It is time to replace the bushing on the axle end of my trackbar. This will be the first time I have ever done this job. I tried to do it last fall but I couldn't get the nut off the bolt. I am going to cut the nut off and then pull the bolt out. My question is, how do I want to raise the truck / front axle. I can't figure out which would be better - jack stands under front axle or jack stands under frame rails with axle hanging down. Any recommendations?

 

i think under the axle is best. when the suspension is hanging free if supported on the frame rails the track bar has more tension on it to keep the axle centered.

i think when i did my bar replacement i jacked under the axle. once it is out it will shift a bit and probably won't be easy to get back on . . . but if you have a helper he/she can turn the steering wheel or pull/push a tire to help it line up. i have heard turning the wheels also helps to get it out sometimes . . .

 

I've left mine on the ground. no jack or stands.

the last trackbar I needed to move the axle sideways..that wasn't any fun.

-dkenny

 

if it was me i would put the jack stands under the frame so you can let the axle hang enough to get to the trackbar bushing easily....if the axle can't hang some you'll have some problems getting to it.....

 

I just put a Moog trackbar on mine last week. Just had someone turn the wheel to the right and with a little muscle it went back in. Probably took about an hour start to finish including running back and forth to get the right size sockets.

 

I finally did the deed today. As I think I mentioned earlier this was not going to be an easy job. The tab on the nut snaped off last fall and I could not get a wrench of any sort to bite on the nut. I committed to using a drill and an air chisel as a nut splitter to get that very seized nut off the bolt. I starter the job at 10:30 this morning. EVERY single thing fought me as hard as it could. Even the freeking ball joint end was tough. I had to use the oxy/acetylene blue wrench and a pickle fork to get the ball joint out of the frame. I then spent hours drilling the nut off the bolt and using and air chisel to split it. Trust me, you CAN slit a hardened nut this way but you DON'T want to. It is hard and nasty work that results in a lot of metal shavings in your eye sockets!!! After I finally got the darn thing out of the truck, I had a fight to get the new bushing in and of course the truck had shifted and I had to fight the jack up and down to get the ball joint aligned. I buttoned the truck back up at 5pm. Like I said the thing fough me EVERY step of the way. After all was said and done, I took it for a test drive. HOLY SNAP DRAGONs what a difference. When I bouht this truck
I could barely keep it between the navigational beacons (insert Jimmy Buffet lyrics here). I have now added a DSI Steering Brace and replaced the Trac Bar. It now steers like a sports car. So, I spent 6.5 hrs (minus a 30 minute lunch break) but my goodness does it steer nicely. I will try to post pix of the new trac bar tomorrow. It is one of the ones with the tightenable ball joints (thanks Doj Dewd).

 

Been there done that got the pics to prove it.

 

Here are the two trac bars I had to work with. Luckily neither are stock.

I ended up installing the one on the top with the adjustable ball joint. Both are pretty beefy.
Does anyone know what the one with the adjustable length is? I want to replace the ball joint so I have one ready to go for when things wear on the one that I put in there.

 

I would guess the one on the bottom is for a lifted truck from the angle and adjustment.

 

is this the type of bushing you've replaced?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

 

Yup, that is exactly lke what I used. I took it for a good drive yesterday. The front end is tight enough now that I can tell whether I am on smooth asphalt or macadam with the left foot on the floor board. The bushing that is in the trac bar that I took off is a stocker. Steel case and steel tube with regular black rubber in between. I hope the urethane bushings last longer. Even if they don't, R & R the bushing will be a lot easier with no press required.

 

what is a good tool to separate ball joint from the suspension?

 

get the nut of and then turn the wheel back and forth . . .

or a pry bar used appropriately . . .

or a BFH used appropriately . . .

 

To get my ball joint out of the frame I had to use the big blue wrench + pickle fork + BFH on the top of the stud for the ball joint itself. I had soaked it in PB Blaster twice a day for 5 days. The ball joint was darn near to a part of the frame - I wish my welds were that strong.

 

Found a youtube video how to do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQpIM...Hx_MujYm1lhRMw