Attempting to fix the Dodge Cummins 2wd-4wd converted track bar

[67Dart273]

Since getting the 4wd conversion on the road, it has wandered a bit, and gotten a bit worse. So a week or two back I rigged a video cam and monitor so I could watch the suspension as I wiggled the wheel. The axle mount for the track bar has some slop in the bolt. Not sure that is the ONLY problem, but it certainly is SOME of it. The bar is brand new Moog "problem solver" or whatever their heavy duty version is.

Yes, I'm aware that there is a LOT of torque on that bolt.

Below, test fitting a 1/8 thick shim that will go BEHIND the bar, and get welded along the outer edge. This hopefully will give the bolt more purchase as the factory bracket was only about 1/8" material. I had to grind the bushing on the bar to make it narrower to fit the pocket. It is a tight fit

Below, showing how the new pieces will fit. The small piece in the above photo goes BEHIND the bar as shown, and the right hand edge will get welded. The outer gusset is 1/4" thick and will get welded to the front of the bracket. This is a 14MM bolt which I shortened to make up for the added 1/4" thickness. There is not much room behind, a tabbed nut fits up inside the rear pocket,and you cannot even get a wrench, box or open, up in there.

Below, took an angle grinder and took 1/8 or nominal off the bushing width on the nearly new track bar to allow it back into the bracket with the new shim.

Below, old bolt. The bracket is a pocket, very constricted to "get in" there, and is only nominal 1/8" material. The bolt, 14mm, does show some wear

 

[RustyRatRod]

That bolt does look like there's been movement for sure.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I drilled my frame to 5/8 and milled the hole in new bushings to 5/8. I have two 3500 Diesel dodges. One had the death wobble since new which is now fixed after 200k and several dealer visits. The other never had a problem. The truck that had the Death wobble destroys track bar bushings. Will be putting another set in this week. They last about 3 months. Poly or rubber don't matter.

 

[Syleng1]

How is the shaft that goes from the bottom of the column to the box? I had trouble with the 2012 3500 SRW that I own and it was the damping shock used from the factory from the tie rod to the axle. I replaced it and it went away. One of my 2018 2500 has a bit of play in the steering box and when I hit a bump it shakes but not scary. All my trucks are factory 4wd used for towing and work. 100k+ on all of them. Hemi and 6.7 engines.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

My truck was at the dealer over 20 times since new and they never fixed it. It ended up being a bad steering box . . The insurance company told me of the problem after losing steering and I hit a prius. They Had had several accidents reported for the same issue. I believe the Death wobble did damage to the truck frame after several years of having the problem. Cracked ???

I already did these upgrades

Replace Y-bar with T-bar suspension

Steering box brace from BD diesel.

New ball joints

New control arms

Nothing fixed it until the new steering box

It would only go into the death wobble above 60 mph when going around a slight right bend in the highway and hitting a crack in the road such as a bridge transition. When you see it coming ride the brakes and it would prevent it. Traveled all over the US towing the race car for years. I was frustrated at 30k so I bought an Identical truck. That truck is as smooth as silk. If ony I would have replaced the steering box at 30k.

 

[67Dart273]

The 2WD truck, original, drove great. Same steering box. Everything under there that moves except the box and except the trailing arms are new. Converted to T steering. Last year in the conversion, new tie rod and ends, new drag link, new track bar, new ball joints and new shocks It wandered a little when I first put it together, and I was under there twice with a friend wiggling the wheel looking for looseness carefully.

So far as frame flex, I have a front receiver hitch which should help tie the frame together.

The steering box may or may not have been replaced before I bought it, truck and box have 148K on the clock I have certainly kept the box in the back of my mind and may throw one at it, but DAMN I cannot see any play, there.

I don't have oversize or agressive tires, and have not had any "death wobble" which I'm aware of. LOL, Old FJ40 Landrcruiser with a 360, then 340, and last, 318 before it died. Well aware of "the dance."

Hope to have it on the ground in a day or two and we'll "start all over".

I also want to try and get the cheap china backup camera re-working. It's wired, I bought a wireless, but it has a little bitty monitor and the cheap one is much larger. It is wired, common old composite video.

 

[67Dart273]

I drilled my frame to 5/8 and milled the hole in new bushings to 5/8. I have two 3500 Diesel dodges. One had the death wobble since new which is now fixed after 200k and several dealer visits. The other never had a problem. The truck that had the Death wobble destroys track bar bushings. Will be putting another set in this week. They last about 3 months. Poly or rubber don't matter.

Thanks Steve. That whole damn bracket should have been way thicker. This is ?? about a 98-99 ish heavy duty 60 axle. (has the old style inboard PITA rotors) Is your truck newer, or thicker bracket? This one in nominal 1/8 material.

 

[67Dart273]

My welding is not to be viewed by humans LOL. Got it back together, but if it cools tonight, or "phuck it tomorrow" I want to have a go at getting the backup cam working. I have a tiny cam on a magnet, and use it mostly to hit the hitch with the ball. For that one thing it saves me 4 trips in/ out of the damn thing. Torqued the anchor bolt to 150, the tie rod ends to 70

 

[67Dart273]

So, got the backup video working, and got the old girl back on it's feet just after sunset, went for a hop on the freeway, and around surface streets, then to the groceria. I cannot say it "drives like new" but it drives pretty darn swell, for a big ol tub of a big heavy truck. IF IF it holds true, this will be "OK."