Traction bar ideas or help. (Ford PSD).

[Utahcryogenics]

I am in need of a set of traction bars for my tow rig.

When ever I am pulling my trailer off loose gravel, sand, etc. I get wheel hop like a MOFO. I also get wheel hop anytime I hit the skinny pedal real good on the street.

It sucks, I am sure it is the 4" factory blocks Ford decided to use. I have talked with Deaver, and AAA, and both companies want an arm and a leg for a custom set of OEM height leafs.

If this was my rock crawler, I would take it in to whatever shop and have them fab a set that wouldnt limit my articulation, etc. However since this is just a tow rig, I am under the assumption that it isnt nearly as critical....or is it?

I was thinking that I could just cut two lengths of DOM, then install some 7/8 or 1" rod ends on each end. Then weld on some shock mounts to the axle, and frame. I dunno, I am sure its not that easy.

Any ideas, or help?

Oh and before I forget, I have already looked into aftermarket trac bars, and every company I saw said you had to have a lift of 4" or higher. I have to keep mine at stock height, so that wont work.

TIA

 

[Meat_]

I'm willing to bet that your shocks are shot. And no, your design isn't a good idea... as soon as you compress your springs you will snap off one end or the other.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

I only have 30K miles on my truck, the shocks are good. They are going to get replaced soon anyway.

Good point on the compress. I am guessing there has to be a pivot point near the frame?

I have seen this on crawlers, but I ASSumed it was just to help articulate. I have tried to google thinking that others have had this problem but no results except the fabtech ones.
I have also checked all my u-bolts, and they are all tightened to spec.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

In this pic, there is no pivot point, and it is mounted similar to wht I mentioned.

The only difference is this is on a Duramaz.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

Here are some with a pivot point off a toyota. Again I just figured the difference was needed articulation vs. not.

I might be confused....

 

[Meat_]

When you compress both springs they are articulating up

 

[Utahcryogenics]

I realise that, but the front leaf eye doesnt move laterally, so why would it rip the mount out? This guy that has his on the Duramax races his professionally so I figured his works well. However, I cant see the entire thing so I am just assuming its hard mounted on the axle end too.

I am not saying your wrong meat, I just cant picture what you are saying in my head.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

Here I found a back side pic

His is hard mounted right under the leaf pack

 

[Utahcryogenics]

It is off this guys truck, if you read Diesel Power magazine then you will know who I am talking about.

 

[I Lean]

You'll notice he also has no uptravel with those custom adjustable bumpstop things. That means his axle won't move a whole lot from where it is at normal ride height, so it won't be able to move far enough to really bind the traction bar enough to matter--the bushings will absorb it.

For a normal truck that sees a variety of load/unload conditions, you'll want to be more careful. That said, his Duramax setup looks nearly OK since the traction bar is pretty much horizontal. The ladder bar way is still far superior though.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

Ok, tht makes sense. He is limiting his up-travel thus preventing the shackles from pivoting back, which would pull on the trac bar, which in turn would rip the thing off.

I see.

Damn, I knew it wouldnt be easy building one.....I guess I will have to visit a fab shop.

Thanks guys

 

[78mitsu]

you have stock size tires? the factory suspension shouldn't deflect that much, even on a ford, I'd guess you probabby have a broken spring in your spring pack(maybe a torn up bushing), or a some loose u bolts or something, I'd double check, make sure everything is tight and smack your springs with a dowl and a hammer see if you can find a broken spring.

 

[Utahcryogenics]

No broken leaf spring.

I figured out what was wrong.

There is a TSB on it.

Some models that have the two-piece driveshaft may get driveline flutter. This is due to the angle of the second driveshaft as it comes off the carrier bearing. The fix is to lower the carrier bearing with a spacer, or 3 washers on each side at a time + longer grade 8 bolts w/ loc-tite until the driveshaft flutter goes away under hard acceleration.

I havent fixed it yet, but its on the list.

However, I am still going to get a trq arm made eventually.

 

[Bodine]

This place has some you can look at http://www.topguncustomz.com/Store/index.php?P_ID=14

 

[SnwMnkys]

Ive got some brand new traction bars that i was going to use on my Superduty but decided not to. Let me know if you are interested and ill send you a picture. You will need to fab up some mounts for them. But they do come with big 1" heims.