2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Track Bar Woes

[ndurbin]

To make a long story short cotter pin and the nut that holds the driver's side end of the track bar fell off going down the road. Went to reinstall the track bar and it won't slide in the last 1/2" or so of the stud. Looking from below up at the frame bracket the stud appears to be about a 1/16th" short to the passenger side of the hole. Loosened the tie rod and sway bar, plus jacked the front end all the way up so it could hang free. After doing all this it won't move from side to side to get that last little bit.



Any tips to try? Already tried several redneck ones, bumping against a curb, heating the frame mount up, beating it to death with a deadblow hammer, and using a confusing strap method. Nothing has worked.



HELP PLEASE!!!!!! This is getting me down!



Truely any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BILLVO]

I have had luck with weight of pickup on ground. have someone turn steering wheel. I have found it to be easiest way to move axle assembly side to side to align this on occasion.

 

[TGriffith]

Ditto what Billvo said, I've done many Jeep lifts and have used that trick to get the track bar reinstalled on every one of them.

Good luck

 

[ndurbin]

In a round about way thats been tried kinda, when I had it down nudging it against a curb. Thanks for the idea tho.

 

[MarkMiller]

Try having someone sit in the truck and turn the wheel while it is NOT against a curb. It should walk the front of the truck a couple of inches left to right.



Or the strap method, tie into the frame on one side and the steering knuckle on the other with a 10000 lb racheting strap and crank away until it lines up. I have used both methods multiple times, even used the rachet on a leafsprung rig and it worked.

 

[wcjp]

Try having someone sit in the truck and turn the wheel while it is NOT against a curb. It should walk the front of the truck a couple of inches left to right.

Definitely need someone to turn the steering wheel. This shifts the whole truck. The tracbar will pop right in no problem. I think the torque on the castle nut is 70 ft lb. The other end should be about 130 ft lb. This might be a good time to replace the tracbar. A friend recently bought a 98' 12v. After driving an old Bronco he couldn't believe how great the truck drove. I insisted the old tracbar was bad. After replacement the truck now drives great.

 

[ndurbin]

No need to replace it right now and I caint get my hands on a Thuren track bar for atleast a week possibly two, and I'm NOT dropping $500 for solid steel's when mine is still usuable. Besides it was replaced just under 3 years ago. Wouldn't know what to do with it if it steered straight.



I'll try it down on it's own weight and turn the steering wheel again so we'll see what happens.

 

[ndurbin]

No dice. Ran it from lock to lock. I could see the slack space in the ball joint relax close to full right lock then as it went back towards full left lock it would tighten up but wouldn't slip in any further.

 

[wcjp]

If your assistant is doing this while your under the truck and the tracbar won't go in the tracbar is probably toast. Could've bent itself on the way out. Moving the steering wheel is by far the easiest way to install the bar. I've done this with the vehicle off. The key is having a second person.

 

[MarkMiller]

If it is that close tightening the nut ought to draw the balljoint into the sleeve unless there is a physical problem with the joint. Also look here:

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/product_info.php?products_id=445

and here:

http://www.pscmotorsports.com/product_info.php?products_id=448



That is the adapter and trac to switch the 2nd gen trac to the 3rd gen trac. Also for future reference, that is the website for PSC motorsports, the be all end all in high performance steering. They have boxes, pumps, etc, etc... for our trucks. they also sell the solid steel box brace and borgeson needle bearing steering shaft for our trucks.

 

[McLaughlin]

Had a similar problem when I installed a 3rd gen trackbar only I had to move mine between 3/4 and 1 in. I moved the axle assembly by supporting the truck on the frame with the front wheels off the ground and hooking a ratchet strap (my son's idea) to the axle on the passenger side of the truck and the frame on the driver's side. After expanding some effort in ratching the strap, the driver's side of the trackbar lined right up. I don't see any reason it wouldn't work for you. I used a small 4k ratchet strap but it would have been a lot easier (and probably safer) if I'd have used a two inch ratchet strap.

 

[PRattenbury]

I've had my track bar out a couple times now. It's a worse pain to get back in when the front suspension is lifted, like mine is now. I use a come-along to pull the axle to the driver side with respect to the frame. Works like a champ.