2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Thuren Track Bar findings/ report

[KevinLewis]

I received a Thuren track bar for Christmas from my parents. I wanted to know for sure if it located the axle better than my current setup which is a 3rd gen track bar and bracket. I used a dial indicator with a mag mount to measure the side to side play of the front axle with the old set up. I measured between . 350" and . 375" of side play. This was parked on concrete not moving with the engine running and turning the steering wheel back and forth. After the new bar was installed I did the test in the same spot and measured about . 150" of play. As you can see it helped alot. I am very happy with it although I still Wander all over the place.

 

[JKinney]

The thuren track bar tightened my steering right up, I had run the oem bar for 50,000 and it was real loose. I presently have no wondering. Im sure something else will go next.

 

[SnoKing]

I received a Thuren track bar for Christmas from my parents. I wanted to know for sure if it located the axle better than my current setup which is a 3rd gen track bar and bracket. I used a dial indicator with a mag mount to measure the side to side play of the front axle with the old set up. I measured between . 350" and . 375" of side play. This was parked on concrete not moving with the engine running and turning the steering wheel back and forth. After the new bar was installed I did the test in the same spot and measured about . 150" of play. As you can see it helped alot. I am very happy with it although I still Wander all over the place.

So great, you have invested in two good after market track bar setups and still have a problem. So don't knock either one of them. SNOKING

 

[THUREN]

Thank Kevin!!!

I've wanted to do this with different setups for a long time but never got around to it...



Keep in mind that I'm not knocking anyones product at all, and some people like having a slightly more forgiving steering feel when it comes to vibration, but I like having the steering T-I-G-H-T!!!!



Again..... I'm not pinpointing any product, just the use of rubber or standard polyurethane in a steering part.....



To get your steering feeling MUCH better, I recommend more caster, and the DSS if you don't have it allready... Caster is one of the things you can do yourself and adjust to what YOU like... Rotate the lower control arm cams to LENGTHEN the lower and see how you like it. Don't like it, put em' back... no biggie...



Don



PS..... tell your dad thanks for me. . didn't your bro' get one too?

 

[ceastmen]

Caster

Don,

I 've seen other posts by you recommending more caster, your absolutly right!

I don't have one of your track bars yet, I hope to in the future. I do have the DSS and converted from the inverted Y to the T set up. But adding more caster really helped alot especially the wandering. My steering is very good now compared to what it was before the improvements. Caster does make a big difference and it was easy to do.

Chuck E.

 

[NLofton]

caster specs

Since caster was brought up, what degrees do you normally have to use to correct this problem. I,m assuming its more than factory specs.

 

[ceastmen]

Caster

NLofton,

I did it incremently buy marking the adjusters @ there stock setting and then adding a little at a time. I couldn't give you an exact number if thats what you want. A guess would be approximatly 2 degrees over stock setting.

I'm sure Don Thuren could help here and explain it better than I tried to.

I haven't seen any ill effects from doing this my tire wear looks very good no cupping, death wobble, wandering etc. From what I have read on the stock caster settings Dodge uses very little compared to other similar vehicles.

You can always return to the stock settings if you mark the adjusters.

Chuck E.

 

[NLofton]

caster specs

Thanks Chuck, I will try your method, but i would like to get the exact degrees, maybe Don will help out later. It's hard to convince a front end shop to go past factory specs They always seem to know more than they really do

 

[THUREN]

Caster specs...

I put 4 degrees "minimum" in every solid axle vehicle I ever work on. With some very large tire vehicles, less caster is easier on the steering when the vehicle is stationary, but on a Dodge with around 35" tires I say go with closer to 5 degrees.



Here's the thing... .



Caster, IMO, is one of the only specs that you can do yourself on a dodge that is up to what YOU want. It isn't about the "degree" but rather the feel and handling you get. Wider rims, different backspacing, and larger and wider tires all make a difference in "feel" so it's very hard to say what is optimal for ALL dodges, but stock caster is way too low a number.



If there was anything to worry about I would say take your truck into a shop to do this, but theres not... . If you can handle loosening a bolt and tapping the cam a half inch, you can do this yourself. The numbers REALLY don't matter as you cant go TOO far with the dodge cams, it's up to what YOU like...



Don... .

 

[SnoKing]

Well, I just cranked a bit more into mine. Cams pointers where at around 12 o'clock. Set passengers side to around 10:30 looking out from under the truck. Drivers side you are looking the other way, so it is around 1:30. Drives better. I may try a bit more, but will probably wait until the snow tires come off in the spring and the Mich"s are back on. With 40K+ on the clock I had started to notice a little wandering around on the road just the other day. Yeah, I drive it a lot!



On my 2001. 5 I needed a 15/16 socket with breaker bar for the nut (outside) and a wrench to turn and hold the nut on the inside. Cam turns with the nut on the inside.



SNOKING

 

[kozowski]

OK, so are there good instructions on how to adjust the caster? I searched, but couldn't find anything specific.

 

[SnoKing]

OK, so are there good instructions on how to adjust the caster? I searched, but couldn't find anything specific.

It is really not the difficult. Read my post above. SNOKING

 

[TMills]

It really isn't hard. I have adjusted my caster to the 12 o'clock posititon. I am not sure what the exact degree is. I would like to know what degrees the tick marks are on the control arms and what is everyone running in their trucks.

 

[KevinLewis]

So great, you have invested in two good after market track bar setups and still have a problem. So don't knock either one of them. SNOKING

I wasen't knocking either one of them. I was trying to provide some evedence on if the thuren track bar works to locate the front end. Thats all. I never said thuren was better than the others except with measurments.



I am a beleiver that there are several areas of our front end that cause wander. I have not found mine yet. I have done the t-type conversion and felt no diff.



Besides I only invested in one trac bar set up, mom and dad invested in the other.

 

[B KIRK]

Kevin.

I would have liked to seen you put the dial indicator on the 3rd gen frame mount bracket itself.

With that being a bolt on mount, I am curious if there is some movement there vrs a welded mount.

To late for that now since you switched over.

Anybody else with that setup willing to check?

Also, check back in about 6 months with a reading once the new bar breaks in a little.



Thanks

Brad

 

[JKinney]

Kevin have you put that dial indicator on the steering pump to see if your problem is there

 

[KevinLewis]

Kevin.

I would have liked to seen you put the dial indicator on the 3rd gen frame mount bracket itself.

With that being a bolt on mount, I am curious if there is some movement there vrs a welded mount.

To late for that now since you switched over.

Anybody else with that setup willing to check?

Also, check back in about 6 months with a reading once the new bar breaks in a little.



Thanks

Brad

I had planned to check all the points but i wanted to get it on. I will check back later when it breaks in. There was alot of movement in the old rubber one.

 

[Dane]

As you can see it helped alot. I am very happy with it although I still Wander all over the place

Check your steering shaft. Mine had 3/16 play after only 20k miles or so. That 3/16" translates to lots of play at the steering wheel. I used a Borgeson to fix it -



#ad




http://www.borgeson.com/TruckProductDodge.htm

 

[TMills]

This might be really stupid without going outside in the cold and looking at the shaft, but why can't you just weld the part that slides together (while in the truck of course) to keep it from moving?

 

[rmcnamee]

This might be really stupid without going outside in the cold and looking at the shaft, but why can't you just weld the part that slides together (while in the truck of course) to keep it from moving?

The shaft is designed to telescope or slide, which allows it to collapse in a frontal collision, reducing driver injuries.