I would like to get traction bars...

are the lakewoods good enough or should i get slide-a-links?

ground clearance issues at all with the lakewoods?

or another complete bolt on brand? and where to buy?

Thanks..

 

I believe most Ls run the 58 inch traction bars. Working good for me.

 

If your truck is lowered, long bars tend to have clearance issues - especially the front bracket on the LFP setup. Cal-traks have none of these issues and should be on your short list if you are lowered.

-Mark

 

Lakewoods are a good run, been on mine since 1999, same set for 8 years now. I am only pushing 450 RWHP with 12lbs of boost on a built motor and if I was going to setup it up I would run the CalTracs.

 

but nobody has problems with the lakewoods? what if I put on a 1/2 drop in the near future?

Thanks

 

There was def many post on this before, here's what I remember,
The Lakewood bars themselve were an ok Bar "BUT" the hardware was bending like pretzles for everyone. Most actually had to go out and buy better hardware. (I may have read later post that said Lakewood FINALLY beefed the hardware up I'm not sure, but I am sure many had issues with the hardware) Truck Trak's are the move for a Lightning "if" a slapper bar is what your after. But as said slapper bars are only good to a certain power level.

They were great and I loved them from the 13's straight down through the mid 12's, but once I got to low low 12's and later the 11's they were outright dangerous in a launch. (58" bars corrected that and have been on all 3 L's)

The 58" bars are the simple way to assure positive results, awesome 60ft's, and no adjusting to worry about, but as said there can be clearance issues if your too low, (although you can be pretty low and still get away with them)

I never used Links so ......

 

To add to what Rob said, I believe JLP's 54" bars give a tad more clearence for both ground and exhaust. i.e. bassani.

My next mods will be: Hotchkis TVS, JLP 54" bars, and DR's.

 

I installed the JLP 58" bars. I have the Roush suspension kit, which lowered my L pretty significantly, and I don't have clearance issues - unless you count steep, steep driveways !!

BTW - I have a Magnaflow catback connected to stock everything else...

 

JLP's are 54"

 

Lakewoods will work fine... You won't have any ground clearance issues.. You may have a problem with clearance on your exhaust. When installing these bars you need to adjust the right rear bar as far back on the leaf spring as possible. If you do this you shouldn't have any probs....

 

but we all agree traction bars of any kind are needed to get a little more meat to the road and less spinning and less wheel hop even at 420 ponies???

so lakewoods would be better than nothing????

 

Yes, this will eliminate any wheel hop even at 500+hp at the wheels. You can use extra washers to help snug the bars against the leaf springs. Mine fit tight against the leaf springs. Never been a problem.

 

I'm not too informed on the long bars, but slapper bars won't help you hook. They just keep your rear end from hopping and busting.

I have Truc-Tracs and when I put them on I thought the same thing. Got out on the street and tried them out and actually spun a lot worse with the elimination of the wheel hop. I have used them at the track as well with some barrowed Hoosiers and they worked great. But, it was the slicks that gave me bite and the traction bars that eliminated wheel hop. I cut 1.9 60's with street tires (Goodyear Eagle F1's) and no truc-tracs. With the truc-tracs and hoosier slicks I cut a 1.80 60'. So I reduced my 60' by a tenth and have piece of mind knowing my rear end will last longer since I eliminated the wheel hop.

So basically what I am saying is if you're buying traction bars only and hoping for traction...you're going to need some tires as well or forget it. Get some DR's and traction bars and you'll have no problem planting your torque and hp.

 

True dat.

"Traction bars" has to be the most misleading name ever.

 

I have seen several trucks run Lakewoods very sucessfully.
'03Cobra who was banned here still runs them on his. When he launches the entire rear end of his truck lifts (like the Pro Stocks of old) and he gets very little tire spin. He cuts 1.60's and 1.70's 60 foot times on street tires.
For the money they can't be beat...