Traction bars (round 2)
#1
Traction bars (round 2)
First of all, I don't care to hear anything negative.... Just advice and constructive criticism please.
Well, Cut out my axle brackets on the CNC outta 1/2in plate.... Found some square tubing in the shop to make me mount for the upper part of the bars where the shackle goes... 1/4in shackels, I think they're 3in eye to eye...
Only problem I had with the whole thing today was... When I tacked the lower bar to the upper bar to take off and TIG the whole thing.... I didn't put on a plate of something to keep the bars from wanting to shrink towards each other.... So it all went well until I was fighting the bars at the axle... Only to realize they shrunk up some... So my instructor is bringing in his Porta-power from work to pull them apart so they'll mount right.
Here's what I've got done so far.... The actual bar is going to be sanded and cleared, to look like the bilsteins.... Keeps it shiny back there!
Pics:
Well, Cut out my axle brackets on the CNC outta 1/2in plate.... Found some square tubing in the shop to make me mount for the upper part of the bars where the shackle goes... 1/4in shackels, I think they're 3in eye to eye...
Only problem I had with the whole thing today was... When I tacked the lower bar to the upper bar to take off and TIG the whole thing.... I didn't put on a plate of something to keep the bars from wanting to shrink towards each other.... So it all went well until I was fighting the bars at the axle... Only to realize they shrunk up some... So my instructor is bringing in his Porta-power from work to pull them apart so they'll mount right.
Here's what I've got done so far.... The actual bar is going to be sanded and cleared, to look like the bilsteins.... Keeps it shiny back there!
Pics:
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dont really know much about this, so i dunno, but it seems like that square tube mount would be the weak link in the setup? And is the 'y' bar gonna replace the single you had mounted in the first pictures? Other than that it all looks pretty sweet. do you just do that to one side or both? and will this restrict you flex at all? it seems like it might if you use that y mount bar, but like I said I dont know much about any of this so Id like to learn.
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Hey if anyone is interested... I can cut the brackets I have to fit your axle tubing... I have some 1/4in brackets all polished up sitting in my truck right now, for any f-150 8.8 or ranger 8.8 or expo 8.8... Just let me know and i'll name a price.
Anyways, looks good zach! What made you want to do the slip and twist?
Anyways, looks good zach! What made you want to do the slip and twist?
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Well I was told those aren't "heims" but... They'll do the job... Pivoting ball joints... Or as andrew calls them tractor joints lol...
Well... I got it on today... Drove it around the block to see if there was an immediate difference or not even at slow speeds... HOLY CRAP! You can feel the back end want to lift up when taking off! So far so good, it works! Did it all for less than.... $80!
Went with the brushed raw steel look and cleared them to look like bilsteins... Just more shiny stuff under the truck!
(Those brackets that are on there are for sale if anyone wants them... 1/4in steel all cleaned up ready for any 8.8 31 spline axle... Again, I can cut ones for a 28 spline if anyone is interested)
Here's the shackles:
And here they are installed!:
I kinda flexed it on the curb to figure out if the shackle was going to work, and so far so good! Pivots like it should, and keeps the axle in the up and down axis. I can tell these are really goin to help on rainy wet days and in the snow! Can't wait! The front mount is lined up with the bolt on the static rear hangar, as I was told to do by Andrew. Thanks again for all your help man... Really learned alot when making these!
What do you guys think?
Well... I got it on today... Drove it around the block to see if there was an immediate difference or not even at slow speeds... HOLY CRAP! You can feel the back end want to lift up when taking off! So far so good, it works! Did it all for less than.... $80!
Went with the brushed raw steel look and cleared them to look like bilsteins... Just more shiny stuff under the truck!
(Those brackets that are on there are for sale if anyone wants them... 1/4in steel all cleaned up ready for any 8.8 31 spline axle... Again, I can cut ones for a 28 spline if anyone is interested)
Here's the shackles:
And here they are installed!:
I kinda flexed it on the curb to figure out if the shackle was going to work, and so far so good! Pivots like it should, and keeps the axle in the up and down axis. I can tell these are really goin to help on rainy wet days and in the snow! Can't wait! The front mount is lined up with the bolt on the static rear hangar, as I was told to do by Andrew. Thanks again for all your help man... Really learned alot when making these!
What do you guys think?
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HOLY *****!! I just drove it. The *** end lifts up what feels like 2". Downshift it, it squats down. Looks up like no other. REALLLLY wanna feel it on a properly geared rig though....Trevor.....can I be the guinea pig??? Holy crap...I love it. Props and Kudos to Tre!
I'm seriously considering this now. Holy crap...it's awesome.
I'm seriously considering this now. Holy crap...it's awesome.