'90 W250--'89/91/92 Ramcharger

[PToombs]

If you look like that I can understand why!

[Tacoclaw]

I know, right? I couldn't believe that old pig had that much twist in her. Admittedly, most of it seems to be in the frame, but we're not worried about technicalities. Just pics.


Also, Hiney, You can take her for a spin if you want. Either one, since your truck is down and you're married.

[AHineman]

Don't be hatin' Pete. I'm trying to help Levi catch up with your thread. It will take forever if we actually post useful info.



Oh, and Levi...

My truck is still gettin' it and so am I.

[Tacoclaw]

We're not interested in hearing about what you and Handlebee do during breaks, Hineman.

If we're not careful Caleb's thread is going to pass up both of ours, Pete.

[PToombs]

So if the truck is getting it does that mean the shifter is wet or the tailpipe is sticky?

I doubt that, after BC deletes all the little kids sticking their tonque out at each other posts it will be 1/2 the size.

[AHineman]

So if the truck is getting it does that mean the shifter is wet or the tailpipe is sticky?

I doubt that, after BC deletes all the little kids sticking their tonque out at each other posts it will be 1/2 the size.

Man Pete...and people call me a pervert.


Nah, it's still getting used as needed until I get the extra cash and time to get it all finished up. I've got a load of scrap metal it's going to tow Saturday. It may be old, but it still gets around.

[Tacoclaw]

Anyways, I'm looking into fabbing up a set of traction bars since my newfound traction makes my burnouts look all gay and chirpy. However, I'm having trouble deciding where the leaf spring would count as a pivot on the axle. I realize it doesn't actually pivot on there, but would you consider it's mounting point to be where the leaf contacts the lift block or where the lift block contacts the axle?

I intend to run my bars over the top of the axle and keep them tucked up into the frame so they're not so obnoxious. I'm not looking for something that'll transfer torque onto my front axle or help with traction, I just want it to stop the wrap. I've got them plotted out on a program and have fiddled to the point that I only have about .2% of pinion angle change through 6" of vertical travel, but I don't want to put another night into it without some opinions on where you think the mounting point would be.

Also, the program isn't perfect as it assumes this is a 4-link setup and the leaf doesn't have an actual pivot, but it'll get me close enough I'm sure. A lot closer than just throwing the longest set of bars I can find, anyways.

[Tacoclaw]

Oh, and I also pulled out onto the highway this evening completely sideways. If the poor turbo hadn't run out of breath I could have kept it going until at least the governor, but you could feel it hit just past the turbo's sweet spot and slowly start getting traction. S

Hineman, check that set of posis coming out of Gravel Hill onto Rt7 in the morning. I turned right out of there, you shouldn't miss them.

[dazedandconfused]

Why not just make a caltracs type of setup?

[Tacoclaw]

Too noticeable, not to mention it would involve me trying to get those 20 yr. old shackles apart and would still probably involve just as much math. Plus I don't like how they hang down under the axle.

I do like them though, but only for something that never leaves the street.

[AHineman]

I thought you hated trucks with traction bars.

[Tacoclaw]

I thought you hated trucks with traction bars.

I intend to run my bars over the top of the axle and keep them tucked up into the frame so they're not so obnoxious.

It really won't be a "traction bar", more of an adjustable rod that connects the axle to a crossmember. All I need it to do is kill the wrap, and I'd love to do it with just one but I doubt I can.

[Tacoclaw]

Here, the lower bar is a rough measurements of the front spring eye to where the leaf contacts the leading edge of the block. It might actually be about halfway down the block there, but it's in the area, hence my questions regarding what you all would consider the pivot point. The other bar is the proposed traction bar, which would probably have a couple poly bushings on each end and hook from a bracket welded to the axle to a crossmember.

Thoughts?

[m880cummins]

Traction bars seem most effective below the axle. When the axle wraps up, the bottom of the tube moves forward and the carrier housing wants to rotate up and back. Bars below the axle prevent this but, make a rougher ride and less ground clearance. The other options are a single large bar that is triangulated into the housing tube and runs forward to its own shackle. The shackle will prevent the rigid bar from moving upwards thus preventing axle wrap. The shackle also allows for typical suspension movement.

I thought of an idea myself where instead of running a traditional below axle traction bar, run an above axle bar that goes to the rear of the truck. These bars will get a compression force and prevent axle wrap.

Charlie

[Tacoclaw]

I would rather lose to Hineman's truck than have some gay-ass bar running up under my bed for everyone to see. I already get bothered enough by goobers wanting to know if I pull it or not.

As I said the calculator puts it at a minimal pinion change setup like that so that should negate any interference I would get form the bars fighting each other, correct? I'm not too concerned with the anti-squat or roll center or anything special, I just want something that will stop the wrap, not be seen, and not worsen the ride.


On another note, I saw an old drag car in HotRod that had a 4 link with the two long, bottom bars going up to the front, then the two shorter, top bars going towards the rear of the car. Seemed to work, I just figure it was a packaging thing and that's why they all go to the front now.