Luke's Link Track Bar Repair Kit Installed
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 40
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From: Central Maine
Luke's Link Track Bar Repair Kit Installed
I recentlyinstalled a "Luke's Link" repair kit on my track bar. I have a '95 Ram 1500 4WD, all stock.
The typical problem seems to be on the frame end, which has a tapered shaft, tie-rod style end. Thistapered, ball-end shaft gets loose in its housing on the end of the track bar and allows up-and-down movement within the housing, and this was the problem with mine.
This looseness can adversely affecthandling, and in Maine, is a vehicle safetyinspection item. The differential/axle end has a rubber bushing (which was in excellent shape on mine) and through bolt arrangement.
Cost: The repair kit for the frame end, P/N TB2D2 was $66.66; Urethane Bushing kitfor the differential/axle end, P/N AE101, was $12.12. Withshipping from Colorado to Maine, the totalwas$86.The guy on the phone that I placed my order with was very professional and polite.
The replacement cost for a newtrack bar at the local Auto Zone is$130.
The upside of the Luke's Link kit is that it's made to allow adjustment to take out any slop that eventually develops onthe frame end of the bar. Once the kit is installed, it is almost inconceivable that you'd ever need to replace the whole track bar in the future. All of the kit parts are individually sold if and when replacement parts are needed. Any needed futureadjustments are made with the track bar in place. Here is the link: www.lukeslinkor you can Google "luke's link" like I originally did.
I haven't put a lot of miles on the truck since I installed the kit so I can't say how well it will hold up over time. The design, machining, and overall quality of the kit isfirst class.
I borrowed a tool from Auto Zone, a pitman arm puller(had to leave a deposit), to remove the end of the track bar at the frame. The right"pickle fork" may have also worked.
I had less than an hour's timein taking out and reinstallingthe track bar itself, and about another hour and a half installing the kit to the track bar. The instructions say that it can be done in as little as 30 minutes, but ifI were to do it again, I doubt I could do better than an hour. To be safe the first time, plan on2-3 hours.You don't even have to jack up the vehicle or remove either of the front wheels (I havestocklift, wheelsand tire sizes).
The kit instructions say that it cannot be used on Moog brand bars because the frame end of the bar is too large in diameter (2"), while the OEM style is about 1-5/8" (1.625"), so it is best to check this before ordering the kit.
I am very pleased with this repair kit, I highly recommend it for those in need, and hope this review is helpful to others.
The typical problem seems to be on the frame end, which has a tapered shaft, tie-rod style end. Thistapered, ball-end shaft gets loose in its housing on the end of the track bar and allows up-and-down movement within the housing, and this was the problem with mine.
This looseness can adversely affecthandling, and in Maine, is a vehicle safetyinspection item. The differential/axle end has a rubber bushing (which was in excellent shape on mine) and through bolt arrangement.
Cost: The repair kit for the frame end, P/N TB2D2 was $66.66; Urethane Bushing kitfor the differential/axle end, P/N AE101, was $12.12. Withshipping from Colorado to Maine, the totalwas$86.The guy on the phone that I placed my order with was very professional and polite.
The replacement cost for a newtrack bar at the local Auto Zone is$130.
The upside of the Luke's Link kit is that it's made to allow adjustment to take out any slop that eventually develops onthe frame end of the bar. Once the kit is installed, it is almost inconceivable that you'd ever need to replace the whole track bar in the future. All of the kit parts are individually sold if and when replacement parts are needed. Any needed futureadjustments are made with the track bar in place. Here is the link: www.lukeslinkor you can Google "luke's link" like I originally did.
I haven't put a lot of miles on the truck since I installed the kit so I can't say how well it will hold up over time. The design, machining, and overall quality of the kit isfirst class.
I borrowed a tool from Auto Zone, a pitman arm puller(had to leave a deposit), to remove the end of the track bar at the frame. The right"pickle fork" may have also worked.
I had less than an hour's timein taking out and reinstallingthe track bar itself, and about another hour and a half installing the kit to the track bar. The instructions say that it can be done in as little as 30 minutes, but ifI were to do it again, I doubt I could do better than an hour. To be safe the first time, plan on2-3 hours.You don't even have to jack up the vehicle or remove either of the front wheels (I havestocklift, wheelsand tire sizes).
The kit instructions say that it cannot be used on Moog brand bars because the frame end of the bar is too large in diameter (2"), while the OEM style is about 1-5/8" (1.625"), so it is best to check this before ordering the kit.
I am very pleased with this repair kit, I highly recommend it for those in need, and hope this review is helpful to others.
