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Old 05-10-2013, 08:54 AM   #1
SuperDave4x4
 
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Building traction bars.. Cat 1 or Stainless Heims

Well I think I'm going to make my own traction bars. I had planned on buying some prefabbed, but I can make them for less. It will take longer, but I'll save some money.

I guess my question is: Are Cat 1 Toplinks that bad to use?

I can spend 50 bucks on top links or I can spend 280 on RuffStuff's stainless heim kit. I know quality wise the latter will be much better, but we are also talking about over 5 times the cost.

If any of you have had bad experiences with the Cat 1's please let me know. Are they prone to wearing out fast and do they have a sloppy fit?
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Old 05-10-2013, 10:51 AM   #2
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All depends on the quality your looking for.....
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:03 AM   #3
Schrowang
 
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I built a set out of cat 1s. i liked them but they were kinda noisy.
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:08 AM   #4
bubba2400

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Yup, cat 1's will have some noise and they do wear out also. Just remember what they were designed for.
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:09 AM   #5
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I went kind of over kill on the joint.
I beveled the ends of the tube/joint.
Found pipe that fit tight inside to use as a slug.
Plugs welds in each side and a continuous groove weld for the main joint.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368202189.305594.jpg
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:09 AM   #6
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Quote:
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All depends on the quality your looking for.....

Well I dont want to spend the time to make pure junk, but I know Cat 1s are what a lot of people use so I was trying get some pro and cons on using them from guys who run/ran them.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Schrowang View Post
I built a set out of cat 1s. i liked them but they were kinda noisy.
Noisy? So I take it the holes in the heims didnt fit the bolts correctly or what?
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:10 AM   #7
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mine had a little play in the frame/axle mounts and would clank.
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:24 AM   #8
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I see.. Well I've got another traction bar idea that I saw on Pirate4x4 that I'll post a picture of this evening. I'm at work and of course it blocks Pirate4x4...
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:26 AM   #9
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have you considered caltracs?
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Old 05-10-2013, 11:31 AM   #10
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Quote:
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have you considered caltracs?
Yeah, a while back, but "heard" they are noisey when hitting bumps and what not.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:01 PM   #11
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Brad, those bars didn't make noise in my truck.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:03 PM   #12
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Quote:
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Brad, those bars didn't make noise in my truck.
you had them jammed in there, i took them out with a hammer.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:19 PM   #13
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Quote:
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you had them jammed in there, i took them out with a hammer.
So the noise on your bars were coming from between the heim and the frame/axle mount and not from a gap between the bolt and heim?
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:21 PM   #14
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yes
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:22 PM   #15
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Quote:
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yes
Roger that. I was thinking it was coming from between the bolt and heim.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:24 PM   #16
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I used the pins that come with the link and they fit real good.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:30 PM   #17
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3/4" pins?

I was looking at these if I were to go with Cat 1s:

CountyLine Adjustable Top Link, Cat. 1 - Tractor Supply Online Store


There is a tractor store down the road that has one that is like the one described above, but its the only one they have instock. However, they do have a short one, but I'm not sure how much of the body I would need to have to fit inside the DOM.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:32 PM   #18
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i'd go longer, and the thread locking tabs. pitch them and get real nuts. the reverse threaded ones are kinda pricey but essential.
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:38 PM   #19
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The brackets i had cut from a water jet machine. I told him i needed to have the pin slide in and out with ease. They just barely fit in there
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Old 05-10-2013, 12:53 PM   #20
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I know many do it, but IMO I would never put cat 1s on my truck. To each their own though. Just my $0.02.
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