Sky Adj. Track Bar Bushing Life Expectancy

[AZStang]

Does it look like the Trackbar was moving in the mount at all?

The bar did move a little bit relative to the mounting brackets when turning the steering wheel while in park. But I didn't think it was enough to cause the wobble I was experiencing. I had two front end specialists say otherwise, and it seems they were right. I haven't had a chance yet to check how much movement there is now between the bar and the brackets.

Shawn

 

[newman]

Could you cut and thread the stock track bar and make it adjustable???

 

[Tom S]

I was kind of wondering if there is a any way to use an adjustable bar that uses stock bushings.

 

[swamp_ratt]

Hmm. Good to know. I guess i was wrong.

 

[Gearhead]

The fabtech adjustable bar for the super duty is a stock rod that has been cut and threaded. Are the bars similar between the OBS and SD?

 

[Tom S]

Matt, I have a stocker out of the truck I can measure up if anyone had info on the SD truck one. I am not sure if they are similar at all.

 

[swamp_ratt]

Iirc the sd ones are a bit longer. Could look tomorrow

 

[AZStang]

Could you cut and thread the stock track bar and make it adjustable???

That's a possibility, though I'm not sure what type of sleeve you'd use to join them back together. Probably have to make one I suppose. I still have my stock one too and it is about 1/4" longer than what I have the adjustable one set to. Not sure about the super duty track bars either. Aren't they much longer and mount in front of the axle, or did that start in 2005?

I can still tell the death wobble tendency is there when going 40mph over a bumpy road, though it is much improved with the new bushings. I looked up stock track bar bushings and the replacement ones look almost identical to what Sky uses.

http://www.amazon.com/Moog-K80034-Track-Bar-Bushing/dp/B000C57ZEC

I'm going to get a set to try the tighter fitting metal sleeves and see what else fits. Considering a steering stabilizer as well.

Shawn

 

[newman]

For a while Ford was selling replacement press-in bushings for the OBS.

If you think we could mod your stocker to work call me. I know some people

 

[AZStang]

For a while Ford was selling replacement press-in bushings for the OBS.

If you think we could mod your stocker to work call me. I know some people

My stock track bar has new bushings in it that are the press in type. I had that done a year or so before I did the RSK and SD springs. I'm going to work on improving the Sky one first though. I had the rear pinion seal replaced today and he pretty much convinced me that I need a steering stabilizer as well, so we'll see what that does too once I get one.

Thanks for the offer though.

Shawn

 

[Gearhead]

Just cut the stock rod and thread it reverse on one side to handle a standard tie rod turnbuckle

 

[OBSWIZ]

Tq'd correctly and a tight bolt hole these should last a long time...A sd bar cannot be used on a OBS unless your using a SD axle. can you cut and sleave a track bar..yes..advised IMO no.

 

[Gearhead]

Tq'd correctly and a tight bolt hole these should last a long time...A sd bar cannot be used on a OBS unless your using a SD axle. can you cut and sleave a track bar..yes..advised IMO no.

The fabtech SD bar is exactly a stock bar that has been cut and threaded.

 

[AZStang]

Thought I would bring this back with an update. The SKY bushings I installed before Christmas didn't last very long. The death wobble was back in short order. On a whim, I ordered the Moog bushing kit for a stock F350. And they fit!

http://www.amazon.com/Moog-K80034-Track-Bar-Bushing/dp/B000C57ZEC

So the SKY adjustable track bar will accept all stock bushings. Even the press in style should work. The Moog bushings are incredibly stiff compared to SKY's. I've had them in for two months now without issue. The difference they made was very noticeable and it feels like a completely different truck now. Given all the problems I had with the SKY bushings, I don't understand how anyone has gotten them to work.

Shawn

 

[Tom S]

Thank you for taking the time to come back and post that. I will definately keep that in mind.

 

[Tom S]

Thought I would bring this back with an update. The SKY bushings I installed before Christmas didn't last very long. The death wobble was back in short order. On a whim, I ordered the Moog bushing kit for a stock F350. And they fit!

http://www.amazon.com/Moog-K80034-Track-Bar-Bushing/dp/B000C57ZEC

So the SKY adjustable track bar will accept all stock bushings. Even the press in style should work. The Moog bushings are incredibly stiff compared to SKY's. I've had them in for two months now without issue. The difference they made was very noticeable and it feels like a completely different truck now. Given all the problems I had with the SKY bushings, I don't understand how anyone has gotten them to work.

Shawn

Shawn are these still working out? I have been looking at some photos of the adjustable trackbar from PMF, SKY and my stocker to try and plan ahead on this. The stock press in bushings have only a thin rubber bushing which I bet helps to hold down on the amount of movement.

Tom

 

[Tom S]

For a while Ford was selling replacement press-in bushings for the OBS.

If you think we could mod your stocker to work call me. I know some people

Do you happen to know a part number for those I could play with?

 

[AZStang]

Shawn are these still working out? I have been looking at some photos of the adjustable trackbar from PMF, SKY and my stocker to try and plan ahead on this. The stock press in bushings have only a thin rubber bushing which I bet helps to hold down on the amount of movement.

Tom

Yeah, no issues. Stock replacement bushings have definitely performed better for me than the Sky bushings. I had an alignment last week too and the tech said the press in style are a little better, but these are a whole lot easier to change - and their cheap.

I also recently installed a single Bilstein steering stabilizer. I made some brackets to adapt the stabilizer that's the stock replacement for the SD trucks. It made a noticeable change and has refined the steering even more. I only had slight bump steer and that is gone completely now.

Shawn

 

[Tom S]

Yeah, no issues. Stock replacement bushings have definitely performed better for me than the Sky bushings. I had an alignment last week too and the tech said the press in style are a little better, but these are a whole lot easier to change - and their cheap.

I also recently installed a single Bilstein steering stabilizer. I made some brackets to adapt the stabilizer that's the stock replacement for the SD trucks. It made a noticeable change and has refined the steering even more. I only had slight bump steer and that is gone completely now.

Shawn

I think I am going to see about the availabilty of the stock style bushings. Those in a in the factory track bar with a good drop track bar with a matching drop pitman arm is really the way I am leaning towards going. Are you 100% happy with how the truck steering is now? How much castor are you running and how does the truck track?

 

[OBSWIZ]

I have sold hundreds of Sky's adj track bars..they have sold thousands..NEVER have had a single call about a problem with the bushings..I've installed tons of these myself..never any issues..