PMF track bar issue/question

[zilla68]

Of course its the weekend so I'm sure they are closed so I'll just post this.

Got a track bar from pmf a while back along with my rsk, rear blocks etc.
I talked to trevor and felt I needed a drop bracket for the track bar and pitman arm, so I ordered it and installed tonite.
The track bar fit well with the stock bracket, but when I went to install the drop bracket the track bar is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too long. If I remove one nut on the rod end, it works, but with both nuts on there no go, its about 2 turns off.

Anyone seen this before, surely I couldn't screw this up, its pretty direct, lol.

Either I need 2 thinner nuts, or the track bar to be about 1/4 inch shorter on each end (since there seems to be plenty of threads in there).

I haven't got it aligned yet, I was shooting for this week.

will alignment fix this issue?

thanks in advance

 

[Zmann]

He may be around this weekend ?
here is his user name

http://powerstrokearmy.com/forums/member.php?u=862

usually alignment guys don't adress axle center and adustable trac bars unless you bring it to their attention

if your axle is centered now then you need the trac bar resized or a different drop in my opinion
but Trevor will clear it up for you
\

 

[mustube]

How much lift are you running? I'm pretty sure the adjustable track bars are for stock brackets so they are a tiny bit longer. If you aren't running a lot of lift the two might not work together.

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[zilla68]

I just have the 2.5" rsk set up
I just figured they were closed on the weekends but I'll try to give him a ring.
If the track bar was just a 1/2 inch shorter it would be perfect.

I called one alignment shop and they said they don't set the track bar but will for extra cost, then I called a local 4x4 shop and they send their alignments across the street so I called that place and he said yes they do set the track bar as its necessary in proper alignment. The first shop quoted 90-300 bucks for an alignment, the second quoted 85 total cost.

 

[mustube]

I'm not an obs guy, but is that an actual 2.5 inches over stock? If so then you don't need both. Who told you that you needed all that?

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[Zmann]

best way to avoid trac bar and alignment shop issues is set it yourself
all you are doing is centering the axle it's simple measurements

and not all that critical like the camber/caster

how would you phone quote a trac bar adjustment anyway ? some have an adjustment collar and some need one end removed from the truck for adjustment

so they just give you the worst case $ because lets face it if the truck and axle are centered they aren't doing anything to the trac bar = easy $$ LOL

in my world an alignment should be in the 85$ range unless u need adjustable sleeves or some other special work done

 

[zilla68]

i had talked to trevor at pmf about a very slight bump steer issue and was told this would fix it.
i did take for a drive and it is fixed and actually much smoother it seems
but i just need to order a new bar thats about 1/2" shorter i think.
i also installed a new redhead steering box and a drop arm.

 

[BBottoms]

You mention two nuts on the rod end. Two jam nuts? You should only need one.

 

[mustube]

One on each rod end I am assuming.

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[Tom S]

I would prefer to have two jamb nuts to not have the threads getting pounded as much. I Think I would install it with one nut and work with Trevor to get a slightly shorter one. I would be sure my axle was centered before making changes though not just trying to bolt it in.

I personally like a drop trackbar bracket with a drop pitman arm even on a low lift PMF RSK kit.

 

[zilla68]

You mention two nuts on the rod end. Two jam nuts? You should only need one.

there is one nut on each end or was, now there is just one on one end

 

[zilla68]

I would prefer to have two jamb nuts to not have the threads getting pounded as much. I Think I would install it with one nut and work with Trevor to get a slightly shorter one. I would be sure my axle was centered before making changes though not just trying to bolt it in.

I personally like a drop trackbar bracket with a drop pitman arm even on a low lift PMF RSK kit.

I agree Tom, so far its sooooooooooooooo much nicer of a ride with the rsk, and like I said I had a very very slight every once and a while bump steer, and the redhead gear box and the other mods I just finished were the icing on the cake.

It is such a tighter steering now, I guess the old one was pretty bad, it had a ton of build up on it, but I think my PS pump is leaking onto it, so I'll keep an eye on it

 

[zilla68]

i called trevor today and he's making me one today and sending it out asap.

Hope this works out well, can't wait.

 

[NotStock]

Definitely have to run a jam nut on any kind of joint or else its only a matter of time till it fails and pulls the threads out. I made up a 1/2" shorter bar and got it shipped out today. Our normal bar is the stock length with the heims bottomed out.

 

[zilla68]

thanks trevor I'm looking forward to the new one, can't wait.

It really tightened up the front end and got rid of the ever so slight bump steer.
Your kit really makes the truck a daily driver, instead of the kidney buster

 

[zilla68]

well hells bells, ups showed up today with an empty box with a hole in the side of it.
I can't believe the ups guy didn't realize the box he was carrying that weighed nothing and had a huge hole in the side, was empty.

starting over now.

 

[JMart]

well hells bells, ups showed up today with an empty box with a hole in the side of it.
I can't believe the ups guy didn't realize the box he was carrying that weighed nothing and had a huge hole in the side, was empty.

starting over now.

They did that to me and left it on my patio. I was getting a 4 ft piece of exhaust and he didn't notice the 12lb box was empty.