I looked into this quite a few years ago, I was trying to find information on (and I know it's in there, somewhere) steering upgrades. I have a steering gear brace, what I'm looking for now is a non-bushing track bar replacement and a "T" type steering linkage. The steering linkage as I recall can be directly replaced by a 5th gen linkage. Is this correct? Now the track bar has turned into something different. There used to be only one conversion that required a bracket and some drilling. Now there is a bunch of stuff I can't make heads or tails out of. I can't keep a bushing in the track bar because of all the oil vapor from the breather. This is for my stock 01.5 4X4. Can anyone help me out

 

A poly bushing won't 'melt' from oil contamination. A lukes link can be used to snug up the TRE type joint at the other end.

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/...IhMWncwvs4czsY

I believe it's 2009 style steering that presents a significant upgrade. My buddy put it on his '94. Should be slightly less effort to install on an 01+.
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Edit: i think it's the moog DS800981A (or jobber equivalent).

 

The last bushing that where installed were poly. Didn't last any longer than any of the others. Thinking about getting one of the Rare Parts adjustable track bars and modifying the one end for a Hiem joint. The rock crawler crowd uses them on their 3 and 4 link suspensions and seems to hold up quite well. On the "T" type steering link, does anyone know why the note says "NOTE: Will NOT work with 2000 to 2002 Ram 2500/3500 model trucks with stock 16" wheels. Due to clearance issues, you must have 17" or larger wheels"? What exactly is the clearance issue? Spending an extra $2500 or so on tires and wheels is a deal breaker.

 

The clearance issue is normally related to the overall size of the tie rod end joint. If they’re much larger height/od than stock, you’ll run into wheel contact.

 

The poly bushings do last longer, and it's replaceable. Combine that with the Luke's link on the other end, you double/triple the normal service life of the otherwise disposable trac bar. Heims are known to wear quickly and get noisy.

As for the larger joint clearance... Any change in wheel offset, 17" wheel upgrade, a wheel spacer, or certain free-spin kits will increase your track width sufficiently for clearance.

 

My Thuren has quite the knuckle on the drivers side and a poly bushing that stays dry for the passenger. Lots of work though, expensive now and doesn't clear all truck brackets...

Since it is a relatively short throw, can you make a shield/hood for it out of a heavy hunk of rain gear fabric or something?

Just a thought,
Kurt

 

Why not move the problem. Get the oil vapor away from there. Pipe it somewhere else. Or you could just machine a brass bushing. Dodge did have a crappy steering setup for 4wd.

 

They recycled the XJ/TJ steering and suspension design. Then kept beefing up it's shortcomings over the following 10-15 years.

 

What about the BD adjustable track bar? As I recall it was a little cheaper than the Thuren one.

I'm going to be going down this road very soon too.

 

I helped my buddy finally put one of those on. He bought it well in advance, and out of anticipation. We ended up swapping in his Borgeson box and all that jazz, and then ended up running the stock trac bar (w/Luke's Link) for another 2-3 years.