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  #1  
Old 10-06-2008, 11:58 AM
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Traction Bar Fabrication

First of all i have a 04 NBS f-150 with a 6" fabtech w/ a 2" AS. I want to add procomp like traction bars front and rear. I was going to weld on some tabs onto my rear cross member and the frame for the front bars. Is there anything i have to watch out for when making my own? I was just going to go custom. They cannot mess anything up can they?

Also for the rear i was going to weld a mount onto the frame and create something very similar to procomps mounting system on the rear axle. I was also going to do a two tube design similar to procomps for the rear bars. is there anything i need to be weary of. Length? size of tube? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  #2  
Old 10-06-2008, 05:27 PM
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only thing i can think of you need to do when you make these is make a second set and ship them to me for further testing.
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  #3  
Old 10-06-2008, 05:53 PM
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Here is a decent looking trac bar:
http://www.budbuilt.com/new/traction_bars.html

another type:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DN



Copy something like that. What material are you using for the tubing ? What kind of joints at either end ?

I have built and put on a few rear traction bars, never one for the front, especially one for IFS front. Might be on your own for that one (i don't see a need for front trac bars, but to each his own I guess)
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  #4  
Old 10-07-2008, 08:55 AM
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I haven't really decided on a material yet. They will be strictly for looks because my truck never goes off road and I love the look. I am going to make identical copies of the procomps for the rear and for the front I really love the look of the two bars that come with the proconp lift. I was just going to get under there and tack something up that Is similar. I was wondering about if there is any thing I should not do. Like are their lenghth requirements for can I just fab something up.
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  #5  
Old 10-07-2008, 08:59 AM
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As for joints all the frame mounts will be welded onto the frame I will also weld tabs onto the rear cross member for the front bars. As for the rear bars mounting on the axle I am going to make a copy of proconps mounting system
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  #6  
Old 10-07-2008, 12:13 PM
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dont we have stabilizer bars for the front that come with lift kits?

Good luck with the build and post some pics bud! btw i have a superlift trac bar set on my truck and welding the mounts to the frame is easier, stronger, and cleaner looking than the mounting kits. I think you are headed down the right path.
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  #7  
Old 10-07-2008, 04:37 PM
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No only the procomp lift has stabilizer bars. My friend has a truck 2wd just like mine but it has a procomp lift and he has those bars and i think they are really cool. I want to add some to mine really bad

The main reason for starting this thread was to make sure that adding these bars, that are not designed to be there, will not mess my truck up. Comments please?

Also would you mind posting some pictures of your welded on mounts for your superlift traction bars?
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  #8  
Old 10-07-2008, 05:17 PM
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I have a Fabtech 6" lift, and in the front, I have little traction bar/stabalizer bars. Two little bars going from the trans cross member up to the rear chunk of the sub-frame. I have installed two other lifts now, both had em (mine is 4x4, I have done another 4x4 and a 4x2).

And no, you wont mess anything up, if done right. Just make sure your suspension can cycle through its movements without the bar binding up. You should be fine.
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  #9  
Old 10-07-2008, 06:50 PM
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Yea thats exactly the part on the front i am talking about. I want to make my own. I think those look so sick. I was going to mount them in the exact same location. I dont think it will affect the suspension at all. Just look really cool. I guess the Fabtech 4x2 doesn't come with them.
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  #10  
Old 10-07-2008, 07:01 PM
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Now that you mention it, I don't think it does come on the 4x2.... will have to check !

And now I know what ya meant by the front, you'll be fine ! Maybe I can take some pics of how fabtech has it set-up, and you can kinda make your own to copy ?
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  #11  
Old 10-07-2008, 10:36 PM
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That would be awesome! i would really appreciate it. I have seen how procomp does it and i know its not possible to copy procomp because of how the fabtech 2wd lift is made. I already had an idea but i would love to see how fabtech does it on their 4wd lifts.
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  #12  
Old 10-07-2008, 11:01 PM
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Is part "G" what you're talking about?



They are labeled as crossmemeber struts.

Here's a thread with a number of traction bars.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464319

Last edited by Code; 10-07-2008 at 11:09 PM.
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  #13  
Old 10-08-2008, 03:40 PM
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that is exactly what I am talking about. Would someone mind taking a picture of theirs so I can get some ideas?
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  #14  
Old 10-08-2008, 03:56 PM
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ya, forgot last night man, sorry. I put a note in my phone, I will be able to post em up here tomorrow for you.
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  #15  
Old 10-09-2008, 09:35 AM
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Sounds good. I really appreciate it and i hear you about the phone man. My new phone has a notes feature and i use it all the time or i will forget everything.
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