Archived just installed skyjacker coils, can't connect track bar

[jrusko]

I woulda been done hours ago with installing the skyjacker 2. 5" lift front springs, but...



Along with a few other things to let the axle drop down enough to install the springs, I disconnected the track bar from the passenger side of the axle. After putting in the passenger side spring, the end of the track bar wouldn't line up with the bracket on the axle. It was maybe 1/8" or so too close to the drivers side. If I jacked up that side of the axle, it would get a little closer to where it was supposed to be, but I still couldn't get the bolt in even when the spring was at full compression and started to lift the truck. I went ahead and did the other side and got everything else back together, hoping the longer springs on both sides might fix the front end geometry and line everything up but it's even worse now... 1/2 to 3/4" off



I went to check to see if the coil springs were fixing my problem (315's rubbing on the control arms, and they still make pretty bad contact on the drivers side, but with the wheel cut all the way to the left, they're prolly over an inch from the passenger side control arm. So my front end geometry is waaaay off.



How do I get the track bar hooked back up? has anyone else had this problem? Only 2 things I can think of are:

a) tear it apart, take out the spring, lift the axle high enough that the bolt holes line up, bolt it up, reinstall the spring

b) use a spring compressor to compress the spring so the axle moves higher (in relation to the truck) and the trackbar lines up and I can bolt it up... possibly without even having to jack the truck up



Only problems are, with "A", I'm not totally sure the axle will drop down far enough to get the spring in with the track bar install (plus I don't particularly feel like tearing everything apart again). And with "B", while I'm pretty sure it would work, I think my chances of finding a spring compressor that will work on those beastly springs are slim to none.



Any suggestions? help!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Some lift kits use an adapter bracket for the track bar. Check your vendor. Otherwise, while the front axle is off the ground, pry it to the side you need relative to the frame with a long bar between something on the axle housing and something on the frame. Maybe the spring perch on the axle and the frame side rail will work.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Did you disconnect the sway bar? When we installed my 2. 5" skyjacker coils the only thing we disconnected was the sway bar, the track bar stayed connected. As Joe said with the weight off the truck you should be able to use a crow bar or the like to shift the axle over to hook the track bar back up. It won't help your prolbem with the tires rubbing on the control arms though - the only things you can do for that would be to go with wheels that have less back spacing or to increase the steering stop slightly (what I'd do).

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

How about this method



dodgeram.org



Just about at the bottom of the page is a picture showing how they got the DT bolt hole to line up.

 

[illflem]

Whenever I've removed a tracbar and it didn't line back up the solution was simple. With the tires on the ground have someone turn the steering wheel, it's good for at least 6 inches of bar end movement. This doesn't guarantee the axle is centered though, that depends on how much you have raised the truck height.

 

[jrusko]

whew! thanks



I ended up first jacking it up and having my dad pry the axl over, but it still wouldn't reach... so I dropped the truck down, and somewhere along the way the geometry improved, so it was only off by 1/8" or so... a little prying from him while I put the bolt in and it's all good now. Rubbing is almost totally cured on the drivers side, passenger side is better than before but worse than the drivers side... prolly cuz with the longer springs and stock trackbar the axle is being pulled slightly to the drivers side... oh well, works for now... and now I have an excuse for aftermarket wheels