2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Does installing a new track bar (NAPA) effect the alignment of the steering wheel?

[jebia]

My truck has 67K miles and I just changed out the stock track bar with a new one from NAPA (truck was starting to wander a bit tand I thought a new bar would help).



The NAPA bar seems to have helped the wander, the truck even feel more solid dring out of my drive way curb.



BTW, I wanted to use a lukes link on the stock bar, but I don't have the clearance with my mag-hytec front diff cover.



Is it my imagination or did changing the bar effect the alignment of the steering wheel?



TIA



Jon

Albuquerque

 

[illflem]

It will only affect your alignment/steering wheel center if you had one done while the trackbar was worn out, otherwise no alignment is necessary.

Sometimes if you have been driving for quite some time with slop once it's corrected the steering will feel more sensitive and seem like it's drifting or off center but if you take your hands off the wheel will drive/brake straight.

It's just breaking an old habit you need to get used to.

 

[Matt42]

Changing out the track bar on mine affected the steering wheel position, but not the wheel alignment. As I made the installation, I placed the track bars on a flat surface side by side to compare. The shape was ever so slightly different. Next, I measured them both, eye center to ball stud end, with ball stud out straight. (I used a square. ) That's not a perfect measurement the way I did it, but there was a very small difference even accounting for probable error.



When I installed the new track bar, the steering wheel was off center by a few degrees, but I forget which way. It was a simple thing to readjust the drag link myself to solve it. No big deal.



I suppose that it is possible to get two track bars exactly the same. That particular installation isn't as picky as main bearings or piston rings, since there is room for adjustment.

 

[jkern]

no alignment here, but i had my trac bar replaced under warrenty, and the steering wheel came back over 1/4 turn off!!!

 

[jebia]

Thanks Matt,



I adjusted the drag link a half a turn, and it brought my steering wheel back into center.





Jon

Albuquerque

 

[wcjp]

My steering wheel alignment also changed after installing the Napa part.