SMKYTXN's Build

If I'm not cutting the rear fender though, just removing the liner, I shouldn't need to worry about additional support I don't think

 

Found a new issue today. My ATO traction bar, which bolts to the rear diff studs has managed to shear off one of the studs on the housing. I'm going to try and find stronger studs and replace all of them now

Also need to make a new traction bar, and one that welds to the axle.

 

That's not supposed to be bent.

 

Being an engineer and access to the stuff you do, I wouldnt just weld the mount to the diff. That would make trail fixes a PITA if you wanna swap in that spare 3rd you got. Why not just truss the axle and design a mount that's spreads the load out more throughout the mount and have a few more bolts to reduce the stress on them as well ? Or something like that. Welding it just kinda sounds like a way to 'rig' it and is something I'd do. Not something you would do after all this time you've put into trying to build yours right.

 

Kase, I'm not going to use the old bracket. I'll build a new bracket that will sit to the passenger side of the diff itself. A truss is a decent idea, but I wouldn't want to build a full truss without anything else planned for it. I will have to change the muffler out to one that's smaller in diameter though. There isn't room with the stocker.

 

Just making sure you weren't about to cut corners this deep in the build! Lol

 

Good looking out Kase. I'll be mocking up a bracket tomorrow and cutting it out of 3/8. I think you'll approve.

 

I'm interested if price isn't outrageous. I can feel my axle twist from every stop lol.

 

x2. I don't really have issues with axle twist now, but if you made a good kit I'd get in on a group buy as a pre-emptive measure.

 

It's a possibility. The market isn't going to be huge for it since it requires welding to the axle. I can certainly make the brackets for the axle, but maybe not the whole bar. Mate a diy kit would be possible.

The hard parts are the front and rear mounts.

 

You can use my rig as a testbed! Let me know when you want to get started.

 

I could weld everything. I would love a DIY kit tho. Just would pay you to make clean brackets since you got a CNC and whatnot.
I wouldn't need the tubing and heims FWIW. Just could use some brackets.

 

I can certainly do that Kase. The rear bracket won't be to hard to figure out, just need to be far enough away from the diff flange to get a torch in there. The front on the ATO is a bolt up contraption that shouldn't be to hard to turn into a welded on bracket. So that will give you the two points to connect with your own traction bar.

 

I'll let you know what I figure out Jon. One big holdup is the stock muffler won't work. If the rear bracket is moved off of the diff bolts the muffler will get in the way. I'm going to start looking for a smaller diameter muffler to take the stockers place.

 

My muffler isn't stock and its chopped at the back of the cab. I could always bring it over so you could see if it would meet your needs. I've wanted a traction bar anyways...

 

We can take a look. It's the space between the driveshaft and the muffler that needs to grow. I'm going to build one for myself, so might as well build two.

 

Ok. Let me know when you'd want to get together. I want to check out this shop anyways, and see about joining, because I need a place to work on my truck. My hoops, shocks, and flip kit should be here in a week or two and right now I have nowhere to do do the conversion.

 

Trac bars for everyone! I pm'd Adam at ATO to see if he was going to be making a bracket for the 8 inch elocker axle and he said no . To me it's rather ignorant not to, he's cutting out a rather large percentage of possible customers by not doing it...

 

Better to not stress the diff studs like I did, but I don't see why he wouldn't make a new bracket. Let me see how mine turns out and we'll see how it will need to change for the elocker axle.