What are symptoms of worn track bar?

[Runaway]

Clock sitting at 35,600 miles and the last couple thousand miles I've noticed the front end seems ... loose, especialy when changing lanes. At first I brushed this feeling off on our fantastic roads we have in Wisconsin But I am getting suspicious! Had appointment with dealer in AM, but unable to make it til next week now.



What symtoms lead can be felt, seen if track bar is worn. Do the tires wear? I never had a problem with the "99" truck. But certainly can tell something different with the "01" the last few grand.



Thanks for any help.

 

[Kimrey]

Do you still have the factory shocks? It sounds like your shocks are gone. My has the same miliege and the front end was loose feeling. Put Bilstiens shocks on them and now it rides better than factory. Thanks everybody for suggesting to me these shocks!



Kimrey

 

[The patriot]

Mine was making a "clunking" sound.

Eric

 

[Mallory]

Crawl under the truck, place your hand on the upper track arm joint. Have someone gently rock the steering back and forth (truck not running). You will feel any slop, factory manual sayes replace when play is . 080 or worse.

 

[FATCAT]

Like Mallory said, have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth and you look at the ball joint (driver's side) of the track bar. If the ball joint end rocks back and forth, its a goner.



If you have the dealer replace the track bar, make sure you have them put the old one in the bed of the truck and take it with you. If you new one start to wear out in time, then contact Luke's Link and order a rebuild kit ($50) for the ball joint end and put it on your old track bar and reuse your old track bar.



The track bar is rebuildable on both ends, so don't throw the old one away!

 

[Ted Constantine]

Mallory and FATCAT hit the nail on the head for the test. You will be able to see it. My first track bar was VERY bad at 24k ish. I got it looked at because my sister was visiting and was scared to drive it with the wander. I have 34k on it now and it is loosening up again. I will take it in next week to have it replaced and the rest of the front end checked out. If this next one goes as fast I will try a MOOG track bar.



I am not willing to replace the whole front end , steering gear, track bar, etc ever 10 to 20k to keep it going straight down the road.



Ted

 

[Runaway]

Thanks

for the input guys, will check out this week while spouse is home this week. Shocks??? Forgot that I replace them buggers about the same mileage on the "99. " Possibly, will have to check out both.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Moog parts are still unavailable for 2001's as far as I know. I haven't checked back for two months now, though. If anyone knows if Moog is now available, please let us know ! I need ball joints too, not just a track bar. Every dealer, every parts store, has all told me that the 99, 00, and 01 are ALL DIFFERENT in the steering parts numbers and fit.

Yup, Dodge Different.

 

[Snow man]

Mine ent at 50K,with the plow on it,im sure this one wont last as long. I test mine like others mentioned.