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Rear traction bar discussion.

Traditional:

trad.jpg


Laid back:

laid.jpg


It doesn't matter so much. Pick whichever you think will work better on your rig. The traditional style in intended to mount on the axle tube so that the top hole is directly above the bottom hole. The laid back is intended to angle so that the top hole is further back, nearly above the axle center. You can always call Ruff Stuff up and ask for advice.
 
Yeah, I saw those pictures on their website and I could tell what the actual physical difference was. I wanted to know what the reasoning between having two different styles for was? Possibly a packaging difference or if there was an actual advantage to one type or the other?

Martin
 
ezoliver said:
Traditional to me looks like it would offer quite a bit better ground clearance...
Click to expand...

No. If you read the description, both are supposed to mount high enough you don't lose ground clearance. The difference is in the clearance above the axle. The intention is something like this - showing where the name "laid back" comes from:

ruffstuffwrapbrackets.jpg


But again, these are fab parts, so the actual installation is up to the installer. You can angle them however you want and based on how your rig is set up. The "moon" brackets will get the bushings between those holes however you do it. Then the angle the tubes come off the bushings changes as you rotate the brackets around.
 
blazinzuk said:
Averys has all the things needed.

You need it to pivot, his does, you need it attached to the frame with a shackle or something that can move back and forth, and attached to the axle at 2 points.

I prefer the shackle pointing upwards but he does sand so I am sure he is well acquainted with axle hop and how well his traction bar works.

Any of the examples above would work, I will be building one for Horton in the rear that is pretty much exactly like Averys except my traction bar will be at the top of the shackle and the frame mount will be below it.

Traction bars work wonders for leaf springs
Click to expand...

What's the purpose of a shackle, just to accommodate for axle movement or is there some other purpose? Also, how long does the traction bar need to be?
 
I've been told you want it as long as possible, but I am not sure that is the 100% truth.

Martin
 
Blue85 said:
No. If you read the description, both are supposed to mount high enough you don't lose ground clearance. The difference is in the clearance above the axle.

But again, these are fab parts, so the actual installation is up to the installer. You can angle them however you want and based on how your rig is set up. The "moon" brackets will get the bushings between those holes however you do it. Then the angle the tubes come off the bushings changes as you rotate the brackets around.
Click to expand...

So is there an advantage to the traditional style, that you lose by picking up overhead clearance with the laid back style?

Martin
 
The "length" of the spring changes as the axle travels up and down, because a leaf spring is arched. The length of the traction bar is fixed. So the shackle lets the axle move front to back a little as it's supposed to. Otherwise the suspension would bind (like with "ladder bars").

The length of the bar is actually an important suspension design parameter - it determines the amount of anti-squat. But unless you're building a rig from the ground up, there is only a certain amount of packaging space available. In short wheelbase rigs you're just going to tie the front shackle in somewhere near the back of the transfer case and call it good. On a long wheelbase you have some options.
 
82355 said:
Kirt, neither of your links to the "Backbone" work from this page.

http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=24&product_id=116

Has anyone ran the DIY4X traction bar without the truss?

Martin
Click to expand...

Sorry i'm a little late on the conversation here. Links... Not sure what's up there. They are supposed to point here,

http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?route=product/product&path=18&product_id=151

As to using it without the backbone, sure, it can be however know one has simply for the fact, the way it hooks to the housing you'll be building a truss anyway. If you wanted to build your own truss, no reason you can't.

Quite often we're putting together packages that work for customers individual needs.
 
Oh, that's fine. I knew where they were suppose to link, just thought I'd let you know that they were not working correctly.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Oh, that's fine. I knew where they were suppose to link, just thought I'd let you know that they were not working correctly.

Martin
Click to expand...

Figured you did. Just throwing the link up for those that didn't and to be thorough with customer service.
 
I went with the Ruff Stuff kit. I have never ordered from them before, generally just ORD or DIY4X. I'll see what I think of them.

Martin
 
82355 said:
I've been told you want it as long as possible, but I am not sure that is the 100% truth.

Martin
Click to expand...







Blue85 said:
The "length" of the spring changes as the axle travels up and down, because a leaf spring is arched. The length of the traction bar is fixed. So the shackle lets the axle move front to back a little as it's supposed to. Otherwise the suspension would bind (like with "ladder bars").

The length of the bar is actually an important suspension design parameter - it determines the amount of anti-squat. But unless you're building a rig from the ground up, there is only a certain amount of packaging space available. In short wheelbase rigs you're just going to tie the front shackle in somewhere near the back of the transfer case and call it good. On a long wheelbase you have some options.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info guys, that makes sense and why sled pullers sometimes have traction bars that start near the front wheels.
 
82355 said:
I went with the Ruff Stuff kit. I have never ordered from them before, generally just ORD or DIY4X. I'll see what I think of them.

Martin
Click to expand...

I've used them a few times, their products are quality, shipping times seem to leave something to desire :doah:. Last order I made (last month) I ordered parts on a Monday around 10am EST, got a confirmation email about 2 hours later, parts never shipped until the following Tuesday (8 days later)........yet the site boasts that they ship 6 days a week. I hoped to see the order by the end of the week since it was coming in a 2-3day flat rate box, not the end of the 2nd week!
 
Dan has always shipped pretty quick on my orders..
 
ryoken said:
Dan has always shipped pretty quick on my orders..
Click to expand...

I've ordered from him maybe 6 or 7 times and every time there has been some delay, maybe it's just my luck :doah: :D If his stuff wasn't quality, I wouldn't keep ordering from him.
 
it is cali iirc.... I've ordered 3 or 4 times and I just remember not being annoyed with delivery time... :haha:
 
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