I am gonna build my own track bar for my dodge, and I need to know what the TRE on the end of the trac bar is. Is there an interchangeable one? I can build it for a few bucks,a nd have it so that it is fully replacable at any time. The other fixes are some serious skrill, and I can't afford to drop that money on the truck right now.

DIma

 

I thought abought welding a treaded heavy tube on the end of a cut off trak bar and useing a heim joint

 

Only probnlem with the heim is that I will have to redrill the tapered end on the trac bar mount on the frame. The tie rod has more throw it in too.

Dima

 

Are you trying to do it with a straight piece of tube?

 

I will probably bend it up so that the end peice is at a perfect angle to the mount. The bottom will be flat on.

dIMa

 

You'll need to bend it, the end won't bolt up any other way. Heims are made to be primarily axially loaded, any lateral load will drastically accellerate wear, and it'll weaken the connection. In other words, the heim axis needs to be parallel to the face of the track bar mount. You'll still have to address the axle end, the factory bushing is way too soft. Even the aftermarket poly bushings are typically too soft. You'll need to use something like a nylon-poly hybrid, otherwise it'll move. Even as little as 1/8" of play can lead to poor steering and death wobble.

You'd almost be better off going with the 03 track bar conversion mount to keep the angles in line, but you'd have to come up with some spacers to keep the heim centered. A straight fabbed bar might hit the diff cover.

Also know that if your track bar and drag link aren't parallel, you'll have problems with bump steer. Make sure it's adjustable or you'll never get the front axle centered under the truck. What size/type of tubing are you using?

IMO, it'd be cheaper and less nerve wracking to buy one of Don Thuren's track bars, they're only about $270.

 

i'am with cow hand on this.

 

Where can I find one of these track bars?

Dima

 

here is the link http://thurenfabrication.com/products.html

 

So basically Thuren's kit uses a RE joint? That is the same concept as the heim joint. I think I am going to make my own kit. I now where to get the proper ends and the proper joints. I already have my trac bar mount welded on there. How much is a replacement trac bar? I can make it for about $60 or I can buy one for 5 times that cost. I think I will make it.

DIma

 

DIma, You are on the right track and if you fan fabricate, you may as well do it yourself. I'm just curious as to what type of bracket you allready have welded on because, like Cowhand said, you should not side-load hiems. If the heim is big enough you can side load a bit but if you use anything under 1.25" shank, PLEASE don't side-load it. Trucks don't don't stay on the road too well with a snapped track bar...

Don

 

You're gonna pay more than $60 for a decent joint. If a joint that big costs less than $60, plan on replacing it frequently.

 

The person that owned the truck before me welded the original bracket on the truck. I don't plan on using a heim joint, but rather a johnny joint, or a Rubicon Express joint (rebuildable).

I am not quite following a side load arguement here (I am oblivious to terminology). I know how a 4 link owrks ( I have built a few of those). I plan on running the RE joint at a straight angle (put a bend in the tubing). So the RE joint will sit in there the way it is supposed to.

A RE joint costs about 60 each. I do have a connetion that allows me to get the parts for MUCH cheaper. I can have my local fab guy bend up the tuniong (I can use 1.25-1.5 .120 wall DOM). The rest is welding the aprts together.

DIma

 

Ahhh... OK... If you run the bar perfectly strait 1.5x.120 wall is cool but if it's bend you will want much heavier wall. Also, I'm just curious to see this mount... got pics?

Don

 

I willn have them for you tomrrow.

Dima