2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Track bar installation

[BSowers]

Here I was, wrenching happily underneath my truck... . OK, so some of us have perverse joys. I was ALMOST done with the installation of SSI track bar conversion and I was putting in the last bolt through the track bar and TBK bracket but it wouldn't go through. I tried everything with wiggling, adjusting, light tapping, another beer while staring at it to no avail, "She won't fit Jim"
So then I lowered the track bar and tried the bolt on it's own. Lo and behold, the holes were misaligned by half a bolt thickness. Has anyone else run into this problem? Hopefully this is a rare occurance but MURPHY decided to pick on me. :{
Right now my truck is down for the count..... unless of course, I want to turn my track bar into... ... ... . a DRAG LINK.
I wasn't about to drill it out considering the possibility of adding freeplay I didn't want

 

[JacobsD]

When you pop the track bar out the axle of the truck moves over some, because the track bar kind of holds it at a neutral position. I usually use a comealong or a set of binders off a trailer and hook it to part of the axle on the passenger side and part of the frame on the drivers side and that will pull it back inline. You don't want to lengthen the track bar because then it will have your axle thrown way over the the passenger side.

Good luck

Edit: Maybe this will explain it better.

With the trac bar in, the center of the truck and the center of the axle are like this:

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When the trac bar is removed, especially if your on jacks or a lift, it will be like this:

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Just from the stress of it either hanging or force up on the frame. I hope that explains it some

 

[AKAMAC]

I went with the Thuren bar for this reason. "If" the bracket doesn't fit do you weld or drill?

Since you have it, use it, do what needs to be done.

You are talking about the bracket aren't you?

 

[BSowers]

I'm actually talking about the two flanges that receive the track bar. It has nothing to do with the frame of the truck OR whether the truck has shifted. I have the bracket already mounted utilizing the three attachment points. EVEN without the track bar in place the two holes do not line up to allow the bolt to slip through.