track bar for 1987 V2500

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Ontheboulder

Ontheboulder

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Has anyone installed a front track bar on their rig?? Mine is doing a little diving from side to side, Spring bushings are tight as well as the tie rod and drag link . Brand new Redhead steering box, no cracks in the frame the truck has a 4 inch lift. A friend said a track bar set up should help. Ideas?? install pictures?? Thanks!!
 
bucket

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A track bar should not be needed at all. A tight steering box, sticking ball joint, etc can cause that issue. Or something as simple as an improper toe setting.
 
PrairieDrifter

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Rear spring bushings good?
 
nvrenuf

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“Diving” implies suspension movement, not steering. Maybe give a clearer explanation of what it’s doing and when.

I agree with bucket, there’s no need for a track bar - there’s something that needs to be fixed.
 
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In general a panhard bar is a bad idea with leaf springs. People think they keep the frame and axle from moving side to side when in reality, they actually force the axle to move side to side. [insert Jedi hand wave] This is not the solution you seek.
 
Ontheboulder

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bucket said:
A track bar should not be needed at all. A tight steering box, sticking ball joint, etc can cause that issue. Or something as simple as an improper toe setting.
Click to expand...
took it to the shop castor is negative 4.3 degrees should be in the positive range of 7-8 degrees. the castor shims are in backward if needed at all.
 
bucket

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Ontheboulder said:
took it to the shop castor is negative 4.3 degrees should be in the positive range of 7-8 degrees. the castor shims are in backward if needed at all.
Click to expand...

They are only in backwards if someone was trying to help caster. If they were trying to help pinion angle, they were installed properly.
 
bucket

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Case in point... well, two cases actually. Both of these trucks are lifted (4" and 6") and have the fat side of the shims toward the front. They both drive and steer very well.

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The need for them, in any thickness, is dependent on every application. Hopefully removing yours will take care of the issue, but there's no certainty behind it.
 
Ontheboulder

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bucket said:
They are only in backwards if someone was trying to help caster. If they were trying to help pinion angle, they were installed properly.
Click to expand...
yup but by looking at it the pinion angle is not bad with them in or out, gonna put them back to the rear to see how it goes, don't look like any binding issues will happen
 
Ontheboulder

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Ontheboulder said:
yup but by looking at it the pinion angle is not bad with them in or out, gonna put them back to the rear to see how it goes, don't look like any binding issues will happen
Click to expand...
not sure what the previous owner had done , I may and most likely re- installed them wrong but who knows!! will find out soon
 
bucket

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As long as the folks at your particular Les Schwab actually know what they are doing, you should be fine.
 
nvrenuf

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Ontheboulder said:
yup but by looking at it the pinion angle is not bad with them in or out, gonna put them back to the rear to see how it goes, don't look like any binding issues will happen
Click to expand...

I get what you’re saying BUT your choice to use shims or not or which direction needs to be focused on caster first since steering is more important. If the pinion angle is bad you can always fix it with high angle yokes and/or driveshaft parts.
 
Ontheboulder

Ontheboulder

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nvrenuf said:
I get what you’re saying BUT your choice to use shims or not or which direction needs to be focused on caster first since steering is more important. If the pinion angle is bad you can always fix it with high angle yokes and/or driveshaft parts.
Click to expand...
Exactly! Get the steering right then tackle any other issue. I can do a drop of the transfer case to improve the angle
 
nvrenuf

nvrenuf

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Ontheboulder said:
Exactly! Get the steering right then tackle any other issue. I can do a drop of the transfer case to improve the angle
Click to expand...

I highly recommend NOT lowering the tcase. Lowering the tcase crossmember tilts the engine/trans/tcase since it doesn’t change the engine’s location, this makes the front yoke operating angle worse.
 
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