Adjustable Track Bar vs. Track Bar Bracket
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 36
Adjustable Track Bar vs. Track Bar Bracket
Looking at different 2" - 3" lift/leveling kits.
Some kits have adjustable track bars and other kits have extended track bar brackets.
What's better?
EDIT: I went to talk to a mechanic who's been a front end Ford Tech for decades.
This is what he said:
- get an adjustable track bar. More and more kits are sold as one size ( but there's 7 different factory coil springs for the F250/f350/F450) fits all so he's having to drill / weld the brackets to center the axle center. He showed me a Ready Lift bracket for a F250 he was modifying.
- get new radius arms / stay away from caster shims.
- sway bar drop or extended sway bar links both work
- use shock boots
I ended up going with a BDS 2.5" / Fox Performance Elite kit for a F450
Some kits have adjustable track bars and other kits have extended track bar brackets.
What's better?
EDIT: I went to talk to a mechanic who's been a front end Ford Tech for decades.
This is what he said:
- get an adjustable track bar. More and more kits are sold as one size ( but there's 7 different factory coil springs for the F250/f350/F450) fits all so he's having to drill / weld the brackets to center the axle center. He showed me a Ready Lift bracket for a F250 he was modifying.
- get new radius arms / stay away from caster shims.
- sway bar drop or extended sway bar links both work
- use shock boots
I ended up going with a BDS 2.5" / Fox Performance Elite kit for a F450
Last edited by Alloy; Dec 9, 2025 at 09:59 AM.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 139
Likes: 36
It's a mess.
Lots of kits have 450lb coils that are less capacity than the factory coils. They tell you it's a 2.5" kit but it only gives 1.5" so you may as well save $$ and put a block on the coil.
Last edited by Alloy; Dec 1, 2025 at 08:20 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 554
i prefer the bracket. keeps the geometry at the same angle as stock. I ran both, felt better saving $200 or whatever the carli track bar costs these days. currently have the ready lift bracket on my 2011 which has a 2.5" lift, axle is centered perfectly. I don't think anyone is going under the truck and adjusting the bar for 1/16".
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 971
Likes: 449
From: Adirondacks
Doing just the adjustable track bar is quicker and easier, allows you to more perfectly fine tune centering the axle, and is much more expensive. I agree that the adjustable track bar is probably not as heavy duty as a solid track bar. Doing just the track bar relocation bracket is more bolts and a little inconvenient but is still easy and much less expensive.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 554
Doing just the adjustable track bar is quicker and easier, allows you to more perfectly fine tune centering the axle, and is much more expensive. I agree that the adjustable track bar is probably not as heavy duty as a solid track bar. Doing just the track bar relocation bracket is more bolts and a little inconvenient but is still easy and much less expensive.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 898
From: Dallas Metroplex
Yep, that's what's holding up installing my PMF track bar (HD Offroad version). I don't have a torque wrench that handles anywhere near that torque...
https://www.pmfsuspension.com/2005-2...link_p_28.html
I'll probably end up paying a shop to install it, and get aligned at the same time.
https://www.pmfsuspension.com/2005-2...link_p_28.html
I'll probably end up paying a shop to install it, and get aligned at the same time.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,428
Likes: 728
From: Wisconsin
Yep, that's what's holding up installing my PMF track bar (HD Offroad version). I don't have a torque wrench that handles anywhere near that torque...
https://www.pmfsuspension.com/2005-2...link_p_28.html
I'll probably end up paying a shop to install it, and get aligned at the same time.
https://www.pmfsuspension.com/2005-2...link_p_28.html
I'll probably end up paying a shop to install it, and get aligned at the same time.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
Unless the bracket exactly matches the lift, the geometry will not be perfect or better than using an adjustable track bar. The PMF unit, even though it is threaded, is plenty strong for these trucks.
I tried both and the PMF trackbar allowed me to perfectly center the axle. The bracket did not center it perfectly on my truck.
For what it is worth, you can have the bracket if you will pay the shipping from me to you. PM me if you are interested in it.
I tried both and the PMF trackbar allowed me to perfectly center the axle. The bracket did not center it perfectly on my truck.
For what it is worth, you can have the bracket if you will pay the shipping from me to you. PM me if you are interested in it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 898
From: Dallas Metroplex
I've got the track bar sitting in the garage, along with the adapter for the steering damper. Just going to wait for a semi-warm afternoon to crawl up under the truck and get after it. I don't relish lying on cold concrete to do it, though, lol...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 606
I did not use an adjustable track bar and went with this bracket, it's supposed to better maintain the proper geometry. My axle is almost perfectly centered
https://bisonoffroad.com/product/tra...4wd-2008-2025/
I have checked the torque before, I just send it with the 1/2" Milwaukee impact and it's tight beyond 405...
https://bisonoffroad.com/product/tra...4wd-2008-2025/
I have checked the torque before, I just send it with the 1/2" Milwaukee impact and it's tight beyond 405...
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,266
Likes: 2,188
]
how would we know its center? Need a jig or something? On my front axle the axle pumpkin is not centered so can’t use and pumpkin bolts to inside frame measurements to compute centerness? That why I always just get the relocation bracket based on lift height.
how would we know its center? Need a jig or something? On my front axle the axle pumpkin is not centered so can’t use and pumpkin bolts to inside frame measurements to compute centerness? That why I always just get the relocation bracket based on lift height.