Hi all,
I replaced the track bar on my '99 4x4 when I installed coil spacers. I tightened everything down with an impact wrench but I still can't get the frame end of the track bar tight enough. Every time I turn the wheel I can see the track bar wiggle around a little bit, and it makes popping noises when I turn the wheel at slow speeds. Is there a way to take the pressure off the track bar so I can tighten that nut down some more? Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

you shouldn't use an impact to install bolts unless you like broken bolts. use a torque wrench.

i think if you jack up on the frame then the axle will hang down and take pressure off the track bar.

did you go with poly bushings on the new track bar?

 

Wait...there's supposed to be track bar bushings?? Anyone have a picture of what the frame end of the track bar is supposed to look like when it's installed?

 

yea, there is one on the axle end IIRC

 

I have one on the axle end, what about the frame end?

 

it is a ball joint setup at the frame end. Did the bolt wiggle around inside of the hole when you installed the new trackbar? If it did then the bolt is worn down and needs to be replaced. That would explain the wiggling issue you have.

 

Yes it did move around a little when I installed it, but I just assumed this was because I couldn't get it tight enough. How could the bolt be worn down on a brand new track bar?

 

OK now I am confused. Which end of the trackbat is wiggling around? Is it the ball joint stud that is wiggling or the bushing end at the axle? If it is the stud at the frame you need to seat the stud better before trying to tighten it down. If it is the bushing end the bolt that goes through it may be worn down from wear from a bad bushing from the old trackbar.

 

Its the ball joint end that's giving me problems. The axle end is fine. How do I seat the stud before tightening it down? When I installed it there were barely enough threads sticking out of the mount to thread the nut onto, but I assumed that when I tightened it down the stud would pop into place, but I guess it didn't. Do I need to install the frame end first and then install the axle end?

 

Do you have a lift on your truck? If you do then the axle is out of center and you will need to put a heavy ratchet strap on the axle on the passenger side and on the frame on the driver side and ratchet it over till the ball joint part fits into the hole completely. Then it should lock itself into place so you can tighten it up. You can tap the stud side with a hammer to try and seat it better. If it still won't lock up so you can tighten it up then lower the trackbar back out of the way so you can see inside the hole where it goes and take a punch and hammer and put a few dimples in the sides of the opening and then reinstall and tighten down.