Track Bar

[kewltrks]

Track bar has some play in it, Question is replace track bar or just the bushings? If just the bushings are they easy enough to replace or they need a shop to press them in and out?

Thanks

 

[AEdelheit]

Replace the entire bar and make sure to upgrade to 16mm bolts on each end if its not already. The stock track bar itself has a good bit of deflection and I have not seen replacement bushings hold up well.

2007 was an odd year where some had 14mm bolts on one end and 16mm bolts on the other, the 14mm bolts are prone to obliging mounting holes, breaking in half and a few other things so its best to upgrade the bolts if you have the 14mm.

 

[kewltrks]

Replace the entire bar and make sure to upgrade to 16mm bolts on each end if its not already. The stock track bar itself has a good bit of deflection and I have not seen replacement bushings hold up well.

2007 was an odd year where some had 14mm bolts on one end and 16mm bolts on the other, the 14mm bolts are prone to obliging mounting holes, breaking in half and a few other things so its best to upgrade the bolts if you have the 14mm.

Ok sounds good. Thanks for the info.

 

[Regcabguy]

Replace the entire bar and make sure to upgrade to 16mm bolts on each end if its not already. The stock track bar itself has a good bit of deflection and I have not seen replacement bushings hold up well.

2007 was an odd year where some had 14mm bolts on one end and 16mm bolts on the other, the 14mm bolts are prone to obliging mounting holes, breaking in half and a few other things so its best to upgrade the bolts if you have the 14mm.

I have one of the original Thuren bars from the days where he sold them to Lorenz. 2007 and I don't have a clue which bolts are in there.

 

[Montanashawn]

Make sure to tighten the bolts to spec. I can’t recall the specs, but I believe they are on the Thuren website. It is pretty tight. If you don’t get them tight enough you will get a pretty loud thump when turning the wheels that is kinda hard to pinpoint. I had to retighten mine.

 

[crispyboy]

I tried the bushing replacement and was not impressed. I bought an aftermarket Carli track bar which really improved the steering. My truck has stock tires and suspension.

 

[EDankievitch]

I went the Moog replacement track bar on my 2013. Only the death wobble destroyed it in very short order. Also really loosened up my steering box and damaged my steering shaft. The last time it got bad really bad before I could get the truck off the road and stopped. New EMF ball joints and a Senergy track bar along with new Mopar steering linkage ( Senergy’s system was back ordered) and re setting the back lash in the steering box things are as good as they are going to get. The Senergy track bar seems to be the way to go. Very tight bushings and adjustable.
I still have play in my upper steering shaft. The EMF shaft bushings helped the slop is in the tilt Wheel assembly. Short of changing the whole steering column I’m stuck with it.

 

[kewltrks]

Make sure to tighten the bolts to spec. I can’t recall the specs, but I believe they are on the Thuren website. It is pretty tight. If you don’t get them tight enough you will get a pretty loud thump when turning the wheels that is kinda hard to pinpoint. I had to retighten mine.

I'll look the torque up, Just ordered the Moog track bar and sway bar links as well those are worn. After all this is done pretty much front end is new. tie rods, drag link upper and lower ball joints .

 

[AEdelheit]

I'll look the torque up, Just ordered the Moog track bar and sway bar links as well those are worn. After all this is done pretty much front end is new. tie rods, drag link upper and lower ball joints .

If you are using all Moog parts then order spares now, I have never seen parts fail as fast as Moog on these trucks.

 

[GrantP]

If you are using all Moog parts then order spares now, I have never seen parts fail as fast as Moog on these trucks.

I had a Moog on mine a long time ago. It came with a lifetime warranty, I didn't realize that would mean spending the rest of my life constantly replacing it. Replaced it with a Carli many years ago and haven't touched it since.

 

[EDankievitch]

My Moog track bar was fine until the death wobble took it out.

 

[AEdelheit]

My Moog track bar was fine until the death wobble took it out.

Or did it cause the DW and you just didint realize how bad it was until after?

 

[EDankievitch]

Or did it cause the DW and you just didint realize how bad it was until after?

I had a set of bad ball joints. Drove me nuts trying to figure it out. The million mile warranty XRF ball joints felt good until I took them out an they more or less fell apart. Tried to get warranty but couldn’t get anyone over there at XRF to return a call or email. Installed a set of EMS units and no more death wobble. Just tracking and very loose steering. Ended up replacing almost everything again. Now it drives almost new. Only issue I have still from the Death wobble is play in the Tilt wheel Asy. Short of replacing the steering column I’m stuck with it.

 

[kewltrks]

If you are using all Moog parts then order spares now, I have never seen parts fail as fast as Moog on these trucks.

Well will see how far I go with the Moog's before start replacing parts.

 

[Regcabguy]

Does Carli's use the same Chinese heim on the one end?

 

[GrantP]

Does Carli's use the same Chinese heim on the one end?

I don't think so. I remember receiving a recall notice about one of the ends (axle side IIRC), all I had to do was take a picture of it and email the photo to them. The new one was sent immediately and the shop that sold it to me replaced it for free. I don't remember how many years ago that was, I had actually completely forgotten about it until your post.

I assume that recall was the "Chinese heim" you're referring to.

 

[Wayne M.]

I diagnose a bad track bar (aside from an obvious defect) is to stand outside the truck, window down, idling, and shake the steering wheel. Now eyeball the edge/ shoulder of the tire with the fender lip, and see if there’s any axle shifting. The hydraulic force of push/ pull by the steering box will make it obvious.
Works especially well with Jeep XJ’s.

 

[Regcabguy]

I don't think so. I remember receiving a recall notice about one of the ends (axle side IIRC), all I had to do was take a picture of it and email the photo to them. The new one was sent immediately and the shop that sold it to me replaced it for free. I don't remember how many years ago that was, I had actually completely forgotten about it until your post.

I assume that recall was the "Chinese heim" you're referring to.

Yes. Carli guarantees their components for life to the original owner with receipt as I remember.

 

[GrantP]

Geez, my memory is sh... ahem, short. I actually posted about this back in 2017.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/carli-track-bar-recall.259654/

 

[AEdelheit]

Does Carli's use the same Chinese heim on the one end?

Pretty sure they use FK heims , same as Thuren , which are made in the US.