Adjustable track bar
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
Likes: 36
From: Big Sky Country
I have the BDS, along with their 2" lift. Theirs is like a turnbuckle, which can be adjusted without removing an end, which I HIGHLY recommend. I've adjusted it several times, as it seems to take a while for this axle to shake out where it wants to be at.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 206
Likes: 12
From: Rathdrum, ID
In reading the instructions for the BDS track bar it says "It may be necessary to grind the axle gussets for clearance." It also says "A small amount of grinding on the frame crossmember lip may be required for clearance to the trackbar under compression clearance." Did you have to grind anything to make this track bar work?
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 374
Likes: 15
Only time will tell if the bushing is stronger than stock but it's not the same bushing. As a whole, the bar is about twice as heavy as the stock bar. I wanted to stay away from heim/rod end style joints -- I've got a crawler that squeaks like crazy when its dusty and I didn't want to have to listen to that nonsense all the time.
With just a 2.5" level, should I be fine with just a track bar drop bracket? I'd prefer to keep OEM on the track bar. Currently the previous owner of my truck only added coil spacers and shock extensions, and the track bar is definitely not parallel.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
Likes: 36
From: Big Sky Country
In reading the instructions for the BDS track bar it says "It may be necessary to grind the axle gussets for clearance." It also says "A small amount of grinding on the frame crossmember lip may be required for clearance to the trackbar under compression clearance." Did you have to grind anything to make this track bar work?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
Likes: 36
From: Big Sky Country
That's why i was staying away from an adjustable track bar. I've had experience with both low end and "high end" "professional" heim joints and they all end up squeaking and creaking. The only way i was able to stop it on the traction bars on my old truck was to spray them once or twice a week with dry lube, but who the hell wants to crawl under their truck once or twice a week to prevent squeaks.
With just a 2.5" level, should I be fine with just a track bar drop bracket? I'd prefer to keep OEM on the track bar. Currently the previous owner of my truck only added coil spacers and shock extensions, and the track bar is definitely not parallel.
With just a 2.5" level, should I be fine with just a track bar drop bracket? I'd prefer to keep OEM on the track bar. Currently the previous owner of my truck only added coil spacers and shock extensions, and the track bar is definitely not parallel.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 768
From: SoCal/Wyoming
Not that it matters; however, I am probably going to go with this one for my truck that has no lift or level kit installed but it does accommodate trucks with up to a 6" lift.
https://us.bddiesel.com/products/for...31243244273733
https://us.bddiesel.com/products/for...31243244273733
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 949
Not that it matters; however, I am probably going to go with this one for my truck that has no lift or level kit installed but it does accommodate trucks with up to a 6" lift.
https://us.bddiesel.com/products/for...31243244273733
https://us.bddiesel.com/products/for...31243244273733
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,874
Likes: 768
From: SoCal/Wyoming
It probably does have an OEM joint but they are easy to replace when they wear out. The other option is a heim joint but those also need replacing once they wear out so no matter what you get, you need to be able to replace the components. I am looking for a more robust bar with adjustability. Replacement parts are another factor. While they do have some high-end options with special joints, are these "special" joints still going to be available 10+ years from now when they need to be replaced? One of the issues I am having with my 02 is that Ford no longer makes many of the parts and replacing broken parts with junkyard parts is only a temp fix so I am thinking more everyday about selling the 02. Not because it's not a good truck but because the longer I keep it, the harder it becomes to maintain it in the way I prefer.
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UncleBob75
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Oct 13, 2003 12:21 PM