Traction Bars: Idea

[broncoman6524]

Okay, first Flex is not high on my priorities. Truck is mainly used for pulling/mud bogs.

That being said here is my idea, On the top U-bolt plate. I will weld a "triangle" on, with a hole to bolt a tractor link to, then run the tractor link *almost* parrallel with the leaf spring to the front spring bolt.

Then I will either make a "H" to connect the link to the bolt, or just 2 piece of flat steel.

My thinking is this will be simple, solid, and I can make a small adjust to my pinion angle if need be.

The truck is a k5, 383/sm465/208 with 3/4 axles, 6" rear springs.

Rigth now, just letting the clutch out starts to wrap the axle, So I NEED to change the design.

I attached a ROUGH drawing of it I did in Paint.

 

[chevydan3]

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/scsubs.html?category=Traction Bars

Like these, I have heard they don't work very well.

 

[broncoman6524]

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/scsubs.html?category=Traction Bars

Like these, I have heard they don't work very well.

Yeah, actually.

Hmm...thats pretty darn close to what I was thinking.

 

[kitimatdude]

I made my own for less than that look in my sig...

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

For that setup to flex at all, the springs have to bend or the bushings have to give every time the truck hits a bump.

As mentioned, its works of for suspensions that need very little travel.

 

[folkenheath]

The reason that won't work that well is because it puts the leaf spring under compression forces and it can still wrap up. In order to be the most effective you need to put the leaf spring in tension while controlling axle wrap if you are only going to have one attachment point at the axle. (two axle attachment points are better with shackle up front because it isolates the spring from wrap and lets the spring just control up and down and side to side) Your idea is a good thought, and it might help a little but it won't be as effective as it could be if it was like a cal-trac with the spring under tension. Also, your effect instant center is the front spring eye bolt. Designs like a cal-trac use a pivoting triangle at the front to move the instant center forward. Slapper bars and short ladder bars can work, but they are more violent and can "unload" if the power isn't maintained.

 

[pennsylvaniaboy]

yup had that setup from the PO sucks. just do toe tractor supply and but some end link and tube and build them right