How Do You Know Your Track Bar Is Bad?

[Big P]

I've read most of the info on how to change the track bar but how do you know if it's bad? I'm pretty sure that mine is bad because I hear a popping sound from the drivers side which happens to be where the bar connects to the frame when ever there is weight transfer from the front to the back, for example, taking off from a stop especially when turning left or even over a speed bump with the wheels going straight. Since it's a 2001 I could take it to the dealer for a warrenty repair but I'm sure they won't do it because my truck has a 2" lift in the front. I will be ordering a 2002 3500 in July so I'm not sure if it sould be fixed for safety reasons or if I should hold off and wait for the new truck. Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

 

[tmacc]

MP, If you want to check your track bar. Start the truck. Put the parking brake on and have someone turn the steering wheel while you look at the track bar where it mounts to the frame. If it's bad it will "ride" up and down. Can miss it if it's bad. *Iceman* had the death wobble w/ his truck w/ a 2" lift. Not necessarily related to the track bar, but you might not want to leave it loose for too long.

Good luck.

 

[DAWG-1]

Check your e-mail.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by tmacc

MP, If you want to check your track bar. Start the truck. Put the parking brake on and have someone turn the steering wheel while you look at the track bar where it mounts to the frame. If it's bad it will "ride" up and down. ...

Ditto. But you probably don't need to start the truck. You should see almost no motion in the ball and socket joint on the track bar. If there is significant motion (more than a few thousandths), replacement is in order. You could even have someone shove the front end side-to-side if yanking the steering wheel is too wussy for them.



Also, if the track bar is *real* worn, you might feel a 'clunking' in the wheel and from the floor as the ball and socket joint rattles. I recently replaced mine after realizing that the clunk was the track bar. Well, mostly. When I straightened the wheel after the steering gear was replacesd, I failed to properly tighten the bolts on the shaft ends, so the steering shaft was clunking as well!



Fest3er

 

[Big P]

Thanks Fest3er. It sounds like it is a bad track bar with the symptoms that you described especially the clunk in the floor.