I mocked up my traction bars today. still have to get the axle mounts fully welded up because the welder at work isnt strong enough. Im going to get that done this week tho. i had to cut a section out of my gas tank skid plate, that is why it is painted white, i just didnt have any black paint around. I kept the plastic on them so they wouldnt get scratched up when mounting. they are powdercoated black and are 52" in length.on to the pics!

 

Dude, those look great; where'd you get them? Looks like adjustable length?

That's something I've been interested in but don't know too much about. So, couple of questions...

Why did you get them or what was happening for you to need them? I always thought traction bars were to address wheel hop and/or axle wrap, both of which I've never had?

Do they limit articulation or suspension from full travel? Not that we're doing any serious rock climbing or anything!

Did you drain the gear oil out so it doesn't get cooked while welding in that spot?

 

Those look awesome, Ill probably be getting some when i get a superchager

 

i got them off a guy from Lrodder, he makes custom traction bars, just tell him the length and he can weld them up! yes, they are adjustable.

i got them because i didnt want to risk the axle hop and being stranded somewhere. when i go to the sand dunes, you really do have traction issues so i hope this cures it.

I dont know about the articulation yet, like you said, its not like im going to be rock crawling so im not worried about it. im sure if you had heim joints on both ends it would work even better for articulation.

I did not drain the gear oil out because all we did was tack them in place. should i drain the gear oil when the shop fully welds them up? i figured if they just went back and forth between sides, it wouldnt heat up too much. Im running amsoil gear oil, so it would be a expensive draining!!

 

Ahhh, I guess that makes sense if you're playing around like that. Hem joints on. Othe ends would be sweeet. You see that on a lot of Jeep stuff.

As for the oil, I've heard yes to draining it. But that doesn't mean discard it. Catch it and put it back in when he's done. Certainly can't hurt anything.

 

Yea, can't hurt. I had to drain my trans twice to make adjustments. When you drain it, drain the last 1/2 - 1 qrt into a separate container. Something transparent. The contaminants (if any) will settle at the bottom of the container. With Amsoil, you'll see a distinct difference in color. There will be a dividing line rather.

But yea, I haven't heard of draining before a weld repair. They must be thinking , boil/breakdown ? Yea that's around 210 amps with a Mig, -it WILL get toasty. How bad, I don't know.

How would you drain it anyway ? You need a vac extractor w/special pump/air release. It won't just suck out of there, yea, it's not that easy.

I would just buy new, if I was worried about it. - The Amsoil cost isn't what's scary; -what's scary is being without. There's nothing better IMO.

 

well, i was told i need a 220 volt welder to get it done so IDK. i just wasnt sure if it would be ok to leave the oil in there if it got too hot.



i can drain it easily because i have a TA Diff cover that has a drain plug

 

traction bars are not needed with the little amount of lift you have. it is unnecessary and just quite silly.

 

ok bro, ill take your advice and take them off tommorrow!

 

Thank you. I wasnt saying take them off. But since your doing it then go ahead and get rid of them

 

 

Guys like you who think they know everything make it really difficult for those who do!

 

Totally forgetting about your engine mods (lighting mod) i can see why you put the t bars on there. I take back what i said about them being unnecessary as they are necessary in your case and a quite good idea.

 

Doesn't matter, the 5four (stock) could use something back there. The flexibility of a 4 or 5 leaf springs we have limits its usefulness as a control link; the springs just aren't rigid enough on the half tons, it will move in response to the various forces on the axle, rather than resisting them. Making the springs stiffer makes them more effective in controlling axle movement, but it also makes the ride firmer, sometimes uncomfortably so. Yes, power is another factor and uhmmm, -the 5fours have it. They also have what's called "torque" (you might have to look that up). With the factory torque, you can exert so much force on the axle that the only ways to adequately limit axle movement are to; -
(a) make the springs brutally stiff
or
(b) add auxiliary control arms ("traction bars") to help control the axle.

Ford should offer a Hotchkiss kit and include it automatically with their tow package option IMO. They really flex when backing a load up hill. Just ask Mitch

Do you sit in corner with a dunce cap on most days ? -Doing nothing but sucking your thumb for the most part ? Sorry, that's the sort of image that flashes after reading some of your posts.

 

Wow you dont have a clue what your talking about. You must like blabbering on thinking you know a thing or two. Your making your self look foolish with the nonesense. Im imbarresed for you.

I stopped sucking my thumb years ago. Yea i did it through my teenage years yea i was made fun of in highschool sucking my thumb in class. . When i was sucking i wouldnt be sitting in a corner id be reading mainly. Or like i said in school. I dont know why but most of my suckings were in school. But i do from time to time have a suck every now and again ( havent completely stopped) but sure as heck not when im posting here. my thumb is like a raisin from sucking on it all these years. Its about the size of one to.