Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Dynatrac conversion

[tgordon]

I have a wheel bearing going out in my front end and so rather than simply replacing it I would like to go with something like the Dynatrac free wheel conversion, but I am woundering if anybody has experiance with them? I am guessing they would last longer and if th ebearing goes out one would only hav eto replace that as oppose to wasting all that material with the component style they ship with from the factory.



One other question fro those of you with the conversion, can I keep the current vacum locking mechanisn in place and lock the front hubs for "adverse" conditions?



Thanks,

Troy

 

[SFrey]

do a google search for ems offroad, i've installed on of ther kits on a customers truck, half the price, very good quality



scot

 

[WDaniels]

tgordon,

If you 97 has the anti lock tone ring on your truck, forget about putting dynatrac on. I already checked and they said that it is only made for the trucks without anti lock brakes.

Hope this helps.

WD

 

[tgordon]

I only have the rear anti-lock, and those wires have long since broken, guessing a corn stalk ripped the apart:-laf



I was woundering if they were good quality parts, or if they would break with just a little abuse?



Troy

 

[tgordon]

Wow, and they even send you new rotors with their kit, once the other half starts working I just might have to order that one



Thanks,

Troy

 

[JGheen]

I have the dynatrac kit and it has been very good to me. I also had ABS in the front and I removed it, not sure why WDaniels mentioned it won't work. You replace everything all the way down to the spindles and remove all the stock hub parts except the knuckles and you keep the rotors. The only down side to removing the ABS is your light will be on all the time unless you remove the dash and pull the bulb out. I did a write up on it in the off-road section a while back here is the link https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/off-roading/152258-35-spline-upgrade.html.



Joe

 

[JHenry]

I have the Dynatrac hubs on my '06 with 6 speed. Very nice product, well machined. I picked up an extra 1. 5-3 mph with them. Nice to know all the gears and bearings in the front end get to relax while you are not using them. Passive savings. I'm in north Idaho and use four wheel drive about 4 months of the year. I just leave the hubs locked in all winter, unless I'm going to take a long highway trip.

 

[tgordon]

JGheen, are your tie rod ends just a ball joint with a bolt throught them? Did you bore out the holes, or are the still tapered inside? Do you ever have problems with all the travel and the ball joint by the right tire on top? I would like to get mine configured like that and get rid of the odd, complex geometry that they have gone to, and yes I only have lots of questions and no answers.



But I would like to thank everybody for sharing their experiances with me.



Troy

 

[WDaniels]

Joe,

The reason I mentioned it is because dynatrac said that their system will not work with the tone ring for the anti locks. I am hesitant about removing a safety device on a 7800 lb truck, especially when that safety device is an intergral part of stopping said truck.

WD

 

[JAmos]

JHenry-just double checking something here.

I picked up an extra 1. 5-3 mph with them.

You are getting an extra 1. 5-3 mph while racing(as in going faster cause of less drag) or 1. 5-3 mpg while crusing(as in more miles traveled on a tank of fuel)?





Jordan

 

[tlgdiesel]

Abs is for people that are not good with panic situations and thier nerves dont alow there brain to tell their foot to pump the brakes. I have totaly eliminated Abs on everything I own and they stop alot quicker with less lock up. I dont recomend this to anyone though.

 

[JHenry]

JHenry-just double checking something here.

You are getting an extra 1. 5-3 mph while racing(as in going faster cause of less drag) or 1. 5-3 mpg while crusing(as in more miles traveled on a tank of fuel)?



If I said mph, I meant mpg. The most improvement in mileage seems to be at cruising speed on the highway. JH

 

[JGheen]

JGheen, are your tie rod ends just a ball joint with a bolt throught them? Did you bore out the holes, or are the still tapered inside? Do you ever have problems with all the travel and the ball joint by the right tire on top? I would like to get mine configured like that and get rid of the odd, complex geometry that they have gone to, and yes I only have lots of questions and no answers.



But I would like to thank everybody for sharing their experiances with me.



Troy

Those are 3/4" QA1 heim joints and 1. 25" DOM tubing. I drilled the knuckles out for the 3/4" grade 8 bolts and took the steering stabilizer off. This has been the best steering upgrade I have done and would never go back to ball joints. I wish I could do the same to my '06 but I still have 85K left on the warranty and want to keep that.



Joe

 

[tgordon]

WDanials, I never had front ABS on my truck and the rear quit working after less than one year, the wires got cought on a cron stalk. Needless to say the first time it kicked in I was trying to lock up the wheels on a icy road and it scared me as I didn't expect the truck to react the way it did. Of course I went to this from a Jeep CJ-7.



I notice that the other one who speaks of this also lives in the ice cold state of Arizona



JGHeen, I might have to try that before I do any other steering changes. Did you do that at the pitman arm also?



Troy

 

[WDaniels]

tgordon,

Yeah, it must suck to live in an area where it gets so cold it drops all the way down to 70 degrees and is still warm enough to go swimming... ... ... at night :-laf

WD

 

[MEby]

Those are 3/4" QA1 heim joints and 1. 25" DOM tubing. I drilled the knuckles out for the 3/4" grade 8 bolts and took the steering stabilizer off. This has been the best steering upgrade I have done and would never go back to ball joints. (snip)



Joe

What are 3/4" QA1 Heim joints, I am not familiar with them? Any links to previous discussions maybe?

 

[JGheen]

tgordon, yes, I drilled the pitman arm out and used a heim up there too. Would have worked better if the drag link had a bend in it due to the height of the truck but it works better now that the front end has been lowered since the truck is now a full time sled puller.



MEby, 3/4" is the hole size of the heim and QA1 is the brand. https://www.spydercustoms.com/index2.php is where I got them from. Great pricing on quality pieces. Mine are the 3/4"-16 x 3/4" heims. I made my own tie rod and drag link.



Joe