Track Bar - How Tight is Normal?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,411
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From: Central KY
Track Bar - How Tight is Normal?
So I have the Rough Country adjustable track bar on my truck because I have a 1.5" leveling kit. I've been having the clunk/pop/loose sensation in the steering wheel again lately. A new lower intermediate steering shaft 100% cured this 15,000 miles ago. Now the issue is back. So I of course assume it's the lower intermediate steering shaft again. But, just to check things out I crawled under my truck last night while the wife rocked the steering wheel back and forth. I looked for any play in steering joints that looked abnormal. To me every joint in the front end looks tight EXCEPT the lower/axle end of the track bar. I see no movement on the bottom/nut side of the joint. But on the top/grease fitting side there is a small amount of vertical motion when the steering wheel is turned. You can see it move up and down some.
I guess my question is ... how much movement is normal at that particular joint? Should it be as tight as a banjo string with ZERO up/down movement? Or do you guys see that joint do the same thing when you have somebody steering your wheel left and right?
I guess my question is ... how much movement is normal at that particular joint? Should it be as tight as a banjo string with ZERO up/down movement? Or do you guys see that joint do the same thing when you have somebody steering your wheel left and right?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1,016
From: Central KY
I found a video where a guy showed exactly what I'm trying to describe. Fast forward to 0:30 in this video.
That doesn't look like excessive movement, but there is movement. That's exactly what mine is doing too. Is this normal?
That doesn't look like excessive movement, but there is movement. That's exactly what mine is doing too. Is this normal?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
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It's a standard ball joint on the axle side, so treat it the same way as any other ball joint. There will be a bit of movement when pressing with channel locks because there is a spring inside, but thats under compression, shouldn't see it move at all since its all side play when turning the wheels. It also often gets overlooked thinking the bushing is the problem.
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