After many months of dealing with a "popping" sound coming from my track bar and concerns about the stress my 2'' leveling kit has placed on my front end components, a solution has been found. I was also concerned about my steering box as I am about to move up to 35'' tires.

Mike (member XLR8R) from Lazarsmith has introduced another product to his offerings. The STEEL STEERING SECTOR SHAFT STABILIZER or a.k.a. the 'SSSSS'. He has also sourced some bushings that can replace the stockers in our track bars with a more robust unit that will withstand more stress and account for differences in TB length without replacing the entire piece. This product acts as a steering stabilizer as well as a drop block in one unit.


Additionally, I went with the optional Polyurethane sway bar bushings and end links.

My truck now seems to steer better, with more control, has some handling improvement and most of all.........No more "Popping"!!! Thanks Mike for this product!!!

I haven't driven the truck very many miles yet...and will have to report back later. But I have no doubt this will be a set of products that will help our stock Dodge Front ends with or without a leveling kit.


Here are some pics of the new powdercoated 'SSSSS'!

 

And here are some more pics of the 'SSSSS' with optional Polyurethane sway bar bushings!

 

This is my truck , stock, but with 2'' leveling kit and before the 'SSSSS' install and new TB bushings.






And here it is after the installation of the SSSSS!

 

Here are some pics of the Track bar off.....with stock bushings removed and then the new bushings. Note the offset of one of the bushings to account for the 2'' leveling kit. 1/8th of an inch to the opposite side from center helps "lengthen" the track bar to account for the differences in needed length. According to Mike, it is 1/16th of an inch extra in length needed for every 1'' of lift for the truck. In my case 1/8th of an inch since I have a 2'' front lift. He told me these bushings can account from 0 lift up to 8'' of lift.

 

thats basically about the same thing as what DSS makes isnt it?
I know a few guys that have those.

 

Looks good and I bet it works well!

Lazarsmith.com needs to get back to work on some more 2nd Gen stuff.

 

Robert/Mike,
Since I drive a last century truck, I have a question. Would your front end problem have led to "death wobble"?

 

Yes it is similar. No doubt the DSS is a fine product. The 'SSSSS' gives us another option to look at. This product also acts as a drop block to keep the front end geometry the same when adding a 2'' lift.

There may be some other benefits/features about it and hopefully Mike will chime in and add to what im saying about it.

 

Im sure it could have. With the right (wrong) set of tires or continued wear on certain pieces of my front end I bet it would have been likely. Thankfully I haven't experienced it, YET.


I have heard that the 315 BFG ATs are especially prone to DW and one reason I have avoided that particular tire. But I do plan to add some BFG 35'' Muds very soon. I had been reluctant to add any tire size until I got my popping straightened out. I have been happy with my BFG 285s and have about 50k miles of service out of them. But they are to small now, imo.

 

Yeah right!! That is all he has been working on is 2nd gen this and 2nd gen that. He needs to focus on the up and coming.....not the been there and gone.....crowd... <jk>

 

Looks good!!! Just another reason for me to send Mike more money!!!!

 

Now that's no way to make friends.

 

Sorry El Presidente! I gotta pick at ya about something! No harm intended.

Mike is a busy man but im sure he will come out with something else for you 2nd genners to spend some more hard earned money on. I can't get caught up spending money. It's hard to finish building up my transmission fund with so many other toys available.

I know Shane knows exactly what im talking about! Thankfully my trans is still holding. For now.

 

Trying to get this thread back on track......


I just wanted to add that I have driven the truck a little more and im more impressed with it every passing mile. It feels like a new truck or better than it did new. Steering is very easy and not stressed or binding in any way.

35'' BFG MTs are coming in the VERY near future.

 

How hard was it to change out those sway bar bushings?

Did he sell those also?