Problem with Luke's Link track bar kit

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Has anyone done the Luke's Link then had trouble with it popping soon afterwards? Mine did and a little investigation revealed all the popping is occuring at the axle end of the bar.



I replaced the OEM rubber bushing with the poly one that came with the kit, but it acts like the bolt hole is too big or something. The track bar snaps back and forth while someone turns the wheel with me watching underneath. The bushing fit in nice and tight when I put it together, and the bolt seemed tight in the hole, and the bolt holes on my axle bracket aren't pounded out, so I don't know what's going on.



Cummins4Life did his trackbar and he's having the exact same issue. The bolt is torqued to over 100 ft/lbs but regardless the bolt should be tight in the hole with no play or slop. I am going to see if I can locate a new bolt with a shoulder the full length of the hole.



Vaughn

 

[Mactruck]

Vaughn, A friend of mine has the same issue it sounds HORRIBLE. A mechanic friend of ours said the only way to eliminate it is to LIFT IT



His TDR name is Firehunter send him an PM. I'm sending him this thread.

 

[Firehunter]

vaughn , i'm friends with mactruck (kevin Macgranor) i also installed the track bar kit. I noticed a clank coming from the end not to long ago. i looked under my truck and found that the axle end of the track bar was hitting to he top of my front differential housing. Is this a product defect?, do i need to tighten it up a little? i was told that i would have to lift my truck to be able to get the right amount of clearance. Any input would be helpful. thanks for your time.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That's interesting Firehunter. Kevin I don't think a lift will fix it!



I talked with the Lukes Link folks a bit ago and they say if the bolt hole on the axle bracket is worn and the bolt isn't snug in it then that is the problem. The fix is to get a new 9/16"x2-1/2" bolt with a nut and a HD washer that fits real tight on the bolt shaft, then install it and weld the washer into place on the front side. That will eliminate the slop. Best to get a washer that doesn't quite fit and ream it to the perfect size.



It seemed my bolt fit pretty tight when I put it together but I'm going to take it apart tonight and check it out better. Vaughn

 

[jandtjil]

I got some of that too.

Have torqued, re-torqued and still have some play.

jj

 

[THUREN]

Make sure you use a fine thread bolt and that you get it tight enough... The dry torque spec for a 9/16" bolt is about 170ftlbs but that's a pain to try and get under the truck. If you oil the treads you will only need to go to about 100ftlbs to get the same 18,000 lbs of clamp force...



Don

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thanks for the tip Thuren. Going with a Grade 8 as well. Vaughn

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Hey Vaughn!

I had this exact issue not with the Lukes on the trackbar as I Luked EVERYTHING else. However the axle end of my DT trackbar did that exact thing. What happens is that little bit of movement has actually elongated the mounting bracket holes ever so slightly and had smothed out the mating surface.



Correction method: Crank the ever lovin frankfurt out of the bolt to draw it in. First was to remove bolt and bar. Seccond coat bushing with anti seize. Third reinstall bolt and tighten to 170 ft lbs by use of cheater bar and TNLRacing's bench pressing method.



Result: Over a year's worth of renewed tighter and straighter steering with no hunting when in 4X4 in powdery snow. No darting on the street either. And most all quiet operation.



Good Luck,



TMTT

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Interesting Toolman. Well tonight I bought a 9/16" bolt and replaced the stock metric unit and it fits nice & snug in the hole. Mine doesn't appear to be elongated. Installing the nut was a real PITA, you can't get a wrench in there to hold it form spinning although the lock washer helped. It's tight for now but time will tell.



I could not find a Grade 8 bolt so had to settle with a 5, so I won't be able to torque the snoot out of it.



Vaughn

 

[Dane]

Vaughn, I had the exact same problem. I cleaned the bar end and bolt as I was too liberal with the lube. After cleaning and retorque the problem has not returned.

 

[ETomasic]

Well mine did have some shift on the bushing end at the axle causing the clunk. Tightened the snot out of it, and that seemed to fix the problem. The frame end of the trackbar did hit the diff. cover on every bump. Had to grind the LUKES link and dent the diff cover considerably to allow some clearance. Still hits when truck hits a big bump, but I learned to live with it. Still a bit disappointing. Still should have been told in install instructions. Still steers like its got Attention Deficit Disorder.

 

[ETomasic]

DANE,

Did the BORGESON shaft make any difference?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That's weird ETomasic, there was plenty of clearance on mine after installing my Luke's Link. Was there adequate clearance before the install? Maybe your track bar struck something once and it's bent?



Vaughn

 

[desertbull]

My Luke's Link disengrated and broke while exiting a driveway in Salt Lake City, Utah... stranded me for a day while we built a custom arm with a 1. 75" uniball..... Oo.



It's survived a bunch of Baja dirt miles and is still rocking hard...



Desertbull