Fabbing traction bars & trac bars???

[seadog]

I have a 78 cherokee I am needing to fab some traction bars and trac bars for.It has BJ's 6" springs w/spring over in the front & RB's shackle flip in the rear.I am running 44" tires so you can imagine the axle wrap even with no blocks!Basically what I am asking for is suggestions on length,size and type of tubing,etc.I really need advice on where to put the mounting tabs on the axle?Straight up,45 deg.-up or what.I was thinking of doing some traction bars that have a bend in them,going down to axle mounting tabs.Any thoughts or advice will be helpful.

[M-BRED]

I hope you have some pics of that, cause I am getting geared up to do that(40s 0r 44s)
I would love to see what my rig is going to look like.

[Rhino Racer]

There is a traction bar for YJs, can't remember who makes it but they advertise in JP and 4WD mags, it's the ad with a red-orange XJ (I think it's RockReady).

I think you can use it ot build a similar one, infact there was an article last month in JP about an M715 which shows a homemade traction bar like that one.

It looks like a ladder bar like the ones used by dragracers but goes in the center of the diff aon attaches with a shackle to the frame.

[River Beast]

INDEED!! I want pics as well!!! for TT's FabWorks site... send me a spec sheet as well..

also... you mean traction bars or axle wrap wars like this?






If this is what you want.. let me know.. email me

[seadog]

Sorry axle wrap bars.Also the trac bars or panhard bar.I like your setup RB but mine will have a liitle more angle because of all the lift I have.Would that matter?Anyone think a setup like RB's would work except putting a bend at the back going down to the mounting points to make it fairly level and give ground clearance?

[seadog]

I think I have the track bars covered.I am going to make them the same angle and length as my draglink w/rubber bushings on each end.Are you supposed to go the same angle in the rear or the opposite way w/trac bars?Basically trying to figure out a plan for these axle wrap bars.I have some 1" stainless stock I could use if I went with a straight bar design and get the ends threaded.That would probably be strong.

[River Beast]

The front frame mount needs to be a pivot point with a stop block.. to aid in articulation...

Like this.. its limited...

your axle wraps need to be less of an angle as to not bind under articulation...more angle more bind...

fab a bracket off the axle as above...and a pivot bracket off the frame... make the bars as level as possible to work along with the flex and droop of the suspension... the pivot block on the front mount will be the key...

I have this setup collecting dust in the garage minus the axle mounts... you want it.. email me...we can talk... save you some work...

[Poley]

this tread is worthless without pics!

[seadog]

Sorry my rig is 1 hour out of town and I am going to get yall some pics Sat.RB where can I get some of those bushings you have up by the frame.Think I should use the Stainless stock or maybe some 1.5" .250 tubing?

[stephen43]

I've been looking into a traction bar and I may be wrong, but wouldnt you need 2 points mounted to the axle in a setup like RBs? when looking down the tube like one at 12:00 and one at 3:00, or something similar. it looks like w/ his setup the axle would just pivot around the one 12:00 mount. What do you think? am I we tod did?

[Desert Beast]

Originally posted by stephen43:
What do you think? am I we tod did?

maybe. but youve got the right idea about the mounting. while that setup will greatly reduce wheel hop mounting points on both the top and bottom of the axle would be the best. that setup will help a grip though.

seadog. heres some designs that would work. and you could angle your axle mounting points to compensate for the lift.

[River Beast]

Nice Garret!!!

very true... my setup was a quick fix to stop axle wrap under load.. since the pinion wants to shoot upward when you hop on the pedal... the 2 point mount is a better approach for both forward and reverse

[Rhino Racer]

Yeah that's what I was talking about, but why did you have the shackle inverted, does it work the same?

[Desert Beast]

shackle up for better brakeover angle, less stuff hanging down. works the same. i like it a little better mounting it up, under load the shackle is trying to pull rather than compress the shackle together.

[Elliott]

There a bit written about the traction bar in JP Mag this month on that monster JTruck... might check out also.
Thanks for the pics DB.

[Poley]

DB very nice setup