Power Wagon Registry

So, the passenger side of my swaybar popped out of my 2013 powerwagon. I don't abuse anything. just started rubbing on hard left turns. It has moved about 3-4 inches out and the splines are visible and just kinda sitting there.

Of course it is not covered under warrantee. $1400 plus labor. From where I sit, this is a deal killer for me with Ram that they engineer something so crappy and won't back it up under the power/drivetrain warrantee.

Sooo, I'm submitting a complaint to NHTSA. I'm thinking about just putting a regular sway bar up front as I have NEVER really been impressed with the whole system. It's kinda hit or miss anyways whether it engaged the 2 times I tried it just to try it.

Anyways, anyone else have this problem? Quite frankly, this might be the straw. Its at the dealer for the third time to replace a pinion seal and only has 52K miles on it. It has a low vibration at 60-65 mph that simply will not go away....and it's NOT the tires.

I've been a dodge guy for the past 4 vehicles....wrangler, Dakota, Ram 1500 and now the power wagon. I planned on keeping this PW until the wheel fell off like I did my other 2; however, I am not so sure anymore. 3 pinion seals (2 front and 1 back), a swaybar and a vibration by 52K miles.

Anyways, I'll probably just keep it since I hate switching vehicles....but I will definitely not be the ambassador I once was.

Poor form

I had the same issue with my 2008 at 120,000 miles. I was able to reseat the sway bar and it seems to be functioning fine. I've driven 10,000 miles since then and the sway bar has remained in place and functioning properly.

I hate to hear this. I cant speak on your particular issue but every brand has problems...be it major or just minor anomalies, which they are usually reluctant or refuse to warranty. Its why I always buy the best extended service warranty available.
I am always hesitant to jump on the "They dont back up their products, Im done with them" wagon...because they all do this to some extent..they all have problems that they potentially try not to cover. Especially if the basic limited warranty is expirered or falls outside of the longer "drivetrain".
But regardless...as the old saying goes...the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you realy think you got a case, start squeaking.
Good luck.

Where are you located?

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I hope mine breaks so I can justify a Thuren bar.

from what i understood, for something to be covered under the powertrain warranty, it has to be lubricated by fluids....oil.

mike

I have a question (and it may not be the same on the later models...I have a 2016) while not assisting the op is relative. If the locker electronics are tied in to the smartbar/controls will replacing a defective smartbar with a standard one cause other issues?

Rodeoflyer wrote:I have a question (and it may not be the same on the later models...I have a 2016) while not assisting the op is relative. If the locker electronics are tied in to the smartbar/controls will replacing a defective smartbar with a standard one cause other issues?

Absolutely. No smartypants bar, no lockers (unless they are re-wired).

You leave the smart bar "brain" behind, lock the position sensor plunger in the "connected" position, waterproof it as well as you can, and zip tie it out of the way. The truck will think the bar is still there.


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Not sure if this helps you or not but the end of the spline has a c clip on it. Here are some pics.

One more pic

Bakes, You could have a weak C-clip on the end of the sway bar. A couple (2, I think) had this problem. All they did was to push the bar back in and checked to make sure it was seated.

As for your vibration. Need details on tires. Yes tires. How many miles are on them? Make of tire? Thread type? Summer, AT, MT? Have you checked the u-joints on the front axles? And that pinion seal, Which axle? The pinion bearings might be going bad. Taking out the pinion seal, and giving you the vibration.

I had an '11 that did this same thing twice. Once at 16k miles the other at around 20k. The first time I took it to the dealer and they had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. Then I showed them that the splines were sticking out of the smartbar housing. They said "that's normal. That's how the sway bar disconnect works." I laughed really hard and got in my truck and drove home. I mean I laughed REALLY hard. To the point they were kinda pissed and were gonna ask me to leave had I not been on my way already. Any who, I went home and soaped up the bushing that holds it in place the slid it back into the housing all the way using a dead blow hammer and a block of wood. Then it happened again. This time I took it all apart and found mine was missing that C clip. I work in a factory where We actually machine splines like these so I just got a hold of a buddy and he got me the C clip that was close and I put it all back together and it was fine after that. Granted I don't use the sway bar disconnect at all but when I traded it for my '15 it had 67k and it didn't ever come out again.

My experience with the dealers on our PWs is that they don't know anything about them. So I know it's frustrating when you go in there and they tell you some kinda line of crap. But if you can turn a few wrenches a lot of these small issues like this can be fixed in your driveway with minimal time and effort. Like my dad tells me all the time, "it's just nuts and bolts. If you get it apart, you can get it back together."

Hey....thanks for the replies.

I will try and put it back in this weekend. I am certainly not going to spend $1400+ to replace a flawed system....that will probably just die again. It would be one thing if it worked awesome to start with or lasted 10 yrs before it just kinda broke for no reason. Even when it wasn't popped out, it really didn't impress me with its ability to engage and disengage at the touch of a button.

Sooo, my plan is to try and put it back is and just see what happens. In the meantime, will look for replacement. What I really want to do is just go to the junkyard, get a front swaybar from a 2500, pop it in and then get some quick disconnect links later on. Anybody have a source for quick disconnect links?

In regards to the vibration...I don't think it is the tires. It does not feel like a tire vibration. Essentially, it is vibration free until ~60mph. Then from 60-70 it is very noticeable. Then kinda less so at 70+. It is not a shimmy or a wobble. They have been rotated and balanced. The are BFG AT. Have about 20,000 miles on them. I'm going to replace them soon anyways just because I think they are a little worn for the upcoming winter here in Colorado. Balanced but a bit worn. I hear the Toyo ATs are pretty good. Any thoughts on them?

depending how you offroad, those bfg at's could be missing tread blocks. look hard. all 3 sets of mine were at around 20k miles + and i got the death wobble. junk tires....too soft of compound.

mike

Bakes wrote: Sooo, my plan is to try and put it back is and just see what happens. In the meantime, will look for replacement. What I really want to do is just go to the junkyard, get a front swaybar from a 2500, pop it in and then get some quick disconnect links later on. Anybody have a source for quick disconnect links?

You might want to check out the EVO manual disconnect that others have used...

http://www.evomfg.com/index.php?route=p ... uct_id=154


http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/sea ... mit=Search

Bakes wrote:Hey....thanks for the replies.
Even when it wasn't popped out, it really didn't impress me with its ability to engage and disengage at the touch of a button.

The Smartbar should co' and disco' pretty fast, but the bar needs to have no load on it. On level ground, it should be instant, but if mine is bound up I can usually get it to pop loose by just bouncing my fat butt back and forth in the driver's seat to rock the truck a little bit.

If you really don't like having a button that works from inside the cab, there's always this critter too. . .
https://www.offroadevolution.com/produc ... ct-jk-jku/

Edit: Ah, Cruz, you beat me to it!

Don't bother getting a regular 2500 swaybar, if the evo disconnect doesn't float your boat you could always get a thuren or carli torsion style swaybar. Either of those is a tremendous improvement in ride quality on and off road.

Low_Sky wrote:You leave the smart bar "brain" behind, lock the position sensor plunger in the "connected" position, waterproof it as well as you can, and zip tie it out of the way. The truck will think the bar is still there.

Oh yeah. Thanks! The wheels are turning now.

Low_Sky wrote:

Bakes wrote:The bar should co' and disco' pretty fast, but the bar needs to have no load on it. On level ground, it should be instant, but if mine is bound up I can usually get it to pop loose by just bouncing my fat butt back and forth in the driver's seat to rock the truck a little bit.

I can actually hear it lock (but not unlock which is silent) if I rock the truck or mash the throttle a bit. It make a pretty loud pop.