Adjustable Track Bar Problem
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Adjustable Track Bar Problem
Installed PMF's Trackbar and the truck will drive straight but the truck will go left if you center the steering wheel. Let it go on a straight road and the steering wheel will be about 40 degrees right. The bar is as short as it can be. Truck is stock. Installer says an alignment will fix it and PMF thinks the trackbar needs to be adjusted. I don't see any way to make it shorter since the ends are as far in as possible. Also it was measured to stock bar. Any ideas? TIA
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
I don't follow. We only changed the trackbar not the drag link? Can you explain? Thanks.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Death wobble and also bad tie rods that we discovered after the trackbar installation.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
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Track bar adjustment centers the axle under the truck, the drag link adjustment centers the steering wheel.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Did the installer check to see if the axle was centered under the truck with the original track bar installed? Did he check after the new track bar was installed? With your original track bar the axle could have been shifted one way or another off center, the new one could have corrected that thus requiring a drag link adjustment.....or the new one could have put the axle off center, in which case the track bar would need adjustment first, if possible.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
It was a diesel performance shop since they had a torque wrench capable of 600 ft/lbs. They were not able to do alignments so probably didn't check. It seems to be running straight before and the truck is new to me so not sure
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
I can only lengthen not shorten since it is very close to the end of adjustment in that sense. So if it is too short, does it make sense that the truck goes to the right?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
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It will drive straight if your alignment is good on the steering. Measure off the frame to the center of the wheel/tire. The tires should stick out equally on either side or pretty close, once you are centered adjust the drag link to center the steering wheel.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Is it possible that the trackbar shifted the axle off since it only started once the trackbar was installed.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
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If the new track bar wasn't adjusted to the exact same length as the one taken off it would shift it. Keep in mind the axle may have not been exactly centered to begin with. If the truck is tracking straight like you say it is you just need to center the axle by adjusting the track bar and then straighten the steering wheel by adjusting the drag link.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2016
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yes, unless the trackbar length is exactly the same length as the factory