Track Bar Spacer

[madcrzydrmr]

I have Duffs track bar riser bracket and I've just installed the red neck ram assist mounting the base of the ram to the risers plate. I'm TRO and in order to get the ram cylinder from rubbing/wedging on the tie rod and diff cover when cycling the the steering, I had to mount the tabs a bit higher on the plate putting the rams mounting nut close to the track bar. In fear of the track bar rubbing on the nut when flexing on a trail, would it be ok to add a few washers for 1/8-1/4” spacing to the track bar mount on the riser pushing it out a bit to fully clear the nut?

 

[DirtDonk]

You're wanting to space out the steering ram mount and not the trackbar, correct?
Either way i would not think 1/4" would make a huge difference as long as the ends are not rigid. If there is some deflection with bushings or spherical rod ends you should be fine.
After all, the ram (or anything else attached to a tie-rod or steering arm) is going to move in an arc as opposed to purely linear. Try moving the steering knuckles from full lock to full lock to see how much the tie-rod moves in and out and see if that is going to put anything in a bind with that extra spacing you want to add.

Paul

 

[madcrzydrmr]

Space out the track bar mount from the riser. The nut from the ram is more-or-less in the clear and tucked behind the track bar, but when compressed, it may rub so looking to create a little more room between the two.

 

[DirtDonk]

the bushings should have enough deflection without putting too much pressure on things. But since "every Bronco is different" (haven't uttered that phrase in a couple of weeks) you need to see if it's under tension already.
While they can probably take much more than I think they can, I like to keep the built-in tension to a minimum. That's where you have to move the bar very far just to line it up with the upper hole once it's mounted on the lower stud.

So pull it down, put your spacers in and see how much pressure you have to exert to get it back into alignment with the upper hole.
Luckily with the adjustable bars, you can twist the upper head so that you do not have to twist the bar to align it like you do with the stock ones sometimes after a lift. But this is not twist we're talking about, but side pressure on the lower mount.
My feeling is that it's loose enough at the bottom that you won't even notice the difference. But that's why a quick test is a good thing. That way you'll know for sure.

Who's trackbar are you using?

Paul

 

[madcrzydrmr]

Thanks for the input. I have Bronco Graveyard's adjustable on there and I recall not too much to get it into the upper hole. It was more-so stubborn getting the bushings seated up there.

 

[DirtDonk]

Because the bushings were thicker than the opening? I've seen that happen and it's probably a normal function of the original bar's high torque on the bolt putting the squeeze on the bracket.
Not sure quite how to spread it back out though. It's not exactly thin sheet metal!

Let us know how the spacing works out for you.

Paul

 

[JohnJohn]

I thought I would share an alternative way to mount your ram. This is how I mounted mine and don't have any issues at all. My only advise would be to make your ram hoses as long as you can to account for articulation. My first set were too short and I had to replace them.

 

[FordBronc]

Subscribed to learn/save I have the same issue coming up here soon.

 

[madcrzydrmr]

Ended going 1/2” spacing. Could have gone even more with the track bar being very “friendly”. I had to go to the HD and get a longer bolt that I cut to 4” to make up for the new space, but went in easy peasy, and tracks normal with room to spare.