2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission DT Track Bar could be Dangerous

[starring]

After following all of the contraversy am i safe to assume that i will have very few problems installing the dt track bar on a truck with stock suspension, and slightly oversized tires?

 

[JGheen]

After following all of the contraversy am i safe to assume that i will have very few problems installing the dt track bar on a truck with stock suspension, and slightly oversized tires?

Yes, you are safe to assume, but it WILL still move and flex some no matter how tight you get the bolts. You can run it like that, but it will wear out the bolt holes and could be dangerous. The best option is to weld it to keep it firm and in place. Just my opinion from all the brackets I have seen and heard about.



Joe

 

[EBottema]

My first idea was to weld the bracket on but with welding you will always weaken the metal on the frame since it is much thinner than the bracket. Also, you lose the bolt up capability of the piece. Install it, i recommend only drilling one hole, you will see why when you do it... . When the fix comes out, you might be interested in it



Erik

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

... . Welding the bracket would also make this problem go away but it would cause the frame/crossmember to be heated up which could weaken it. ...

The crossmember is welded together. welding around a sleeve isn't going to hurt anything. If welded properly the weld will be stronger than the original member.



FWIW,

Mark

 

[snowracer69]

The crossmember is welded together. welding around a sleeve isn't going to hurt anything. If welded properly the weld will be stronger than the original member.



FWIW,

Mark

What he said.

 

[EBottema]

The crossmember is welded together. welding around a sleeve isn't going to hurt anything. If welded properly the weld will be stronger than the original member.



FWIW,

Mark

I am currently taking a welding class at school. I had the teacher who has taught for 29 years, is a certified welder and state cert. building instructor and a one of the best suspension specialists and fabricators in all of Los Angeles county both recommend not welding because the heat weakens the metal on the frame and could cause future cracking in the frame- not the weld, not the bracket but the thinner frame material. It is one of those, do it at your own risk. Best way is improve the bracket and make tigther sleeves in my opinion

 

[NVR FNSH]

I had the teacher who has taught for 29 years, is a certified welder and state cert. building instructor and a one of the best suspension specialists and fabricators in all of Los Angeles county

Who would the instructor be?



Brian

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

recommend not welding because the heat weakens the metal on the frame and could cause future cracking in the frame- not the weld,

Actually it even says that in the owner's manual that comes with the truck

 

[JGheen]

The crossmember is welded together. welding around a sleeve isn't going to hurt anything. If welded properly the weld will be stronger than the original member.



FWIW,

Mark

Thats another reason why I welded mine up. If it breaks then so be it, I can fab something else up, but if you take care of the surrounding metal like painting it after to prevent rust and life of the metal and weld, it will be just as strong as before and you should have thousands of problem free miles. Oo.

Any piece of bracketry that is just bolted is bound to flex and cause wear, I just welded mine up to sturdy it up and prevent that wear.

 

[JGheen]

Best way is improve the bracket and make tigther sleeves in my opinion

It's still gonna move and wear no matter how tight the sleeve is, probably last a little longer than with the current sleeves, but it will eventually start flexing again. Not bashing your opinion, just happens from what I have seen.

If the metal around that area was double or triple the thickness, that would help in the support of the sleeve as it would have more surface area to ride on and thickness to clamp down. That would be even stronger and tighter than welding it, but the crossmember is not very thick as you mentioned, so I welded mine for that very fact of giving more surrounding support to the frame and bracket from just building up the metal. Like in that pic from the other thread, I welded another piece of 3/8" flatbar to drivers side of the frame to help the side to side movement of the bracket and support the piece of the bracket bolted and welded to the crossmember.

 

[KHelfrich]

all this about welding and making the frame weaker or stronger has to do with the weld is stronger then either peice of wetal it is the metal real close to the weld that is i dont want to say weakened but it is changed the metal changes crystal sturcures between FCC and BCC as it is heated and cooled and alot of the how it changes has to do with cooling rates when it is cooled faster the crystals structures dont get to change completly back creating dislocations which make the metal stronger (harder) but less also makes it more britle



ken

 

[Alphacowboy]

I see NO problems welding to a frame as long as you know what you are doing. Hell, I help build race cars and we use stock GM Metric frames... we weld the cages and roll bars right to the frame, I have yet to see any frame damage from this from every week stress on it in races... never seen a frame tear or rip due to welding to the frame. Yeah it may effect the metal some, but if you are a good welder and know what you are doing I see no harm. Now, if you dont know how to weld and over heat the frame, or the like, I would say yes, then its a bad idea.

 

[EBottema]

UPDATE-

Spent Friday night doing part two of the DT track bar bracket build. Welded to side plates onto the DT bracket and bolted them up to the side of the frame. Pics coming soon. BRACKET HAS ZERO FLEX NOW. However, The crossmember under the frame that ties both frame rails is flexing since it is now the weak link. I have always personally thought it was a little lackluster for dodge to put a thin walled small crossmember but obviously it works for stock trucks. Next step. Add a steel crossmember that bolts to DT bracket and both insides of frame rails. This will fix the weak crossmember flex. However, I have been researching the trackbars for these trucks. IMO they are all undercut. My new designed track bar bracket that runs inside the frame rails would blow the rest away. More info coming with pics.