Homemade Trac-bars

coon smile

coon smile

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Oct 25, 2007
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i would like to make some trac bars for the next pulling season. i have a good idea what i need to make em work, however i am having a hard time deciding how i should connect the top links to the frame bracket and rear axle bracket. any suggestions as far as, welding vs bolting? i can do both. any pics would help as well. thanks in advance!
 
Those don't look to have any travel to them for the springs to grow when compressed. Don't they need a link on one end??
 
Yes I see that & if it was a sled puller only that I didn't want to travel it wouldn't be a big deal. But what about a racer or driver? What happens when the rear can't squat due to the bars keeping the springs from growing? Mine is a 2wd 3500, it has the overloads on it (for now) It keeps the front end of the overloads cleaned off from squating/axle wrap & they are 3.5" from touching at rest. I have thought seriously about the kelderman air system for the 4 link but it is pretty pricey. In that other thread you linked to, do those travel inside themselves where that boot is??? I really need some but I don't want to put the suspension in a bind when I do it. Any Ideas are greatly appreciated!
 
Instead of a just a heim joint at the front of the bar, build a short shackle and mount the heim to the bottom of the shackle. This could be used in a "ladder" type bar that mounts above and below the axle, yet has a heim mounted inside a shackle at the front allowing it to move with the springs but at the same time limiting axle wrap.

-Tom
 
I have seen one set of them on the net like that but can't remember where. Seems like every set is solid but most of those are pullers which works fine for what they are doing. Thanks. You with turbonetics?
 
I plan on fabbing some up over the winter on my Dodge.One question I have is would it be better to have heims at both ends of the bar or a heim on one end and a bushing on the other.Something like this-
xRxyg-VIqSx-TVhGh-Johnny-Joint.jpg
 
I'm no expert on traction bars. Coon smile I just welded some bracket to the frame and to the axle. My next set will be bolted to the bottom of the u-bolts and then to a bracket bolted to the frame.Howling when I built mine I used 1" heims on both ends it would let the bars twist when you flex the truck.I built mine this way so it would not bind when going through a ditch to get to the field. Stacerbob I think the bars you are thinking of are built by Glacier Diesel Power. I'll try to get some pic's uploaded. sorry for the long post I hope I helped out a little.
 
Howling said:
I plan on fabbing some up over the winter on my Dodge.One question I have is would it be better to have heims at both ends of the bar or a heim on one end and a bushing on the other.Something like this-
xRxyg-VIqSx-TVhGh-Johnny-Joint.jpg
Click to expand...


I would say something rebuildable would be best. I don't have any joints on the ends of mine but I don't want any flex. Back when I did have joints they did not last very long (maybe a year) before they were shot.

-Tom
 
Thanks, Tom. That is exactly what I was looking for. I have never seen any front mounts that just clamped over the frame like that.
 
The ones in the picture from lazar looks like a tractor top link with a piece of tubing for an extension. You should be able to come up with all the materials for under $100.00 locally...
 
Material as in everything for the bars and mounts or just the tubing for the bars?
 
2" DOM, I think 1/4" or 5/16"(can't remember) wall, 6' long with heims at each end is what I used not sure if it's the best but worked so far pulled with them about 15 time. figured the length would get you away from pressure that built up from the leaf springs right were the box and cab meet on the frame. kinda distribute the weight in different area.
 
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