How Many Trackbars

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How many trackbars have you all replaced? I have 58,000 miles on my 1996 and replaced one at 23,000 miles and one at 57,000. I will now put about 25,000 miles a year on my truck. I would hate to have to replace it every year. It's almost a truck payment after labor and an alignment.

 

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I just replaced mine for the first time at 110,000 miles. I didn't even think I was having a problem, but needed some other front end things fixed and found worn end on track bar. NAPA says theirs has a lifetime warranty as long as you keep the reciept for proof.

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94 4x4 SLT Geno's guages,mystery switch,TST 230/605,straight pipe from turbo,110,000+ miles,much more to come

 

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JJP,

Check out the Heim Joint Track Bar. This is a bulletproof setup. **** for a rebuild kit(if it even wears out). This is a good bar for us guys who have put a 'leveling' kit or 2" lift on the front axle. Most(all) of these small lifts don`t come with a trackbar drop bracket, so your front axle is off-centered approx 1/2" to the left. It really won`t hurt anything, but it bugs me. The DT Heim joint bar will fit stock height trucks to 3" lifted ones.

I ordered one last week . *****+ S&H. Only about ****bucks more than the OE type bar. Its rebuildable & Bulletproof. Same can`t be said for the OE ones. #ad
#ad


See Complete details here: http://www.ecpe.vt.edu/~dfritz/technical/STEERING/trackbar/dt_install.html


Also a company called Linstad Alignment has good priced trackbars, that are adjustable as they wear. http://www.westdakota.com/lindstad/

Or you can do what Blackcloud did. Get one from NAPA. They have a lifetime warranty. Just save your recipt. Thats what I did, but really need an adjustable one.

Hope this helps #ad



Bill R
94 2500 SLT,4X4,5 Speed,3. 54 LSD... . Still looks brand new... .

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 04-24-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 05-03-2000). ]

 

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Bill, Thanks for the info. I will go that route next time. The dealer was going to charge me $277 so its actually cheaper. Dodge was nice enough to pay for my second one so it didn't matter.

 

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I had a Moog trackbar installed at 60k miles. Cost about $190 with a lifetime warranty. The adjustable trackbar is a much better idea, but it's too late for me now... ...

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Mike B.

'98 RAM 2500 4x4 CC LWB Auto 12v 4. 10s Intense Blue, Sport, TST Power Kit, TCS Converter, TransGo
Diesel Shift Kit, M/T 16x8 Classics, BFG AT LT295/75R16, PIAA 90 Pro, ISSPRO Boost,Pyro,Trans Temp


http://www.geocities.com/baja/cliffs/2182/dodge1.html

 

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I'm canceling the order for the Moog unit I ordered tomorrow so I can get the Heim Joint setup. I build tie rods and drag links for off-road trucks with these and they are infinitely more servicable.
For the record, this will be replacement #5 for my truck with 147,000 on the clock. Yes, that works out to about 1 per year, JJP.

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Dean Jahnz
Black '94 dually (first on the block!), TST 230hp, Transgo shift kit, combo guage, 28' gooseneck camper/hauler, '83 Toyota extreme terrain 4x4.
My motto: The Most is Barely Enough!

 

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Dually,

I`m going to install my DT Heim joint track bar tommorow. Will post how it went. Only 2 holes need to be drilled. The frame bracket looks bullet proof & well engineered. #ad


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Bill R
94 2500 SLT,4X4,5 Speed,3. 54 LSD... . Still looks brand new... .

[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 05-05-2000). ]

 

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DT Products should have said, This trackbar will need massaging to be installed.

Pulled old track bar out, no problem. Started mounting the DT frame mount. The brake line thats needs to be unbolted keeps getting in the way. Then I went to run the 1/2 x 4 1/2 bolt thru the ear on the bracket and through the existing frame holes. The bottom hole lined up with the bracket ok(minor enlarging needed) the top hole is 1/2" off line. Tried drilling it out. No luck. Drill will just walk. Cant really get a straight shot with the drill without pulling the tie rod. Finally got it in, still really crooked, then the 4 1/2 inch bolt is too long. It contacts the steering shaft (Borgeson). Reverse it and it looks like it may interfere with the pitman arm. Noticed a few 1/8 inch gaps between bracket and frame mounting holes. Bracket was flush & tight using the main OEM tapered ball stud mount.

I had had enough at this point, put the OE one back in.

I could have tried the align the holes from the top side (engine compartment) and pulled the steering shaft and got a shorter bolt.

I think the tolerences of our truck frames can very a little. Its not really DT`s fault but it will require lots of massaging (frame bracket, thats as far as I got) to install it.

I can`t say all trucks will need this much massaging. Hopefully others will have better luck than me. #ad


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Bill R
94 2500 SLT,4X4,5 Speed,3. 54 LSD... . Still looks brand new... .



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 05-06-2000). ]

 

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You guys that are replaceing,trackbar's how often do you lub the joints. What size tires are you running?

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97 Ram 2500 4x4 Driftwood 5spd 3:54 E-brake Isspro,boost&pyro guages 25,500 miles

 

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I have 53K on my truck and still have the original track bar. Greased it last weekend and there is no play in it. I sure will be upset if I have to replace it more than once in 200K !!

 

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I had about 90K on my original trackbar. Decided to replace it because it had had a torn boot for 4 years, and I fiqured its time for a new one. I was tough to tell how much play was in the original when its mounted. Surprisingly it still was pretty tight when I changed it.

I Run 36" tires & Grease monthly. (Amsoil 2000 racing grease)

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Bill R
94 2500 SLT,4X4,5 Speed,3. 54 LSD... . Still looks brand new... .

 

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Tom F1, I run 235 X 85 R 16s and lube at each oil change (about 3 months)

 

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Hemi:
I called DT yesterday, and he said they are in the process of redesigning the trackbar, but from what I understand, it will be only to allow the bar to be adjusted for length like a turnbuckle. Said the new units would be out in about 3 weeks. Based on your experience, I decided to go with the Moog unit after all. With tax, it was $60. 00 cheaper than the DT unit, after shipping charges were added. It should be the last one I have to buy, although I hate the work to replace it, even if it was warrantied.
If I have to do all that messing around to mount the DT unit, I might as well build my own, after all--I am a machinist.

TomF1--the stock track bar was not greasable, the Moog units are, but I grease every zerk on my truck at every oil change (2500 mi)

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Dean Jahnz
Black '94 dually (first on the block!), TST 230hp, Transgo shift kit, combo guage, 28' gooseneck camper/hauler, '83 Toyota extreme terrain 4x4.
My motto: The Most is Barely Enough!

 

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How are you guys checking the slack? If you start the truck and put someone in the truck turning the steering wheel about 1-2 inches back and fourth, you should be able to see and feel the slack were the track bar connects to the frame.

My last track bar on my 94' truck only lasted 18k miles. I checked the track bar on our 96' truck with 50k miles and it was shot.

Both trucks are 4x4s and the zerk fittings are greased every 6 months.

My last track bar came from Linstad Alignment and it is an adjustable track-bar. No more replacing required.

Dodge dealer said they are lasting about 20k miles on 4x4 trucks. If you want to save your front tires, you better check for slack by turning the steering wheel. You can NOT detect the slack by pulling on the track bar from under the truck.

Good luck,
Tim

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94' 2500 std cab, 4x4, 12v, 5spd, TST 230/605, 112k mi.
96' 2500 ext cab, 4x4, 12v, 5spd, 52k mi.

 

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I installed the repair kit from Linstad. The original has a plastic wear cup which the Linstad kit replaces with a steel part. The kit installation is a fabricator's job, just buy the finished bar. This will fix the problem. The heim joint looks trick and would correct offset but I know corrosion would be a problem in WI. My '94 has the small ball end. These are the worst for durability.

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'94 3500 4x4, 193,000 miles, Auto w/tofdjr shift kit,3. 54 Gears, TST #5 (255, 650), 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. Use truck to pull snowmobile trailer I race sno-x!

[This message has been edited by Extreme1 (edited 05-09-2000). ]

 

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Jeff from DT Products just called. [DT Heim Joint T-Bar]. It seems the problem I had with the bolt that goes thru the ear of the bracket then up thru the frame goes in really crooked. Its normal Jeff says. I wish I had known that last Sat. It wasn`t spelled out in the directions at all.

I had no idea the bolt would go thru the DT bracket and truck frame at about a 30 degree angle and be correct. Neither would anyone else if they didn`t know better. It just didn`t look right.


Note in this picture the head of the bolt looks flush with the bracket(not the heim joint bolt, the other one w/ just the head showing) #ad

DT`s T-Bar is still a bullet proof bar. Won`t find a stronger one out there. Don`t let my eariler post discourage anyone from getting one. They are upgrading it so the bar can be adjusted left or right by turning it. #ad


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Bill R
94 2500 SLT,4X4,5 Speed,3. 54 LSD... . Still looks brand new... .



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 05-12-2000). ]

 

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Old message but I just got on. Thought you guy's might be amussed by my misfortunes. 50,000 miles-- 5 track bars, 1 steering shaft 2 steering stabilizers 4 fuel tank sending units. Truck still drives terrible.

Originally posted by JJP:
How many trackbars have you all replaced? I have 58,000 miles on my 1996 and replaced one at 23,000 miles and one at 57,000. I will now put about 25,000 miles a year on my truck. I would hate to have to replace it every year. It's almost a truck payment after labor and an alignment.

[This message has been edited by Brad (edited 08-13-2000). ]

 

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Brad,maybe it's time to stop trying to drive on the center divider!

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
Brad,maybe it's time to stop trying to drive on the center divider!

 

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I would like to stop diving on the center divider... ... on the shoulder..... the curb... . the overpasses... I think you probably get the idea here. The truck drives bad, I'm trying to correct this with some aftermarket parts.

Originally posted by illflem:
Brad,maybe it's time to stop trying to drive on the center divider!