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Pics of my completed Traction bar...

Avery4jc

Avery4jc

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With help from a friend and the use of his shop we managed to pull off a single day traction bar build. :)
I think it turned out great and it definitely serves it's purpose. It's all .250" wall tubing so I can drop the truck on it and not worry. :D

The top joint is a 3" Ballistic Joint with 34* of rotation so I think I'll be good to go. Anyways here's a bunch of pics I just snapped of it, and of course it had to rain all day yesterday but we managed. :)


Wagon014.jpg

Wagon015.jpg

Wagon016.jpg

100_6817.jpg

100_6818.jpg

100_6819.jpg
 
Looks good

Did it take forever to get the ballistic joint?
 
looks good, are you gonna weld your tubes to the center section?
 
I see the way the Ballistic joint is welded to the underside of that small box tube as being a major weak link, and likely the first failure point...frankly the whole upper mount design needs a lot more thought IMO.

The axle end is OK, although the welds look a bit small. Definitely stronger than the other end.

Rene
 
Shouldn't the Shackle be above the crossmenber though??? seems like the shackle being like that would allow the arm to swing up and back with out controling the axle wrap??
 
Ooooo man here we go. I don't really want to argue about this because in my research I have found that about all Traction Bar threads end up with people arguing on which way the shackle should go, which way the crossmember should be built, and blah blah blah. So here's the deal, this is how it fit, it's built with heavy wall tubing, thick plate and strong quality joints so I'm going to run it and see what happens.

yellowK20 said:
Shouldn't the Shackle be above the crossmenber though??? seems like the shackle being like that would allow the arm to swing up and back with out controling the axle wrap??
Click to expand...


tRustyK5 said:
I see the way the Ballistic joint is welded to the underside of that small box tube as being a major weak link, and likely the first failure point...frankly the whole upper mount design needs a lot more thought IMO.


Rene
Click to expand...

:dunno: That "small box tube" is .250" wall square tubing so I'm not sure what else could be done. Heck I'd bet a hunk of change the frame breaks before that tubing bends or snaps.

BUT, I'm all ears so if ya' have a better idea of something post up your thoughts. :ears:
 
I dont mean any offense dude just saying in my mind the Compression shackle wouldn't work in this application, ......... well in reverse it would LOL but I dunno I've never really had axle wrap issues so I've never ran a traction bar
 
Compression/tension shouldn't matter at all, not sure why people thing that it would.

IMO, the welds should have extended all the way to the ends of the brackets on the axle tubes, that's the only real criticism I have.

Also, you really need to weld your axle tubes to the center section. 14 bolts are already somewhat prone to spinning tubes, a traction bar or links will almost certainly do it unless the tubes are welded up.
 
You should really put some reinforcement tabs between the Ballistic joint and your cross-member, and maybe run some kickers from above the cross-member/joint.
 
38377k5 said:
Also, you really need to weld your axle tubes to the center section. 14 bolts are already somewhat prone to spinning tubes, a traction bar or links will almost certainly do it unless the tubes are welded up.
Click to expand...

True, I'll put it on the list of things to do.


JDNobodi said:
You should really put some reinforcement tabs between the Ballistic joint and your cross-member, and maybe run some kickers from above the cross-member/joint.
Click to expand...

We talked about this today. We'll do that next time we have some time.
 
Those welds do kinda look like ass :whistle: ,

1.5x1.5x.25 wall tube is a little light,

And cross member drop spacers for a shackle...thats way dumb :haha:
 
another thing to think about, weld the axle tubes to the center section.
here isa pic of my old traction bar. I welded the bf-joint to a cross member then wrapped it in some strap.
DSC04641.jpg
 
Has this thing broke yet? :haha:

J/K looks good dude! I need to get to work on mine. All I need is that joint. Thanks for posting pics, I'm sure it will help me at some point.
 
38377k5 said:
IMO, the welds should have extended all the way to the ends of the brackets on the axle tubes, that's the only real criticism I have.
Click to expand...

Every bit of the axle tube brackets that were touching the tube are welded to the tube on both sides of both brackets :D
 
Avery4jc said:
:dunno: That "small box tube" is .250" wall square tubing so I'm not sure what else could be done. Heck I'd bet a hunk of change the frame breaks before that tubing bends or snaps.

BUT, I'm all ears so if ya' have a better idea of something post up your thoughts. :ears:
Click to expand...

I don't think he's too concerned about the thickness of that box tubing, I think the concern is more HOW you attached the joint to the tubing - meaning, weld some tabs to the tube and bolt the joint through those tabs.
 
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