2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Another track bar post

[jmeehan]

With 26K miles on the truck:

The week before I left on my trip I thought the truck was pulling to the right. I thought "track bar" but couldn't duplicate the problem all the time.

While heading through Canada, pulling nothing and only loaded with a canopy, on some of the winding roads I'd be on and off the throttle real heavy. Twice I felt the truck get a little squirlly on the suspension as the trucks weight shifted and I thought of the track bar again. Had my wife wiggle the steering wheel while I inspected everything and saw movement in the track bar joint, so I just installed a NAPA track bar in their parking lot.

The only thing I notice different so far is the steering wheel is even more off center then before. The joint on the new bar has about the same movement as the original.

I think I now have a good spare, but the test procedure on my new one indicates it's bad as well.

Has anyone installed a new track bar and not seen movement in the joint while testing?

 

[jmeehan]

TTT

 

[Pit Bull]

I would replace the front shocks with Bilsteins and add the DSS (Darins steering stabilizer) that everybody likes on this site. Go here https://www.turbodieselregister.com...id=64315&highlight=Darins+steering+stabilizer These two additions should tighten up your steering feel. The Bilsteins will cost you $100 for the two and the DSS will cost you $160. Both are well worth the $$$. Does not sound from your description that you had a bad track bar. How heavy is that custom front bumper? Do you have the snow plow option on your truck with the 046 and 047 springs? Hope this info helps. By the way the crooked steering wheel is because you had the steering wheel and the direction of the tires not in line when you changed the track bar. Had that happen on a 2000 3500 4x4 I had.

 

[jmeehan]

Pit Bull, thanks for the reply.



I don't have the snow plow option on my truck.



The bumper weighs around 100 lbs. When I bought it from John he said they were only slightly heavier then the factory units.



When you had the crooked steering wheel on the 3500 did you get the front end aligned? I know I could straighten the wheel out with the drag link adjustment, but I'm wondering if the truck is dog legging down the road now and wearing out my tires.



Thanks for the recomendations on shocks and the steering stabilizer, I have been considering both.

 

[Pit Bull]

Mine did not dog leg or wear the tires, steering wheel was just turned a little. I never fixed it. didn't bother me that much. I did add the DSS and the Bilsteins to my 2002 3500 4x4 within the first 3K miles. World of difference.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I want someone to make a bracket to put the 2003 track bar on my 2001 ram. The 2003 is a much better setup.



Gary

 

[PHuckleberry]

Mine had the same symptoms but was worse when towing with the 5'th wheel. Dealer is about to replace steering gear box under warranty.

 

[tjm]

I used a Lukes Link. No movement after install when rotating steering wheel left to right. noticeable up/down movement prior to install. Seemed like an inexpensive way to try to troubleshoot the problem.