Posted By: Moe
Lakewood Traction Bars - 10/08/10 03:37 PM
Why do I still see these on some '66-'73 leaf sprung MoPars? Am I missing something?
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Not all owners of Mopars are Mopar-drivers....
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Why do I still see these on some '66-'73 leaf sprung MoPars? Am I missing something?
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Why do I still see these on some '66-'73 leaf sprung MoPars? Am I missing something?
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Chip "Holeshot Horton" used them on his Duster and won many thousands of dollars racing.
Let's hear your scientific reasons for why traction bars wouldn't work ?
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That binds the suspension big-time and kills the ride.
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Ran them on my Dart just for fun (got them in a trade) and my sixty foot dropped. Most Mopar guys just automatically dismiss them because they heard from someone that they don't work, I prefer real world trial and error instead of hearsay.
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Ran them on my Dart just for fun (got them in a trade) and my sixty foot dropped. Most Mopar guys just automatically dismiss them because they heard from someone that they don't work, I prefer real world trial and error instead of hearsay.
I'm a firm believer in the "if it works then it works" philosophy (so is Yogi Beara), BUT I'm curious as to why thesuperstock guys/Ramchargers always used snubers instead and all the MP books state not to use tractions bar, only snubbers?
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Ran them on my Dart just for fun (got them in a trade) and my sixty foot dropped. Most Mopar guys just automatically dismiss them because they heard from someone that they don't work, I prefer real world trial and error instead of hearsay.
I'm a firm believer in the "if it works then it works" philosophy (so is Yogi Beara), BUT I'm curious as to why thesuperstock guys/Ramchargers always used snubers instead and all the MP books state not to use tractions bar, only snubbers?
Probably because they ran SS springs. Traction aids are not supposed to be used with them other than a snubber.
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
Someone must know what the Mopar engineers had in mind when they specified the snubber and said not to use the trac bars. I know we are killing this topic but I'm a sucker for these two sided arguments. I'll see what I can dig up from my old books.
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I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky.
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
Someone must know what the Mopar engineers had in mind when they specified the snubber and said not to use the trac bars. I know we are killing this topic but I'm a sucker for these two sided arguments. I'll see what I can dig up from my old books.
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
Someone must know what the Mopar engineers had in mind when they specified the snubber and said not to use the trac bars. I know we are killing this topic but I'm a sucker for these two sided arguments. I'll see what I can dig up from my old books.
yep its intresting when looking at stuff deeper than just saying "this is the way it is because thats how it has been done foreverer"
only real good reasons i can see is that it would help keeping the axletubes from twisting in the centersection, it would also help in alowing the rear suspension to still work side to side so to speak,while tractionbars should be able to lessen boddy roll when under full power, but im not an engineer:)
would be very intresting if you found any deeper info on this
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
Someone must know what the Mopar engineers had in mind when they specified the snubber and said not to use the trac bars. I know we are killing this topic but I'm a sucker for these two sided arguments. I'll see what I can dig up from my old books.
yep its intresting when looking at stuff deeper than just saying "this is the way it is because thats how it has been done foreverer"
only real good reasons i can see is that it would help keeping the axletubes from twisting in the centersection, it would also help in alowing the rear suspension to still work side to side so to speak,while tractionbars should be able to lessen boddy roll when under full power, but im not an engineer:)
would be very intresting if you found any deeper info on this
Ok, according to Larry Shepherd and the old Direct Connection book (see that's how old I am), he says, traction bars are not recommended. So there not saying "DO NOT USE THEM". The reason stated is that they may cause the axle tubes to bend or undesirable handling. They should NOT be used with super stock springs (goes without saying).
Not sure how they would bend the axle tubes other than the fact they are outboard, but I would think Fords and GMs would have the same problems. As far as ill handling, well superstock springs can do that for you too.
The snubber is optional on the automatic but should be used for safety. They say it's a must on 4 speed cars. They recommend re-enforcing the floor.
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Are the axle tubes pressed in like an 8.8" Ford? If so, can you weld them to the housing?
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How well traction bars work is directly related to the amount of thought and effort in tuning them. Just slapping a pair on is only the first step. Clamping or unclamping the springs and trimming the snubbers to set preload must also be done for them to work well. But at least you can set preload from side to side to prevent the torque from trying to pick up the passenger side tire, which helps traction and helps keep the car in a straight line. If you can tell me how to preload one side with a pinion snubber, I'm listening. That is, how without using SS springs that are mismatched from side to side, ride unnecessarily hard, and affect normal handling.
Leaf springs by nature aren't suited to transmit torque - by the time they are stiff enough not to wrap up they are way too stiff to let the back work. A softer spring package with properly tuned slapper bars can work extremely well with a little tuning. And no, I didn't forget about shocks; that's a whole other topic.
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How well traction bars work is directly related to the amount of thought and effort in tuning them. Just slapping a pair on is only the first step. Clamping or unclamping the springs and trimming the snubbers to set preload must also be done for them to work well. But at least you can set preload from side to side to prevent the torque from trying to pick up the passenger side tire, which helps traction and helps keep the car in a straight line. If you can tell me how to preload one side with a pinion snubber, I'm listening. That is, how without using SS springs that are mismatched from side to side, ride unnecessarily hard, and affect normal handling.
Leaf springs by nature aren't suited to transmit torque - by the time they are stiff enough not to wrap up they are way too stiff to let the back work. A softer spring package with properly tuned slapper bars can work extremely well with a little tuning. And no, I didn't forget about shocks; that's a whole other topic.
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I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
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Hey big Willy THEY ARE DORKY!!!!
If you guys want your car to look like a Camaro,go ahead and use them.
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The only reason why I haven't put them on is due to clearance issues with the road, pulling into parking lots, bumps in the road, you get the idea... CRUNCH!!!
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I have mine on too. They work and I have always thought they looked cool.
I'm sorry but I always thought they looked dorky. Look how low to the ground yours are. lol Plus a pinion snubber weighs alot less.
you dont think the front springmounts ataching to what litle frame is available under these cars would be a better place to direct all the rotational forces from the rear axle compared to putting all that force straight up into the much thinner floor?
Someone must know what the Mopar engineers had in mind when they specified the snubber and said not to use the trac bars. I know we are killing this topic but I'm a sucker for these two sided arguments. I'll see what I can dig up from my old books.
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and as in any street driving,you need to drive defensively and watch for road hazzards,curbs,potholes or you can have trouble