(D.I.Y.) Save money, make your own adjustable track bar

[tcgordy]

I went up on my truck from the original 8 inch lift to a 10 and a half in lift, and of course the stock trac bar or panhard bar which ever you wanna call it was obviously to short. (you will no b/c the body in the front will not be centered with your axle, this bar is what keep the body centered up front). Instead of spending 199.99 for a pure performace one, or 299.99 for icon one we just simply modifyed the stocker. We bought a "good quality" hiems joint and bung to use for this project, and some spare tubing we had at my brothers house (which is the designer and maker of this) to weld onto the stock bar and weld the bung in for the hiems to screw into. The rest of the tubing we cut four spacers used when bolting in the track bar to the drop bracket.

You need to measure from the fender well down to the top of tire to find out how much you need the body to go back the other way (mine was of a 1&1/8to the passenger side, so the body need to be jacked toward the driver side to get the exact measurement on each side).
Pics of process:
















Then tighten up your hiems nut, and the bolt and nut up top at the trac bar drop bracket and she is all finished!!

I would only let someone who is very well experienced in welding do this to your truck. But the end result is great and maybe 30$ spent tops, you can not beat that at all.

[blue06crew]

Sweeeeeeet!..excellent job

[cubalz]

Nice job. A great way to save some $$$.

[tcgordy]

Thanks guys!

[black coal]

what size of hiem joint did you buy and where did you get them from?

[2manytoyz]

also did you add a piece of tubing?if so how much,

[tcgordy]

Originally Posted by black coal

what size of hiem joint did you buy and where did you get them from?

Not sure on the heim I'll ask him tomorrow and let you know, got it from Hank Thomas performance (local race car shop)

Originally Posted by 2manytoyz

also did you add a piece of tubing?if so how much,

Yes, parts added are in the 3rd picture (minus the washers used which are in the bottom half of the pics). As far as the tubing, I will measure it tomorrow.

[2manytoyz]

ask what he wants to make that end piece,so i can just cut my track bar and weld that piece on,seems there might be a market in that.

[Karls03]

I've read that the trac bar should be at the same angle at the drag link. I also think the longer trac bar would increase the suspension push to the right under compression and to the left under extension.

That being said, why not extend dropped trac bar bracket? Would it help to drill/tap trac bar and DOM and use male theaded coupler inside it and DOM extender? What about a clam shell type sleeve to spread load from that butt weld? I don't think you can put too much strength into a trac bar.

[2manytoyz]

any update?