Trac bar and Luke's Link

[MikeR]

Last week I installed a trac bar with the Luke's Link added to it. It really made a big difference in how the truck steered and tracked going down the road. No more wobbles when hitting potholes or bad railroad crossings. Seemed like a good product and I was happy with it.



Well, sunday night while doing an oil change, I found out a big downfall to the Luke's Link. On a stock-height 4x4, the big head if the Link gets nailed by the differential cover during suspension travel. And I'm not talking doing any 4-wheeling either. It was banging the snot out of my diff cover just driving on hard 2wd type dirt roads. I even felt it bang hard when I simply drove square off a sidewalk or curb.

I also discovered that under suspension compression, since the Link head is fixed to the frame, the axle is getting pushed back as it rides along the curved shape of the diff cover. That is NOT good.



It seems that if someone has at least a 2" front lift kit, then the truck will have enough clearance of the big Link head. But for us guys with stock hight rigs, it's just not right.



-Mike

 

[GOODE11]

clearance problems

Mike, I realized the same problem, on my 4X4. But I now have a 2" lift in the front, so I'll keep an eye on it. If its hitting, its coming off, another $75 bucks and I could of had a new track bar.



Anyone else?

 

[JHansen]

That's kinda poor.......

I looked at going that way-but I wanted something adjustable to recenter the axle after my levelling kit-yes I know it doesn't hurt anything but looks but I'm fussy... ... I ended up going with a DT-man was it pricy by the time I got it across the border, but it's a piece of artwork. Still don't have it on the truck-was thinking of framing it and putting it on the wall!



J

 

[JIM S.]

JHansen



Two friends of mine have the DT trackbars, they are beutiful units . . I know my stocker is worn out. but I just cant spend the money for a DT right now... I keep thinking I can make my own somehow but just havent come up with the right idea yet.

Jim

 

[JHansen]

The bar is really the easy part Jim-the tough part is the frame bracket. I kicked around some ideas for fabbing my own too-lots of them floating around in XJ (downsize Cherokee) Land that would be fairly easy to adapt to the Ram setup..... but my record for actually completing these kinda projects is dismal to say the least.....



Think the DT was $375 US-IIRC by the time it crossed the border and freight/duty/exchange was added it was a $750 CDN touch! Ouch! But whaddya gonna do? I'm planning to run this truck for a long long time-so the worst case scenario is I'll have to buy the rebuild stuff from DT (replacement Heim and poly bushing)-that'll be cheaper than a new dealer track bar I'm thinkin... .



If you want some of the ideas that were floating around in my head about trackbar stuff, PM or email me and I'll kick 'em your way-maybe you're the man that can bring them to fruition!



Jason

 

[thepitts]

DT trackbar?

Do you have the web site for the DT track bar? Just had mine replaced under warranty and getting ready for next time.

 

[Extreme1]

I have an upgraded adjustable (the ball joint, not the length) trackbar from Linstead alignment. It is only very slightly larger than stock and doesn't come close to causing interferance. Good price too. Try a search when it returns or e-mail me and I'll look for the reciept. They used to advertise in the back of TDR.

 

[thepitts]

I may have it

Is the Linstead kit also the DT setup? If so I have that web site sorry.

 

[LandShark]

I installed a Luke's link about a year ago and was concerned about the close clearance problem, so I called Luke. He said thay had done extensive testing and it was not a problem. I've since driven over 15,000 miles including some 4wd with my camper onboard with no problem. I'm wondering if you don't have additional suspension problems?

 

[MikeR]

I'm wondering if you don't have additional suspension problems?

No I don't have suspension problems. I work at a dealership, so I periodically put it up on the rack and check things thouroughly.

I only have 400mi on the Luke's.



Maybe it could be that your '95 sits higher than my '00. Over the years of looking, it seems that the 95-96's sit an inch or so higher in the front than the later years. But judging by the scratches on my diff cover, an inch wouldn't make much difference.

 

[WOT]

I too have installed the Lukes Link. When I noticed that the clearance on the top right bolt of the diff cover was tight I called and asked about it. He said they are close but usually aren't a problem. He continued to say that it was ok to grind down the interferance on the Lukes kit as it is plenty strong.



I will look at mine again tomorrow and if it has and tell-tale signs of collision with the diff I will take the grinder to it.

 

[JHansen]

Sorry for the delay Eric-there is a website that one of their customers put out. The pricing is outdated as are the pics I think..... but it'll give you an idea of what it's all about. Here it is: www.angelfire.com/az/dtprofab/catopening.html



Jason

 

[LandShark]

WARNING! The Angelfire link in the above post had multiple pop-up ads and dead links!!!

 

[JHansen]

Doesn't surprise me-like I said it's not their own site-a customer put it up for them. You'd be better off to phone them and talk to them-but they are hellish busy down there-you'll probably only get to talk to the secretary but if you leave your name and number one of the guys'll probably call you back.



Jason

 

[Huntmastr1]

I installed Lukes Link monday night and guess what? Mine is hitting the differential cover

I saw it was close but after several test in a ditch it had seemed ok. Then after only driving to work on some terrible Houston roads I have a gouge in my differantial cover.

I have order a track bar from NAPA to tide me over till I get a repair kit from Linstad which I used with total success on a previous vehicle.

Should'nt have tried to save time and gone with Linstad from the start.

 

[Extreme1]

Re: I may have it

Originally posted by thepitts

Is the Linstead kit also the DT setup?

No, the Linstead is a repair kit (or complete replacement bar) for the original. I did the kit myself but I wouldn't recommend it for most.



Just buy the whole bar with the kit already done. It's cheap enough that if that were available when I did mine, I would have bought it that way.

 

[thepitts]

Thanks

Web site, atleast I now know how to contact them and what it looks like. We throw away heim joints like that all the time. I will have to see if I can save some.

 

[WOT]

Looked at mine, sure enough a little scar was on the right side near the top of the diff cover. It wasn't hitting the bolt that I at first thought was too close.



Took the air grinder to it and buzzed a good bit of the lukes link off where it was hitting. Looks good now. Basically ground a corner down almost to the threads.



I painted the Lukes Link & the cover when finished so I make sure I know if it ever rubs again.

 

[EricBu12]

Boy!!

Glad I decided to return the luke link before I even opened the package! I couldn't get my old bar off, and I was in a hurry so I returned it and now I think I will get the DT bar.



I just got the check from Luke today so later on i will get the new bar... .

 

[Cooker]

I was really considering the Lukes but after this thread I may consider a different alternative.



Thanks for the info.