2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Gen 2 / 99 4x4 track bar choices for replacement

[BK]

I folks.

I've got just under 60K on my 99 ISB powered 4x4... running 33x12 tires.

And it's time for a track bar.



I'm wondering whats my best choice for replacement?



I have the mag-Hytech front cover.



If I remember right one of the first aftermarket ones, Luke's Link I think, good, but will hit the Mag-Hytech front cover??



Stock. . ok, I could bet another 50 - 60K out of it.



I also thought I read about a NAPA replacement with life time warranty, better than stock maybe??



The one I read about and still holds my thoughts.

An adapter for the Gen to to bolt in a Gen 3 trackbar.

Anyone done this without a lift in their truck and with a Mag-Hytech front cover?



Any other suggestions?



tnx

-Bob

 

[prodog87]

Track Bar

I went through a similar experience with my '01. Replaced the stock track bar once only to have it get loose after another 20-25,000 miles. Enough of that! Studying the reasons for the stock track bar deteriotation and looking at the aftermarket alternatives, I settled on the kit that adapts the '03 and later track bar to the '01. I can't remember the name of the kit but it is the one that comes out of Canada. If you search this forum you'll find it. The '03 and later bar has rubber bushings at both ends so there is nothing to wear out. I've got about 30,000 miles on my installation and am happy with it. One thing you should do is really torque up all the fasteners if you do this kit. I had some clunks on turning due to the bar shifting in the mount but they were eliminated when I reefed down on the fasteners.

 

[jkalchik]

SolidSteel.

I got mine through Rip @ Source Automotive. *GREAT* service.

 

[SRath]

I plan to do the solid steel 3rd gen trackbar conversion on my '96 when the current Napa lifetime warranty trackbar wears out.



So far, though, it has been on for 4 years/@40k miles and is still tight. Everything else is completely worn out in the steering linkage, but I can feel no slop at all in that Napa trackbar.



I plow snow (add 800 lbs way overhanging your front end and go ram into stuff repeatedly for hours; it's hard on components!) and I do some moderate offroading when hunting, so I'm really surprised at how well it is holding up. Go figure...

 

[Missouri Mule]

You can can contact Thuren Fabrication-products and see what they say. A lot of members have the Thuren track bar.

 

[Ragain]

I just put a new trackbar on mine today (in the rain of course). I used the Moog #DS1413 @ $155. °° and it was WAY beefier than stock. We'll have to see how well it holds up. I like to keep my chassis components lubed regularly, and that seems to help bunches!

 

[MarkMiller]

I have a Thuren. It is probably the nicest piece of after market equipment I have ever bought. Came well packaged. Showed up when he said it would. The fit and finish were excellent and more than a year later and a couple salt water submergings it is solid and still working as it should with no signs of wear. Does require welding though. And no stick welding, mig machine only. No room for a stick.

 

[Alphacowboy]

The stock height bar from Thuren requires no welding, only the bar for the lifted boys does.



I also have a Thuren bar, its awesome and SOLID. Plus, the thing is rebuild able at the joints so if it did wear out, you can just replace the parts. Contact Don though about it clearing the Magtech, but I dont see it as a problem though without a lift, as his stock bar is not much different in shape than the original, just bigger tubing and better joints on the ends. The lifted one I dont think would clear. The mount that needs to be welded on the lifted trucks just barely clears the front dif cover bolts on mine.

 

[MarkMiller]

The stock height bar from Thuren requires no welding, only the bar for the lifted boys does.

Why leave it stock when you can lift it though? Oo.

 

[Lightman]

I love the thuren bar its awesome but I had it on my 96 with the shock cover on the diff and it did hit the stock cover. I put it on my second 96 and it didnt hit with a 3" lift in the front. It did however make both trucks alot more comfortable to drive. They lost the death wobble and went down the road straight.

 

[Makensmoke]

I bought an adjustable trac bar from Don Thuren and am/was very impressed with the whole experience. That was a few years ago and have NO problems yet.

 

[ShortB]

I agree with all those who have commented before me about the Thuren Track Bar. It's incredibly well built (probably overly built is more like it), and does its job perfectly. I used and abused the one I had on my old truck (took it off-road fairly regularly), and it still worked great.



If you do go with the Thuren bar, make sure you take your time when installing it because it can make quite a bit of difference in the way your truck feels if it's not adjusted right. Ask me how I know... :-laf

 

[Hammer]

I will have to second the Solid Steel Third Generation conversion trac bar. Mine was purchased and installed at Enterprise Engine Performance in Thornville,OH and it was moeny well spent. No more chasing the front end and that constant wiggle of the steering wheel. it drives as straight and smooth at slow speeds as it does when you have the hammer rollin coal... ... Andy

 

[BK]

Thanks for all the replies and input.



One of my biggest concerns is clearence with the cover, and I've been looking to go to a new front bumper and winch. But every time I go to do it, something else comes up, and just cant get the pennies up for it.

If I do put something like a Buck Stop with a winch, I'm going to sink a bit more, and will need something even stronger for a trackbar up front.



So I think I'm going to go with the SS 3rd gen adapter and their adjustable track bar.

With the off road and on road, buck stop w/ winch on my wish list... and maybe a lift in the future, I think the SS 3rd gen adapter and adj track bar will cover me. And I won't have to worry about smashing the diff cover if I don't do a lift. .



I like being able to bolt the conversion in, but do worry about the bolts coming loose as others said happened. So I guess I'll get a couple of beads of weld put on it. Something I grind off if I ever need to.



Gonna order it Monday. I called them KLM during the week, they're just across the pond from me, and they have stock, I'll get it in a day or so.



I need a steering damper too, it's been through heck and back. Even went head on with something hard on the expressway at 55. .

Anyone use the Fox based damper kit from KORE?

Seems KLM is advertising them on their site.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Thanks for all the replies and input.



One of my biggest concerns is clearence with the cover

did you ask Don about his, I am curious if his will clear?

Thuren Fabrication - 0-3" lift track bar

#ad

Anyone use the Fox based damper kit from KORE?

Seems KLM is advertising them on their site.

This is the one I got, absolutely worth the extra bucks over a stock junk one.

Thuren Fabrication- Dodge ram steering stabilizer kit

#ad

 

[BK]

No I didn't call Don.

I've read a few posts on here, and Don's website.

Seems even with the stock diff cover one has to be carefull how it's mounted as not to have a clearance issue, per install instructions on Don's site.



I do a ton of bouncing on the beach, and the roads behind the dunes.

The wash boarding get real bad.



2nd, since I run a lot on the beach, lots of sand gets tossed. I'm a bit worried about the open cup of the joint, facing up and collecting.

While I'll bet it's a whole lot stronger than stock, I think the Gen3 bar design will give me more clearance, and just as much strength as some of the other fine aftermarket options.

 

[BK]

The SS Gen3 bracket kit and SS adjustable track bar came into today.

Right after work went out and started installing the bracket.

All went Easy enough with installing the bracket. ,,,,,,. till I got to the one bolt needing 215ft/lbs of torquing. . while trying to tighten that sonofabeach, it's hard to get some space in there to move the wrench and tighten, took out the sway bar link, great room now, then broke my torque wrench... On the way up something snapped in the handle. It's a HomeDepot Husky torque wrench. This the 3rd time it's been set past 200ft/lbs. I think the bad angle I was at with the limited room caused me to pull on the adjustment ring... and stuff moved while pulling real hard.

I just hope I didn't over torque it, I got a few 15-20deg turns on it before I figured something was up with the handle.

Got a Dr's appt tonight, on the way back pick up a new Torque wrench and finish it up.



Ordered the stuff from KLM yesterday, they shipped promptly, got it today.



I can see where the stock bar hit ball/socket frame end the mag-hytech cover once or twice.

With how the SS bracket moves the track bar forward, I shouldn't have an issue anymore.

 

[Silver_Ram]

BK,



I am curious how the 3rd gen trac bar conversion turned out with the Mag-Hytec front diff cover. You have done, what I still need to do to my truck. Does everything clear the diff cover?

 

[BK]

They told me it would clear with the mag-hytech cover (SolidSteel).

And it looked like it would while just sitting there in the driveway, after the install.

But after exercising the suspension during test drives, and re-inspected, clearly there were signs that fins on the top right of the cover (as sitting in the drivers seat) were being struck by the track bar.

I had to take a grinder to the fins and ground them down for clearance.
About 3 sessions with the grinder, and no more evidence of contact.
(try, test drive, take more off, test drive, inspect, take more off... ... ... )

The conversion kit itself, GREAT..... and has held up great to date.

After speaking with them about the interference, they seemingly didn't have a lot of bad feedback, and apologized, and wanted to provide me with some form of compensation, like buying at cost the steering bearing brace kit or something. They went as far as saying, and I've heard it from others, that some tolerances in the trucks frames are soo different, holes off by as much as 1/2, that mine could have been an extreme, and caused the problem/interference.

If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll try and snap a pix of the front cover's fins.

 

[Silver_Ram]

BK,



I realley appreciate the info. It would definitely be a bonus, it you could post a pic... ... ... .....