Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SideStepper · 12-31-2005, 12:35 AM

Today I thought that it would be a good day to rotate the tires. While putting my truck up on jack stands, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the tracking arm behide the rear axle, was broken off & hanging down by a single bolt. The bar shreared from the cylindrical lug at the weld, on the frame rail end of the tracking arm. The bolts are still in place.
My truck is a 68 short step daily driver & completely stock. I personally replaced the tracking arm bushings 4 years ago. The truck is always driven & loaded correctly when hauling any loads.
Has anyone ever heard of these tracking arms failing?

Longhorn Man · 12-31-2005, 12:56 AM

When i first got my old 69 GMC, that bar was broken. After driving that sucker liek that, i can't see how you didn't know something was terribly wrong. Mine was squirming all over the place and kinda acted like rear stear, like a fork lift.
I have no clue HOW it broke. Mine was broken in the center,a nd it was a fairly clean break. There was no bend, no signs of trama...nothing but 2 pieces of bar that used to be one.
I installed a $5 junk yard piece, and never had another issue with it.

SideStepper · 12-31-2005, 09:08 AM

Yes, I did notice that something got loose with the truck in the last few days. The tires are not the best, so thats why I was going to rotate them. Even though I am very much aware of the function of the tracking arm & do all the work on my truck, I never expected that bar to break. Maybe on a 4 wheel drive off road truck, but this is a 2 wheel drive street truck.
This bar failure was similar to yours, not bent.......just a clean shear.
I was considering going to the wrecking yard to pick up another tracking arm. Then I was thinking that those, almost 40 year old arms maybe steel fatigued. The other option is to spend $50 bucks on a new Chineise repro. Well, as I said this is a daily driver so whatever I find first, is what is going to be bolted on.

**tnblazerk5** · 12-31-2005, 09:25 AM

i have broke the one on the 67 once have no clue what made it brake

i just thought is was a old age thing got weak and snaped

*FormerMember* · 12-31-2005, 09:44 AM

I've broken a few of them. It's pretty common. They're very weak.

Check out an aftermarket one or make one yourself. I made one, using johnny joints on an old C20 I had. Sold it, I am not sure he's on the board anymore, but it was beef. I also drove that C20 without a tracking bar for a bit. Of course, I had all new trailing arm bushings, so it wasn't as bad. You may want to replace those, too.

junkyardjohn · 12-31-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SideStepper

Yes, I did notice that something got loose with the truck in the last few days. The tires are not the best, so thats why I was going to rotate them. Even though I am very much aware of the function of the tracking arm & do all the work on my truck, I never expected that bar to break. Maybe on a 4 wheel drive off road truck, but this is a 2 wheel drive street truck.
This bar failure was similar to yours, not bent.......just a clean shear.
I was considering going to the wrecking yard to pick up another tracking arm. Then I was thinking that those, almost 40 year old arms maybe steel fatigued. The other option is to spend $50 bucks on a new Chineise repro. Well, as I said this is a daily driver so whatever I find first, is what is going to be bolted on.

I GOT A NEW NOS PAHARD BAR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT THE LOCAL G.M. DEALER FOR RIGHT AROUND $20. I REMEMBER IT WASN'T THAT MUCH MORE THAN A PAIR OF PANHARD BUSHINGS THAT I ORIGINALLY WENT TO GET. JOHN

SideStepper · 12-31-2005, 11:28 AM

If GM dealer still have those for $20, that sounds like the way go! Thanks.

kelsfine69 · 12-31-2005, 12:29 PM

Does anyone have a GM part No.??

SideStepper · 12-31-2005, 08:01 PM

Good Question!
I would rather go to the dealer with the part number, than depend on them to come up with the correct one.
If no response from any board members, I will go to the dealer & let you know what I find out.

junkyardjohn · 12-31-2005, 09:02 PM

SORRY... IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE & I SUFFER FROM THE DREADED C.R.S DISEASE.

JOHN

**john** · 12-31-2005, 09:06 PM

Junkyardjohn got a pretty good discount or I got bent over. I have an invoice dated 12/16/96 for 3854906 rod
list $47.74
I paid 39.78 I dont get any business discount.
I guess it is possible for prices to change for the good on these parts. John

Tx Firefighter · 01-01-2006, 09:43 AM

You didn't get screwed John. My good buddy is a GM parts man, and he treats me right. I believe the price in near 40 dollars now for a new one with bushings and all.

*Billla* · 01-01-2006, 02:18 PM

Any pointers to the aftermarket products? I'm collecting parts for my rear suspension overhaul and I might as well do that "while I'm in there"

Tx Firefighter · 01-01-2006, 04:21 PM

Early Classic Enterprises. No one has customer service even close to them. Look in the review section to see what many people have to say about them.

12-31-2005, 12:35 AM	#1
SideStepper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 275	Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Today I thought that it would be a good day to rotate the tires. While putting my truck up on jack stands, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the tracking arm behide the rear axle, was broken off & hanging down by a single bolt. The bar shreared from the cylindrical lug at the weld, on the frame rail end of the tracking arm. The bolts are still in place. My truck is a 68 short step daily driver & completely stock. I personally replaced the tracking arm bushings 4 years ago. The truck is always driven & loaded correctly when hauling any loads. Has anyone ever heard of these tracking arms failing?

12-31-2005, 12:56 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) When i first got my old 69 GMC, that bar was broken. After driving that sucker liek that, i can't see how you didn't know something was terribly wrong. Mine was squirming all over the place and kinda acted like rear stear, like a fork lift. I have no clue HOW it broke. Mine was broken in the center,a nd it was a fairly clean break. There was no bend, no signs of trama...nothing but 2 pieces of bar that used to be one. I installed a $5 junk yard piece, and never had another issue with it.

12-31-2005, 09:08 AM	#3
SideStepper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 275	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Yes, I did notice that something got loose with the truck in the last few days. The tires are not the best, so thats why I was going to rotate them. Even though I am very much aware of the function of the tracking arm & do all the work on my truck, I never expected that bar to break. Maybe on a 4 wheel drive off road truck, but this is a 2 wheel drive street truck. This bar failure was similar to yours, not bent.......just a clean shear. I was considering going to the wrecking yard to pick up another tracking arm. Then I was thinking that those, almost 40 year old arms maybe steel fatigued. The other option is to spend $50 bucks on a new Chineise repro. Well, as I said this is a daily driver so whatever I find first, is what is going to be bolted on.

12-31-2005, 09:25 AM	#4
tnblazerk5 User #12137 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: kingsport,upper east tenn Posts: 11,598	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) i have broke the one on the 67 once have no clue what made it brake i just thought is was a old age thing got weak and snaped

12-31-2005, 09:44 AM	#5
FormerMember Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,051	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) I've broken a few of them. It's pretty common. They're very weak. Check out an aftermarket one or make one yourself. I made one, using johnny joints on an old C20 I had. Sold it, I am not sure he's on the board anymore, but it was beef. I also drove that C20 without a tracking bar for a bit. Of course, I had all new trailing arm bushings, so it wasn't as bad. You may want to replace those, too. Last edited by FormerMember; 12-31-2005 at 09:45 AM.

12-31-2005, 11:28 AM	#7
SideStepper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 275	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) If GM dealer still have those for $20, that sounds like the way go! Thanks.

12-31-2005, 12:29 PM	#8
kelsfine69 18 Till I Die Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,522	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Does anyone have a GM part No.?? __________________ 2011 GMC Acadia 1969 GMC BBC LS7 2007 GMC Crew Duramax 1987 Camaro Iroc 350 Tuned Port Injection 42000Km 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI 1987 Chevrolet Silverado 350 TBI(yes 2) Take me drunk, I'm too home...

12-31-2005, 08:01 PM	#9
SideStepper Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 275	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Good Question! I would rather go to the dealer with the part number, than depend on them to come up with the correct one. If no response from any board members, I will go to the dealer & let you know what I find out.

12-31-2005, 09:02 PM	#10
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) SORRY... IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE & I SUFFER FROM THE DREADED C.R.S DISEASE. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

12-31-2005, 09:06 PM	#11
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Junkyardjohn got a pretty good discount or I got bent over. I have an invoice dated 12/16/96 for 3854906 rod list $47.74 I paid 39.78 I dont get any business discount. I guess it is possible for prices to change for the good on these parts. John __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

01-01-2006, 09:43 AM	#12
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) You didn't get screwed John. My good buddy is a GM parts man, and he treats me right. I believe the price in near 40 dollars now for a new one with bushings and all. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

01-01-2006, 02:18 PM	#13
Billla Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Monroe, WA Posts: 3,815	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Any pointers to the aftermarket products? I'm collecting parts for my rear suspension overhaul and I might as well do that "while I'm in there"

01-01-2006, 04:21 PM	#14
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Broken tracking arm (pan hard bar) Early Classic Enterprises. No one has customer service even close to them. Look in the review section to see what many people have to say about them. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin



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