seeker1056
gear head
In my experience ladder bars are useless unlles you have an axle floater because the unequal lengths of the spring and bar cause a bind when the two try to move.
This causes more wheel hop and spring wrap than any other kinda traction device.
Single link bars are great especially if long so that the bar can flex if needed to, rather than wrap up the suspension
The best is a four link with an axle floater but is kinda overkill unless your draggin or pulling. The calculations for length n location are way beyond any disscussion i could put forward here.
It does matter very much what the length of any traction device is because there is an imaginary intersection point of the device with the centre of graviity of the vehicle. If you go under the cg then the vehicle lifts the front too much, and if you go over the cg the rear squats
In my numerous calculations of cg the most favourable spot on a standard cab, long box truck for the forward mouting point of a single bar is right under the rear cab mount or slightly behind.
This forward mount location may be off an inch or so of the exact cg point depending on the weight of the motor ( I never calculated cg weight for a diesel havin been a gasser puller wit hlighter motors - 400lbs or so less)
The rearward mount works best on brackets that locate the rear lower attachement point of the bar at a point a 1/2" above the lower backing plate edge
if you have done it right - more times than not the bars will exactly parrallel your driveshaft angle which takes the last "bind " element out of the equation
If I had to choose between perfect cg location over parralelling the drive shaft - I choose the parralel drive shaft angle every time
$.02
This causes more wheel hop and spring wrap than any other kinda traction device.
Single link bars are great especially if long so that the bar can flex if needed to, rather than wrap up the suspension
The best is a four link with an axle floater but is kinda overkill unless your draggin or pulling. The calculations for length n location are way beyond any disscussion i could put forward here.
It does matter very much what the length of any traction device is because there is an imaginary intersection point of the device with the centre of graviity of the vehicle. If you go under the cg then the vehicle lifts the front too much, and if you go over the cg the rear squats
In my numerous calculations of cg the most favourable spot on a standard cab, long box truck for the forward mouting point of a single bar is right under the rear cab mount or slightly behind.
This forward mount location may be off an inch or so of the exact cg point depending on the weight of the motor ( I never calculated cg weight for a diesel havin been a gasser puller wit hlighter motors - 400lbs or so less)
The rearward mount works best on brackets that locate the rear lower attachement point of the bar at a point a 1/2" above the lower backing plate edge
if you have done it right - more times than not the bars will exactly parrallel your driveshaft angle which takes the last "bind " element out of the equation
If I had to choose between perfect cg location over parralelling the drive shaft - I choose the parralel drive shaft angle every time
$.02
