Well the time has come where I can't take it anymore....the noises, feelings, pops, and so on that are associated w/ the front end of these trucks. The front end feels like crap when driving and is all over the road. I'm ready to get rid of these "gremelins" since here in the the next month, I will be towing 10k daily for my business and don't want any down time that will lose me money.

My first step will be to replace the stock trac bar. Pretty sure I'll go DT since my truck is lifted. I know I need to replace the lower ball joints, so I mind as well do the uppers too. My sway bar end links are a tad bent, so those will need replacing. Might just do the steering stabilzer. I'm not sure on the condition of my steering box, so I'll check on that one.

Any other front end woes that yall can think of that that I can replace w/ aftermarket products that will give me confidence (hopefully again) in driving this thing in a straight line. I just don't want to be stuck on the side of the road when driving to a client, thus costing me big bucks by losing work. Thanks again fellas.

 

Bout time. How long have I been telling you to do this? Let's not forget the tie rod ends. Steering box should be alright. Might need some adjustment but it should be alright. You know my feelings on the DT track bar. Sway bar end links and new sway bar bushings should help also. You could pick those up today since they're only $10/piece.

 

im on the same project myself guys....

DT trackbar? someone fill me in please...

Tx

 

'H'
With your lift, your tires, the weight you have on the front end (Ranch Hand), and your mileage....I'm surprised BB would say the steering box is OK?

Biggest steering gain I ever got was from Darins Steering Stabilizer. I would do that first and see how it feels. If you know the Ball Joints & trackbar are bad ... then, obviously, they need doing.

I did my DSS at 35,000 miles as preventative MX., and was pleasently shocked by the greatly improved tracking & feel. Ever driven a truck with the DSS? If not, you're welcome to try mine on Sat.

RJ

 

www.solidsteel.biz

 

Only reason I say that his is alright and not shot is because I've got the same mileage on mine and probably a little more abuse and mine's still good. It could probably use the DSS but for now, it's fine. I gotta stop buying parts.

 

The Skyjunker lift is half the problem right there.....I got rid of all the SJ stuff I had except the drop pitman arm.

Call DT before you order the track bar, David is changing the heim on the frame end to a uniball style joint. Another cheaper option (and a better one IMO) is the Thuren bar, I've got a little over 25K on mine and I haven't had to adjust it yet.

Next you can ditch the factory y-link tie rod set up, it causes the front wheels to toe out when the suspension compresses. I went with Don Thuren's x-over steering set up, works great.

Last (and this is kinda drastic) I got rid of the 4 link front suspension and did DT's radius arms. It requires cutting the stock CA mounts off, so I can't go back to the 4 link unless I weld the mounts back on.

The bright side of all this is that I haven't needed an alignment since I put it all on 20-25K ago. No hint of DW, no pops or bangs, tracks straight, feels solid and the fronts are wearing better than the rears. I haven't rotated the tires in at least 15K and the fronts are still at ~90% tread.

I chased the DW for the better part of 2 years when I had my SJ 4.5" kit. I was doing alignments every three months or so, and going through a set of front tires every 6-8 months. Since I re-did the front end all I do is grease it......

 

Cowhand, that all sounds awesome, and I wish I could do all that, but money is one of my main concerns. One reason my front end is all over the place is because of the drop down bracket for the trac bar. It has a way of loosening up. I'm gonna weld that baby in place when I get the chance.

I know I should go w/ the better quality parts, but I think I'm gonna get the trac bar that Advanced auto parts has for $148, lifetime warrenty and replace the sway bar end links for $20. I'll take the rest from there. Thanks guys for the help.

 

Or.....quit drinking beer.

 

Now why would I want to go and do a stupid thing like that.

 

you can't quit drinking beer, what else does one live on? One thing that hasn't been mentioned here but has in other posts is the steering shaft. Just something else you may want to check.