I just finished installing a DC long arm kit on my truck; lengthened the control arms with 2" of DOM to center the tires in the wheel well. Now I need to move my track bar bracket forward 2" as well. I started cutting up a Skyjacker bracket today, thinking it wouldn't be so bad. But man is it ugly so far. (Its only tack-welded in a couple of places) The blue area is where I plan to add in a gusset but I ran out of daylight today.

Anyone here done something like this? I hate the way this one is coming out so far. I considered cutting away all the factory track bar frame mounts but its way more involved than I want to go right now.

There has to be a better way

 

In seeing the 8 lug front diff, looks like you have installed a 3/4 ton truck's front axle in a 1/2 ton truck and are doing additional mods. Might be helpful to tell the full story about what's fully going on here - something tells me that if you move the track bar forward, other items may have to move, too.. Is all of this being done to 'center the wheel in the wheel well'?

 

goal is to move axle forward to gain tire clearance. I figured with a welder and spare steel I should be able to build my own track bar bracket...might have to run with a DT or BD version after all

Tires are 37", lift is approx 6".
I have a couple other threads in here covering it in more detail.

 

You shouldn't really need to move the axle forward that much to clear 37" tires. I don't need to but I do have a 3" BL. Do you?

In any case, going larger will need a move forward like you stated. I think it's good idea trying to repurpose the skyjacker bracket. Adding the gusset that you drew in, which I thought was already part of the bracket, I believe will be in the way of the differential housing at full bump....?

The square tube you have coming down I like for it's simplicity. From what I can tell of the picture there is an offset from the bottom of the frame due to the coil tower strap that comes down. The fitup needs to be really tight there and if you stick with that, I'd recommend further gusset that is outboard of the frame rail.

Other option is to go with a track bar bracket from RuffStuff or Ballistic Fab. They all need custom fitting.

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...Category_Code=

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...Category_Code=

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...Category_Code=

http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...Category_Code=


I have the BD trackbar and my plan is to use it as well, however, I'm not sure the bracket is forward enough. So just thought to mention that given your comment.

 

Just an idea on how you could fab one up.

Photo Courtesy of BCC (Big country Customs), 06 mega cab.

 

I'd cut all of that junk out and make one. At least the Skyjacker portion and use the stock mounting point to go off of. I would do like the one above and run it under the crossmember.

Here's one I did for my TJ:






You could keep the stock mount and tie into it. Here's how we did that on one of my friends:

 

this is an example of what you need, you are overbuilding it by far.

depending on what thickness that square tubing is you should be able to just use that and a flat brace fush with the frame

 

I realized it was going to be much easier just to place an order to DT Profab vs building my own. Worked out fine as its been raining most of the time since I last posted (and as I type this)

Top one is DT Profab. http://www.dtprofab.com/DTP02001HD-T...IFT_p_344.html
Bottom one is skyjacker. The DT bar weighs about twice as much as the Skyjacker one. Bracket fits on the truck perfect, but because of the rain I didn't get it completely installed yet. The bracket moves the frame-side of the track bar about 2" forward, which is perfect for my application.

 

Why are you moving it forward anyway? Will it contact the axle on compression?

 

Why are you moving it forward anyway? Will it contact the axle on compression?

The front axle has been moved forward approx. 2" when I put on the long arm kit. This caused interference because the trackbar was no longer running parallel to the axle; the bracket needed to come forward to line the trackbar up correctly. The skyjacker bar uses a poly bushing on the frame-end and wouldn't flex to line up the bolt hole in the bracket.

But its fixed now!