Traction bars; anyone running some?

My truck is a wheel hopping machine. I was pondering the idea of making a set of shackled trac bars. What else is everyone doing to keep a nice ride while alleviating wheel hop?

 

I’m looking at the pro comp traction bars for my truck.

 

I gotta be honest, it’ll give me something else to powdercoat, which weighs in. But they would be effective for sure.

I was also thinking a simple bolt on axle bracket to replace the stock u bolt bracket with tabs and then two poly joints on the frame that can articulate to avoid binding with a bump in the front. Simple and cheap.

Looking for some people to weigh in to make sure I’m not wasting time. Glad to know I’m not the only thinking about it hahaha.

 

Under hard throttle I get some wicked axle wrap. The pro comp kit is cheap enough that I would consider it buying it. I got other priorities I need to buy first but I definitely want these

 

whatever you do, do not buy the budbuilt weld on or bolt on traction bar.... its far from an easy bolt on or weld on solution. I had to clock my bracket when i welded it on and then clock the traction bar to clear the stock exhaust, then had to clearance the bracket on the crossmember so it would 1. fit, and 2 function properly. Oh and, the stock poly joints are so squishy you still get tons of axle wrap, so i had to put hard heims on at the axle side

 

Have you checked your pinion angle. You may just need a 3* shim on your leaf pack to fix your hop.

 

shim wont help axle wrap.

 

If his pinion angle is off it will cause axle wrap because it will cause binding.

 

Do they bolt on or do you have to weld mount points to the frame and rear axle?

 

If you ever looked at how much the pinion angle changes during hard acceleration 3 deg is minimal. Stock leaf springs you are talking 20* of movement easily its almost scary how much the pinion moves. U joints have pretty high working angles especially at lower speeds seen during wheel hop.

Shims dont make the spring stiffer (which helps to combat this) or change rotational forces that cause the springs to S curve (axle wrap) which creates wheel hop.

 

Pretty sure they are bolt on. Not that I can’t weld them if I have to

 

I do understand what wheel hop is and have looked at that, but the more inline his pinion and drive shaft are sitting the better off he will be. I never stated that it would completely fix his situation, all I said is take a look. My last leaf pack i had, I had some wheel hop going on and put shims on and it was all gone.He also does not say if he is running stock leafs or not. So I was just giving him a option.

 

I’ll be making an entirely bolt on system with good disassembly points so it can be properly coated to prevent rust. It might not happen immediately and I’m not sure what I have in mind will work but once I figure that it I’ll put the concept and part list up wherever so if anyone likes it they can build their own set.

 

My millermatic broke a while back so I can’t do any welding anytime soon lol. As far as bolt on, I wonder if bolt on sliders would interfere with where they bolt to the frame

 

Cut and weld the mounting point for the sliders. I got a new mig welder. I just need a tubing bender to really have some fun.

 

Need a plasma table something fierce. Still waiting on Santa to drop that off to me lol.

 

Tool goals!!!

 

Kinda hard to see, but this is the best pic I have of the bars my brother installed. Not sure who makes them. They were removed a long time ago due the front bracket bolts coming loose (poor maintenance on my end) and breaking off at 40mph (i got REEEEAAAAAALLLLLLLYYY lucky it wasnt catastrophic). I was also getting more into offroading and they just hung too low.

They use a factory style leaf plate with a couple tabs hanging down, to hold the bar, then there is a bracket up front held on with two 9/16" bolts to the underside of the frame rail.

Those bars, along with a new ATO traction bar (4x Innovations) are just sitting in my garage. Since i went to Dakars, shackle flip and Ubolt flip, I have no desire to throw another traction bar on.

EDIT: apparently these bars are custom made.

 

That could of been BAD!!!!

 

Ruff stuff makes a nice diy kit for one. Been running it for a year now without issue.