bump steer update
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 671
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From: Elkhart USA
bump steer update
i just finished working on my front end, and for those of you that think you can't get your front axle off center when installing a lift, well you can and i did! mine was over a 1/4 off ! i used a fabtech adjustable trac bar to correct the problem, and i finally have the bump steer under control. 
Tony
Tony
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
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From: USA
Yep, because the track bar swings in an arc, changing the ride height without changing the track bar length or trac bar bracket hieght causes the axle to be offset to one side. Glad you got it worked out!
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Originally Posted by Badford
i just finished working on my front end, and for those of you that think you can't get your front axle off center when installing a lift, well you can and i did! mine was over a 1/4 off ! i used a fabtech adjustable trac bar to correct the problem, and i finally have the bump steer under control.
Tony
Tony
Glad it worked for you.
Dick
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 671
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From: Elkhart USA
the problem originated from my lift. i installed a 2.5" leveling kit with a skyjacket 2" trac bar bracket and i had to move mountains to install the stock bar!!!!!!! and that must have offset my axle. so i threw all that crap away, and purchased a fabtech adj bar and pulled the axle back to center....
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 141
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From: southwestern us
Badford, I saw that you installed the Fabtech adj. track bar, as did I. Question is, how much torque did you get on the track bar bolts? And how were you able to do it? When I first did mine, I torqued it to 150 ft/lbs. I didn't know the stock spec and thought that would be enough. It wasn't. Had some creaking/rattling underneath and found out today that it was the lower track bar bolt. I had to remove the right-side tie rod just to get a socket on that bolt, and I tightened it as much as I could with a 1/2" breaker bar which is 24" long. My guess is that I might have about 200-250 ft/lbs on it now.
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Lead Driver
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
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Track Bar Torque
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
The one thing I got out of the USAF was a 4 ft 600 ft lbs monster torque wrench. 400 ft lbs is way beyond most peoples tools. You have to get a 3/4 drive or just put an air gun on it and let it go for a while, most of them are 400 or so tightening just don't over tighten too much.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: southwestern us
Thanks for the help you guys. I borrowed a junked motorcycle fork tube from a friend to slip on my breaker bar and it worked like a champ. It was about 3 feet long and I got about 185-210 pounds on it. Yeah, I know it isn't the smartest way to do it, but I was careful in case something broke... I think those numbers probably work out to around 400 ft/pounds. I am not a math genius, so I'm not quite sure how to come up with that figure.