimately stopped working. There got to be too much wear in the ball joint itself and I couldn't tighten it out. Plus, sometimes the Link will touch the diff. cover at full compression. I had this but it wasn't an issue. You absolutely can't go wrong with anything from Don Thuren. All are good choice. The 3rd gen conversion is a great and more expensive option.

 

[SDrake]

I have a pre 2/7/94 truck and it has a smaller ball stud on the end that attaches to the frame. RareParts does not have this particular part as is the case for some others after market suppliers also. Dodge wants enough money to rebuild an entire front on on the later trucks for this part. I wore out a replacement bar back in 96 with less than 60,000 miles of use (about the same as the original) so I went with Lukes link. It has lasted about 150,000 miles but now the ball socket is too worn to be able to adjust the play out.



I would like to drill out the attachment hole on the frame, --- the conical attachment hole for the track bar. I recall seing somewhere that the pre 2/7/94 has a 5/8 hole and the newer trucks have a 3/4 or 7/8 ( i don't recall exactly). Some of you machinist types, --- can you guide me into modifying my hole so the readily available track bars will fit? Where would I find a bit or connical shaped die grinder of the proper angle or whatever? All the front end shops look at me like i am some kind of idiot for asking? If they can't fix it, I have a stupid problem kind of attitude.



Sorry for perhaps hijacking a thread but wanted to engage trackbar knowledgable guys in this where I can get some sympathy at least. I have hunted for a solution for years now, just looking in the wrong places I guess.

 

[Mr. Ken]

I have the DSS 3rd gen trackbar, and the bracket. I needed to drill the hole on the frame that you mentioned, so the bracket could attach as the hole was to small for the bolts. Also have the sterring stablizer, works good too. No problems, and I like what I have

 

[SDrake]

Lukes Link update

I have been researching what to do about my trackbar since the lukes Link started running out of adjustment. I just assumed when I read some other posts where this had occurred that that was the end of the line for my track bar.



I was about to opt for spending big bucks for an after market conversion since Lukes Link will not work on most after market replacement bars, especially Moog, but I decided to call Luke's link, --- contact info on his website, --- and lo and behold, he informs me that the bar is still usable and that he will mail me out free of charge replacement guts for the lukes link. He says it is exteremely rare for a bar to be beyond salvaging. He guarantees the Link for the life of the truck so the parts are free to me this go around. He just took my word that I owned a Lukes link.



HISTORY: -- After my second replacement bar with short life I went to Luke Link at around 120K miles. Over the next 150k miles I adjused it two or three times, a very easy proceedure. It is now loose and has been noticibly so for perhaps 10K. Story is that the Lukes Link works.



You guys with the oversize tires and bad roads will probably have a different experience but for my on the road in Ky and Alabama truck with standard tires, Luke's link has been a Godsend.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

iirc, I got a NAPA bar for my '97 at reasonable cost and it had a lifetime warranty.

 

[SDrake]

Any guidance on reaming from a 5/8 taper to a 3/4 taper so my truck will acept the post 2/7/94 to 2002 trackbar? I think I can get a reemer for under $100 but have had no experience. Don't want to risk removing metal from my trackbar attachment hole until I feel like I know what I am getting into. I would be guiding it by hand. Could really make a mess. I would then be forced to spend the bigger bucks for the upgrades such as Thuren's.