Traction bar video

2015 Sport, 4.0L, 4x4, auto, stock suspension - low profile custom crafted bars -
Just for the curious, if you ever wondered what your rear suspension looked like under acceleration and braking. (note the spring flex)

 

Crazy.

Good post!

 

might be a dumb question but, what the bar with the bump stop for? is that a different kind of overload spring alternative? cool video regardless.

 

Toyota would have been better off going to a 3 link setup on the 3rd gen. Look at the change in pinion angle! My God it's no wonder why these things have so many vibration issues!

 

Just traction bars. Under acceleration the bumps contact the body or frame and prevent additional axle wrap, wheel hop, and help put power to the pavement. "Back in the day" they were standard aftermarket equipment for hot rodders and amateur bracket racers with rear leaf suspensions. They worked the same way, but not quite as well, as the old bolt on/weld on ladder bars.

Traction bars...


Ladder bars...

 

Ladder bars are a better option, less chance of impaling the earth with them

 

Just added a ladder bar to mine a week ago and all the vibes I have been fighting are gone. Axle wrap on these trucks is bad.

 

Custom design minimizes chance for bar to "submarine" excessively during braking - also properly adjusted "contact" bar provides much better ride characteristics than bar solidly attached to the chassis, while achieving pinion angle control.

 

You mean like the 4Runner/FJ? I think Toyota chose leafs for the trucks because the coil spring buckets would intrude more into the bed space.

 

@SMKYTXN , let's get some video of your new traction bar

 

I understand that. But anything larger than a standard speed bump could be an issue. Your break over angle is drastically reduced.

 

This.

and leafs are cheap.

I have considered traction bars like the op... but looking at clearances... no way, shit moves around way to much and gets too close to the ground for my comfort.

 

Bar is angled up 13 degrees from horizontal at the spring perch. Under severe braking (anti-lock) the deflection is 4.5", which is effectively the 13 degrees from horizontal - leaving 10" clearance from the leading edge of the bar to the ground. (a little higher than most speed bumps I go over). An adjustable support loop (u-bolt) is designed in and can be quickly added for light to medium "wheeling", or the bar can be removed in 10 minutes. Made trip to Yankee Boy (Ouray CO) basin last summer, no sub loop, no issues. 2015 Sport, no lift.

 

how does it hold onto the axle? Looks like its well below the bottom U bolts.

Not my cup of tea as i would drag them at some point guaranteed.... but for the street truck they will work well.

 

3/16 plate cut to fit inside the lower factory spring perch plate- on top of the factory u-bolt nuts = flush with the spring perch flange - 1.5"x .060 tubing - welded to plate - 10" clearance from tube to ground.

 

That is why you never solidly mount a ladder bar on a 4x4. A properly designed ladder bar allows for no impact to the suspension travel or ride quality, by using a slip joint or shackle mount.

 

Yeah i wouldnt be going using the U bolts if i planned on taking it on and off a bunch. Those threads on those u bolts get galled up pretty easy.

 

I guess - I had the mounts on and off a dozen times doing fittings and changes, using nylocks, and didn't notice any change in the u-bolt threads. Maybe I need to take a real close look.

 

Wow really interesting...I wonder how much the axle moves when towing a camper...A camper is heavy and requires a lot of torque to pull. Wonder if the traction bar would help. I couldn't tell in the video,but 1. is there a traction bar on each side, 2. what is the cost of something like this, 3. is it a total bolt on system. Sorry for all the question but i'm blown away at how much the axle moves.

 

1. yes 2. custom crafted 3. yes (I had the materials laying around my shop to craft a set of contact bars and CalTrac bars - since the contact bars worked just fine, that's where I stopped - about 30 bucks -total) Some years ago I had a set on a 1 ton GMC, pulling a 30' 5th wheel, didn't really make a big difference on that beast. Would probably be noticeable on a 1/2 ton.