Traction bars

[Erics51chevy]

Apologize if this has already been talked about, my search isnt working. Ive been doing some research on traction bars like on full size trucks. Im not into the look of slapper bars, never have been a fan. Im looking into the ones that bolt into the leaf spring shock mounts and get welded to or bolted to your frame. Has anybody used these before? I see the caltracs are pretty popular in the drag racing area and these are similar.

I will not be using my truck for drag racing. I will maybe go to the strip once or twice with it. I dont want to have to worry about the axle wrapping too much with a lot of horsepower. I know everybody talks about 4 links but these could be a good alternative if you keep the leaf springs.

Kinda like so
[IMG][/IMG]

[Old57]

This is what I plan on using when I get to that point:

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/tractionbar.htm

[mr48chev]

I'd be looking on the offroad 4x4 parts sites like the one Old57 posted. I think those arms are pretty popular with the guys with lifted trucks with big lifts.

Here pick a number lots of options some great some good some rather iffy. https://www.google.com/search?q=trac...ih=415#imgrc=_

[Erics51chevy]

Our trucks would be even better for it because the bottom bar is going to be more parallel with the ground.

[la hi]

I used new elongated springs to keep the rear end on the ground. This is a take off from a Chrysler solution back in the 50's . The unintended result was a raised rear end. I am sorry I didn't take better pictures when it was apart.

[dsraven]

check welders series online for brackets and bars. you could easily fab your own or grab one of their kits. USD is pretty good compared to CAD right now. their stuff is pretty nice too.

[Speedbumpauto]

The problem with the ones you show is the rear suspension is trying to travel in two different arc lengths, which it doesn't want to do. If the ladder bars have the same pivot point as the springs, it can work, or have a movable pivot like the torque arm. The popularity of the Cal Trax stuff is they allow the spring to use its original pivot point so no suspension bind.

[Old57]

The link I posted above for the Offroad Design traction bar shows it has a link pivot at the front so it won't bind during spring movement

[dsraven]

check this little write up which describes the issue a little better possibly. it has pics so whaddya got to lose, right?
haha

http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...f-spring-woes/

[dsraven]

the link posted by olds57 is a lot like the camaro set up from the '80's. like a torque arm.

[_Ogre]

i used a torque arm similar to what old57 posted the link to with a spring shackle on the front
i used a 86 trans am rearend that had the oem torque arm and the boss cast into the punkin
under heavy acceleration my rearend would pivot up and the driveshaft would rub on the rear x-member
the torque arm works really well to eliminate any spring wrap

this is the 3rd gen camaro/firebird/trans am setup
i cut off the sliding trans mount and welded in a trailer spring shackle
look at the rearend pic la hi posted, he used a 3rd gen camaro i believe, you can see the torque arm boss
welding the bracket on the axle would obviously work as well




the link old57 posted would work well to prevent spring wrap
on the first pic you posted i had the same thoughts on binding with different pivot points
you basically have a triangle that is trying to pivot one side, not going to work without binding

[Erics51chevy]

Old 57s idea with the shackle for the rear to cycle properly is a good idea. Im just confused as to how that holds the pinion from moving. As im writing this it makes a little more sense. The rear can still cycle back and forth but not upwards? Would that shackle have to be perfect 90 degrees at the ride height and proper pinion angle?