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BD suspension upgrade components

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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 12:32 PM
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BD suspension upgrade components

Anyone installed the two new BD suspension components designed to eliminate "death wobble" issue on Dodge trucks


Steering Box Stabilizer
http://www.dieselperformance.com/ind...uct/index/151P

Adjustable Track Bar
http://www.dieselperformance.com/ind...uct/index/180P

I am putting a Kore 3" suspension in my truck and curious if it would make sense to install these upgrades at same time.

Opinions, expirence etc.

Dave
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 12:41 PM
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Thumbs up

My lift kit came with an adjustable trac bar. However I added a steering brace from lazarsmith.com and I highly recommend it. It really tightens up the steering.
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 01:18 PM
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I used the Defiant steering brace, it's awesome!
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 01:58 PM
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I've got the BD stabilizer - very satisfied.
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 05:37 PM
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BD's steering box upgrade goes thru 2008....the track bar only thru 2007....this seems to be true with other brands of track bar upgrades too....

is there something significantly different between 2008 and earlier models?

With a 3" lift do I need to add more than a steering box upgrade?

If I need a track bar who makes a good one for a 2008 model 2500?

Thanks for all the help

I am a newbie to the dodge world.

Dave
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeyT
I've got the BD stabilizer - very satisfied.
Me too. Was wondering about the track bar, it's nice you can adjust it without unbolting it like the Carli one but I think I'll go for the Carli when the time comes.
Saw the BD one at Dyno Days, it's h-u-g-e.

I think your steering box is fine.
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Old Oct 18, 2009 | 09:45 PM
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Steering box stabilizers make a HUGE difference in bump steer reduction as well as prolonging the life of your steering box by taking the twisting force off the shaft while turning. I highly recommend it for any 4x4 truck, stock or otherwise.

As for the track bar, in 2007 Dodge in their infinite wisdom decided to start changing the sizes of the bolt holes for the track bar. Prior to 2007, the 3rd gen track bar bolts were 14mm. In 2007, some came with 14mm on both sides, and some came with a 14mm bolt on one side, a 16mm bolt on the other side. By 2008, they had changed over to 16mm bolts on both sides. Don Thuren has a track bar with the correct bushings/hardware for the 2007's and 2008+'s (as well as for the earlier 3rd gens). I have a Thuren track bar on my '08 and was one of the first to order one from him with an '08 truck. This was right when Don was figuring out the discrepancy with Dodge's bolt sizes. He initially sent me the standard 14mm bushings and hardware and, when I informed him they were too small, he started investigating, figured out what Dodge did, and sent me replacement bushings and hardware. Had it on the truck for over 40K miles now and, at 64K miles on the odometer, the truck still handles and steers like new. I've had 35x13.00 tires on the truck since day 3 of ownership.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 06:16 AM
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BD track bar

I just installed the BD track bar. It came with inner bushings for 14mm bolts. After a call to BD they said they are working on a kit for the 08 and newer trucks with 16mm bolts, nothing available yet. My 07 had one 16mm and one 14mm bolt (14mm bolt in a hole almost big enough for 16mm).

I was able to find bushings for 5/8" bolts at tractor supply and made track bar work. 5/8 = .625", 16mm = .629".

Also just installed defiant steering box stabilizer. Nice part, Paul at defiant was very helpful to talk to. Cant tell much difference but I think it helped tighten front up some in the death wobble fight.

Adjustable track bar and finally getting tires correctly balanced was biggest part of death wobble cure.

Shane
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 08:13 AM
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Kinda sucks it didn't come ready to install with the right hardware though eh?
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 09:38 PM
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I just grabbed a steering brace off ebay. 140 bucks is alot more up my ally then 300 like some of these companies want.

Link

Lucky me I got the lifetime alignment thing from Firestone so every time I change anything I am going to take it in regaurdless.
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Old Oct 19, 2009 | 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by bansh-eman
I just grabbed a steering brace off ebay. 140 bucks is alot more up my ally then 300 like some of these companies want.

Link

Lucky me I got the lifetime alignment thing from Firestone so every time I change anything I am going to take it in regaurdless.
I bought one of those too. Easy install and seemed to help the steering.
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Old Oct 20, 2009 | 04:39 AM
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You can upgrade a pre-08 Ram (they have the 14mm bolts as mentioned above) to the 16mm track bar bolts used on 08+ trucks. If you order a track bar from Thuren just ask for the conversion kit which has the larger 16mm bolts and the necessary locking nuts. All you need to do on the earlier Rams is drill the mounting holes on each side a little larger with a 9/16 drill bit. Takes all of 5 minutes. This is what i did on my 04.5.
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Old Oct 20, 2009 | 04:53 PM
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My steering box crapped out, so when I replaced it with a Red Head unit I figured the stabilizer was good insurance. Between the new gear and the stabilizer I noticed a marked difference in steering stability.
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Old Oct 21, 2009 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeyT
My steering box crapped out, so when I replaced it with a Red Head unit I figured the stabilizer was good insurance. Between the new gear and the stabilizer I noticed a marked difference in steering stability.
Im glad to hear that because my steering box just crapped out too. Just ordered the red head and a psc brace. Hope I have the same results.
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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 02:48 PM
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I just got the steering brace from PCS today. I must say it's SUPER nice! There is no way I would ever reccomend someone paying extra for these other guys braces. This thing is stout and looks great, to my door I paid only 165.

First thing I literally said whenI opened the box was, "wow this thing is way nicer then I expected." That was after carrying it from my door thinking, dang this thing is heavy. oly 18 lbs

Is the 1 5/16 socket you guys have a 3/4 in drive? I have not beena ble to find a 1/2 drive socket in that size to remove my drive shaft nut.
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