Way too much reading

[DarrellB]

Guys, I've been reading all the treads on tracking bars, and thing mine has laied down and died. :{ What I was wanting to know in my service manual it says to change to tracking bar you need a tracking bar puller. Do I really need the puller or can it be done without one? I'm going to Napa this weekend to order a new tracking bar and will be putting it in next weekend. (I think) Thanks for your time and hopefuly this will take care of the wonder that has started in my steering.



Big D

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

I didn't use one

I used a puller that i rented from autozone. It was a bigger ball joint puller. I had to "warm" it up with the torch (didn't take much) and it popped lose. When you go to put the new one back in your going to have to push the pickup. When I did mine there were four bigger guys pushing and pulling south (pushing on passengers side, pulling on drivers) on my grille guard to get the slack out of the four link. It only took an hour including getting the puller.

I installed a Moog Automotive track bar that has a lifetime warrenty.



Brian

 

[Alaskaskiff]

I used a come along to pull the front of the truck into alignment for the trackbar replacement.

 

[illflem]

I've replaced trackbars on over 10 rigs without a puller, just a hand sledge. If you don't jack the rig while doing the replacement there is no need for realignment. This is the manual recommended way to do it.

 

[RCook]

Pickle Fork

Seems to me the only special tool you need is an inexpensive pickle fork - then you're prepared when you have to replace it again with your lifetime warranted NAPA part. On my 98. 5 4x4 I had no trouble aligning for replacement - the new one popped into place right where the old one had been, with the slightest bit of shoving the truck back and forth on a level surface. Having a friend handy does help some.

 

[jsutterby]

I took mine off last spring to install a Luke's Link and used a tie rod separator (pickle fork), although it can do a little damage to the rubber boot. It worked fine with a little pounding. To reinstall and get everything lined up, I just had my wife wiggle the steering wheel while I put it back on. It just takes a little bit to get them lined up. My . 02