2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Finally did both the DSS and 3rd gen tracbar swap

[EricBu12]

Probably saw before the DSS I did. That helped the steering some. Helped to "Center" a little... not as much slop... Very well worth it.



#ad




#ad




Here's the 3rd gen trackbar job... ... ... .....



Heres the end of the trackbar by the frame tab where the castle nut is for the orig. tracbar.



#ad




here's the bracket that bolts to the frame. One of the bolts goes into the bolt hole where the orig. trackbar was. You use one of the bolts for the steering gear. and a bolt goes through the crossmember from above...



#ad




#ad




The steering dampener has to be located on the outside of the "U" bracket where it usually goes. They provide a spacer to mount and a longer bolt.



#ad




Here's a front side on shot. I have the mag-hytec cover and the bar goes out in front of it. It seems like it is really close but if there is any problems, I can grind off some of the fins for more clearance...



#ad




Another reverse shot toward the bracket... .



#ad




The only thing that was time consuming was I had to tap, tap tap, on the bar to get the bolt on the bracket end in the hole..... fits great... .







Took about 2 hours to do... . I used a pickle fork used for removing ball-joints... has a wider opening than the tie-rod one... cost $25 for that... .



When I put it all together, the steering wheel was turned a little to the left... the instructions say to adjust the tie-rod just off the pitman arm... . I had to turn the sleeve 1. 25 turns shorter to center the wheel.



Test Drive:



WOW!!!! Def. Tight!!! MUch, Much, Better!!!!! Instead of slop, slop, when driving, feels like a sports car!! Reacts to input sooner... I did the DSS first and that helped some, but the 3rd gen trackbar finished it!!



I encourage EVERYONE to do these mods YOU WONT BE SORRY!! Best Mod I ever did!



<

<

<

<

<

 

[HeavyHauler]

I'm glad someone posted about these mods. I've been considering doing the track bar swap but it seems to be a good deal of money. I just installed the DSS and it really wasn't what I had hoped for. I believe it did help some but didn't totally correct my problems.



I may have to call Marv tomorrow about that track bar kit.



Did you have to get the '03 trackbar from the dealer? I didn't know if there was another company manufacturing one yet. About how much was it?



Thanks for the review.

 

[EricBu12]

Scource Automotive has the trackbar for less than the Dealer. You can get it from places like dodgeparts.com or something like that...

 

[HeavyHauler]

Thanks for the link to dodgeparts.com Eric. That looks like a great site. Also has a good price on the trackbar.

 

[RCook]

EricBu12,



What sort of shape was your track bar in before you did this? Had you ever replaced it with a new original-style track bar? Can you compare steering with an original track bar in good condition to steering with the new track bar setup?



I have a DSS, and have replaced my track bar with a new NAPA (several times!). I wonder how much improvement I would see with the 03 track bar kit, other than not having to keep going back to NAPA every so often.



Anyone else who can compare?

 

[EricBu12]

No never replaced it..... My trackbar was in good shape... it was 5 yrs old and there was some rust in the joint from the boot being torn a little... .



Difference? Uh , Yeah... . to say the least..... Took about 10 seconds to notice the difference... The feel through the wheel is much improved... . Tighter, much more responsive to input, doesn't wander and when I wiggled the wheel before this, I could rock the wheel back and forth and not notice any "swerving"..... With this, the truck reacts sooner on that same wiggle... . I can't wait til I hook up my 36' 5th in may to see how it handles. Should have much less lane wander and corrections.



I put the truck up on a floor jack , took the LF wheel off, and lowered the front to the height of the truck as if the tire was on. This worked out really well.



There is a bolt that has a wedge sleeve for the frame tab where the joint was. you need to put the bolt through the bracket from the bottom then the sleeve on the bolt so it goes into the tab from the bottom. Was able to tighten this bolt without holding the head below.



I slid the new bar in from the drivers side and inseted it into the bracket on the far end by tapping the drivers end and getting it just right to put the bolt in on the drivers side. The pass. side went in with a little prying up to line up the hole. Didn't need to wiggle the wheel to line up.



The only weird thing is on one of the bolts for the bracket, the angle of the crossmember on top makes the bolt angled down to the bracket... . seems a little weird but they have a thick washer on both sides... The head of the bolt is close to the steering shaft but doesn't touch... . The kit has 2 bolt selections for the crossmember for different years. I used the longer one so I have 1 bolt and 1 washer left over. The washer left over didn't fit on the bracket for the trackbar end bolt. (too wide).



Make sure you can get the castle nut all the way off before you release the joint otherwise if just a little off and you release the joint, and the nut gets stuck, the joint will spin and it's a pain to try to grab the shaft (hardened steel) with a vise grip... . shaft spins and can't grip. (ben there, done that, ugh)



To do this, You will need :



balljoint pickle fork

5# sledge or equiv.

3/8th ratchet

1/2" ratchet (my 23 and 24mm was 1/2" drive)

16mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 22mm, 23mm, 24mm

I used 18mm, 19mm end wrenches for the nuts on some things



So just basic tools. and a couple hours then center the wheel and done!

>

>

>

>

 

[832]

Where can I order the kit for the updated bracketary. Very interested for my 01.

 

[HeavyHauler]

Call Marv Windecker @ (306) 842-3790. He'll give you the best price. There's also a group buy on the DSS going on through him.

 

[Crowhurst]

I've now added the 03 track bar and bracket from Darin, and I fitted the DSS a year ago. No grinding required on the tab, or misalignment with the bracket. My wife says it now steers like a car,and she's right. I just wanted to add my name to the list of satisfied users. These are excellent products. Nick

 

[KDoerr]

Well That is cool. I have mine in the mail and just waiting for it. I Can not wait. For the track bar I had to get one from the dealer and it ran about $400. 00 can. Well Now i'm looking forward to put them all in and have a truck that will drive straight. THANK!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Walt-L]

http://www.parts.com/index.cfm?action=goToStoreFront&sfid=213794 I ordered the bar here for about $186. 00 if I remember correctly. They give you 30 percent off all oem stuff.