Tracking bar

[TerryG]

I have noticed over the last several months the steering has become extremely vague on my 01 ETH. I crawled under the truck and had my wife turned steering wheel back and forth and noticed that track bar had at least one eighth inch of slack,the truck has less than 25k so I took it in the next day to the dealership and they confirmed the problem saying that Dodge allows up to . 070 movement but mine was excessive. They replaced the bar and I went on my way,I could not believe how much different the truck handled and how much more precise the steering is. I wrote this thinking that there might be someone having the same symtoms and that this could be a solution.

 

[Cooker]

I'm glad you had a decent expereince at the dealer.

 

[HVS]

I could have writen the same letter . I had the bar replaced at

about 25000 miles. Seems to be getting bad again at 36000

miles.

















2001 2500 HO 6spd Camper pkg 5th wheel plate pyro and

boost gauges.

 

[MoparDave]

Check out this site I'm sure DC is not happy about it



http://www.dodgetrucktowing.com/

 

[LSMITH]

I really hope you guys have better luck than I have with trackbars, I am on the 5th one in about 90K miles on my 99. Change the trackbar as soon as it starts getting bad or the slop in it will take out the tie rod ends and/or balljoints and/or steering gear, the extra stress of the axle moving under the front end is more than they can take. I really believe the front end of these trucks is under strength and generally a poor design, it should last 100K miles MINUMUM, not 20 or 30K.

 

[illflem]

At 174k I'm on my 3rd trackbar. At least my warranted for life Napa trackbars have lasted more than double the time of the stock bar. 30k on stock 70k+ on Napa. No hassle whatsoever trading the old one for a new.

 

[Driftwood Ram]

Part number

Originally posted by illflem

At 174k I'm on my 3rd trackbar. At least my warranted for life Napa trackbars have lasted more than double the time of the stock bar. 30k on stock 70k+ on Napa. No hassle whatsoever trading the old one for a new.

Bill:

I know it is probably somewhere in archives, but do you have the NAPA part number handy, and if so would you post it. I am still on the stock one at 101,000 miles and based on what I read here, must need to replace it.

Thanks,

Tracy

 

[illflem]

Tracy, the Napa number on my last receipt dated 6/00 is 272-4229, line NCP, price $179. Hope the number is still good, www.napaonline.com doesn't recognize the # nor do they say a bar is even available for our trucks. Their site has failed me before though, but my local store has pulled though.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Don't forget - if your bar isn't too worn you can rebuild it much cheaper using a Lukes Link rebuild kit.



Do a search and find a lot about it.

 

[Rob Thomas]

track bar

You can also rebuild it yourself if you have acsess to a welder. Cut the joint end off, weld on a theaded sleve to the track bar, find a tie rod end that fit's in the frame hole and thread it in. Then the next time it goes bad, just replace the tie rod end, faster and cheaper.

 

[Sasquash]

DT Trac Bar

The Dt Trac Bar is $330. The install was easy. You will need a sharp hole saw for two holes I think 3/4". You get good instructions with the kit. Their # is 1-888-776-2403 and they are in Arizona. You can center the axle under the frame if you have any lift kit on your truck too. You'll be impressed with the quality.

Dan

 

[BigBadDodge]

Had a problem, bought the DT Bar, have no more problems



even with 36" tires and 4. 5" of lift



DT Trac Bar



Scott

 

[Scrappy]

track bar

If you got close to 30k out of your bar then you're lucky or I am really unlucky, Mine was bad at 8. 5k! The dealer put it on the lift and did the inspection and couldn't find anything , so I picked up my truck and had the wife turn the steering wheel while I looked underneath. It took me about two seconds to find it ( It had about a 1/4 " of movement), so I took it back and told them what to look at and they had it replaced in about 45 min.

 

[Goddard]

front ends?!#@$%

try this 28000 miles dealer replaced track bar-ball joints on both sides-right side spindle and bearings. this truck has never been off-roaded or abused in any way!!! there is a definet problem with these trucks!!!!! everyone needs to make sure dodge hears about it in order to get something none. ! i should not have to spend money on AFTERMARKET PARTS TO KEEP A 30 SOME THOUSAND DOLLAR TRUCK TOGETHER!!

 

[NVR FNSH]

Goddard,

What are the symptoms of your truck? Has the dealer done a proper alignment?



Brian

 

[LSMITH]

Goddard, add to your list all of the tie rod ends, drag link and steering gear and you will have my truck at 32K miles. It sucks, there is NO reason for it, and it is really frustrating. The steering on our trucks is weak to say the least. I have a little over 90K miles on it now and just put the 5th trackbar in it. Keep an eye on your trackbar, odds are good that it will not make another 20K miles, and when it gets bad it stresses the other parts of the steering. If you have a 36K mile warranty start replacing the components as they fail with the best the aftermarket has to offer, I can tell you from experience that the Dodge replacement parts are just as bad as what you got out of the factory.



On the bright side the truck runs great, and when in good shape drives as well as anything out there. 7000 pounds and 20 MPG with all the power a guy could ever need makes up for some serious shortcomings in these trucks.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

145k on the origional track bar, still no play, none. Maybe it is only a problem on the newer trucks? Maybe I got the only good one Dodge has ever made.

 

[BILLYGEE]

All Guys w/trackbar-steering wander problems

If Everyone who has these problems would report this to the NTSB (Forgot their website but it can be found w/a search... ) Then maybe they would recall these trucks and make DC put a decent replacement on at their cost as it should be... Original components were and still are after 8 years a real pos... I believe that all Ram owners that haven't had this problem are naive to it's existence or haven't ever been on anything bout a super smooth paved road... Drive it on a few washboards everyweek and I'll guarantee you after a few thousand miles that the oem trackbar is toast. That's my . 02

 

[shendren]

i just purchased the lindstad alignment track bar and link adjustment. do a search on it. you will never have to replace the track bar again? hopefully. are the fords underbuilt like the dodges?



scott.

 

[Goddard]

symptoms

symtoms were that the truck would wonder on the road and you always had to drive the truck, you could not just let it go down the road. also it will seem like you have some play in the steering when driving but that would be because of the ;loose track bar. tire wear is obvious and will not be even across the front. actuallt three of the ball joints were bad, if all are loose then these symptoms will of course be different. dealer has completed work but will not get front end alignment until next week (schedualing problem with local alignment shop-the dealer did not have a rack that would handle my truck). the truck drives out pretty decent even with the front end out of alignment. the steering wheel is off to the left a little bit. my right steering tire is about junk in 15000 miles. hope this will help. ?