2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Aluminum Track Bar?

[CSloat]

I just installed a DT products trackbar. The mounting bracket is a good design and very strong. The rod ends are steel, but the bar is made of aluminum. Do any of you think there is a strength issue here or is it ok for this application?



A little history:



My stock trackbar is shot, so I searched the fourms for more info. It seems like the DT bar is the best if you're not planning on using the mag-hytec diff cover. That won't be an issue for me since I've seen the cast aluminum covers shatter where a steel cover will take a hit with only a dent. I'll be useing the truck for occasional off road, but it only takes one misjudged rock.



It looked like the DT bar was the best and the only negative comments I found on the DT trackbar were about cover interference and one about the heim joint being too small. The heim joint does seem small, but I guess the though bolt is at least the same size as the stock ball joint.



I was really surprised to open the box and see the bar made out of aluminum. None of the other posts mentioned this and the DT website leaves that part out too.



They say: "It utilizes a high strength cromoly spherical rod end & durable urethane bushing set", but I guess that's just the ends!



Am I the only one who thinks a critical suspension part shouldn't be made of aluminum? Maybe I'm wrong about this, and if so I hope someone will set me straight (and make me feel better about the new trackbar on my truck in the process!)

 

[illflem]

I would think that aluminum wouldn't take the stress either. The stock bar is a pretty hefty piece of steel for a reason. It would seem that DT must have this figured out though or they wouldn't be selling them for long.

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Solid bar or tub?

CSloat,

Can you tell if the aluminum bar is a heavy wall tubing or solid aluminum? I would also have some concern... ... ... ... . Larry

 

[TomGolden]

Aluminum??????????



Mine is stainless steel, as they have all been up until recently apparently..... I bought mine in March 2002, but I know they were still using stainless steel for the rest of 2002.



Seems really odd that they might have suddenly changed to aluminum, but I suppose they can do whatever they want to with the products they make.....



I know by the weight alone that mine ain't aluminum, nor any sort of aluminum alloy.



Tom

 

[CSloat]

Tom,



Yeah, its definitly aluminum. I worked my way through school as a machininst and have gotten pretty good at identifying different metals.



I called DT and asked them how to tightne the thing since my wrench was rounding out the flats on the bar. DT told me "Just use large pair of channel locks, that's what we do. Some guys don't like the way it marks up the aluminum, but it won't hurt anything. You want that as tight as you can get it"



~Craig

 

[illflem]

Tom, you sure yours is stainless, that would surprise me more than aluminum. Easy way to tell, stainless won't attact a magnet.

 

[HillCountrykid]

I bought my DT a couple months ago. It is heavy wall aluminum. I think that it should be o. k. unless it takes a good hit and starts to bend. Then there's no stopping it with these heavy front ends. I was surprised too, but oh well. Chromoly would've been nice. Not a knock on their product though. I like it.



Brian

 

[TomGolden]

Originally posted by illflem

Tom, you sure yours is stainless, that would surprise me more than aluminum. Easy way to tell, stainless won't attact a magnet.

Well, I'll check it when I get a chance in the next couple days. It may not be 100% stainless, but I am 100% certain it ain't aluminum either. Maybe chromemoly or some other alloy... ... ???

 

[Red360]

DT Bar

Mine is aluminum and it was installed 2 years ago.

 

[krs]

Tom, Don't let the non-attraction to magnet make you believe that it's stainless - aluminum won't attract a magnet either.



Mine's aluminum and that ain't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Dheadington]

DT trackbar

mine is alum also. I installed it 2 yrs ago also. I will tell you if the locking nuts aren't as tight as you can get it you will pull the threads out that are threaded on inside of tube.

 

[RO'neal]

I don't know for sure what it's made of... when I bought it DT told me that it was stainless and a buddy said they told him it was polished aluminum... doesn't really matter to me. I doubt there are many people on this site that (for lack of a better word) abuse their truck to the point of bending the track bar. I've had mine for quite a while, I chose it because I offroad the truck. All of the guys I offroad with run the DT's as well and I've never seen anyone bend one, and I'm talking everything from trail blazin and mud boggin to rock crawlin. I have some marks on mine where I've banged it pretty good but that's it... . so I don't really think it's an issue.

 

[RO'neal]

CSloat-

Just sent you a PM... .

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Just a for what it's worth, there are several grades of stainless steel that will attract a magnet. You need to know the grade of stainless before a magnet will test of be of value. Larry

 

[illflem]

Larry, don't the grades of stainless that attact a magnet also rust?

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Illflem,

Yes, generally, the more magnetic stainless steels have less corrosion resistance. I think that 300 seris stainless is not magnetic but most of the 400 seris is magnetic. Using 440 stainless for example (knife blade), has very good corrosion resistance and is still magnetic. They use nickel and chromium to

change stainless steels. The 440 is high in chromium if I remember correctly. Larry

 

[TomGolden]

Well, I tried a simple magnet test last night, no attraction at all, which tells me not much of anything... ... I guess it really doesn't matter, as has already been said, this thing it all but indestructable, unless you go up against something a whole lot bigger than the Ram, and then the track bar is gonna be the least of your worries anyway.



Tom

 

[rcaldwell]

Yup it is Aluminum

Got a E-mail Back from DT today about what there track bar is made of. It is 6061 T6 ALUM By looking in some of my school books i found that this Aluminum has a tensile strength of 45ksi. This is just as good as most cast iron hope this helps.



Bob

 

[15w40]

Just as an FYI:



My machine handbook lists 6061 T6 aluminum alloy as:



Ultimate strength (where it breaks) as 45ksi

Yield strength (where it bends) as 40 ksi



4042 alloy steel, the type used for steering arms etc.



Ultimate strength as 143ksi

Yield strength as 128 ksi



In any case, either material should work well unless you run into something. If you off-road, steel would be my first choice.

 

[mediccummin]

Here it says something different

http://www.dtprofab.com/trac_bar_info.htm

Here it says it is made of cromoly. And it also states on another page it is all powdercoated. I am interested in one but just trying to gain more info. OOPs after reading it again it states a cromoly rod end, my fault. I still plan to get one. Does anybody have any experience with there extended links and dual shock mounts. Thanks... ... ...