I added a few new parts to the truck and felt the need to build a traction bar. I swapped the G80 for an Eaton lsd, added new 305 Toyo tires, and 1/2 ton leaf springs. Hopefully with this device I can have a soft ride and hard launching ability. There is a shackle in the front of the arm that allows the leafs to travel in their natural arc without binding. The 3 small tubes on the lower bar will attach driveshaft loops when I build them. I have not tested it yet, I'll report back on that.

 

Wow nice work. Results?

 

very cool bro, got any pics from the rear?

 

interesting, but im confused on why buy a HD when your going to install 1/2 ton springs on it

 

Thanks for the compliments guys.

Here you go Grippy


Quik, I bought the HD because of the factory 6.0L, 80e, 263HD t-case, 14 bolt full floater, 9.25" front diff, heavy CV shafts, bigger brakes, radiator, oil/trans coolers, hydroboost, ect. I was less concerned about the weight of the truck and knew that these parts would come in handy when I started to make more power with the truck. For the payloads that the bed of my truck sees, the half ton springs are sufficient, save some weight over the 3/4 springs, and ride much better.

 

I just took it for a short test drive and I am very pleased. It responds the way I wanted, the rear is planted now in 2wd. I haven't done a boosted launch yet, will do that soon. My upshifts are set up firm and I used to notice a loose/wrap feeling going into 2nd. That is now gone and the shift puts all the energy into accelerating the truck forward. The bar should help under hard braking as well.

 

thanks bro, now that you have the 1500 leaf springs on the HD spring wrap will be an even bigger issue, my question is, are you seeing any with the new bar? and also under a hard/high traction launch(speaking of the future of course)

 

The rear feels rock solid right now. The bar is nearly 5' long and uses poly bushings in the front only. I don't forsee any axle twist more than a degree or two due to the poly bushings having some give. If I were to use heim joints instead of the poly bushings there would be no give at all, the bar is braced and very stiff.

 

where did you come up with that idea for a traction bar? and the cage that surrounds the diff?

 

I had some help from my Father (mechanical engineer) designing the bar and pick up points. The bar is designed to translate the torque from the axle into lifting force on the rear of the truck. The force applied to lifting the rear of the truck is the same applied downward through the tires improving traction.

The axle travels in a radius around the front spring mount on a leaf spring suspension. The shackle keeps the bar 'floating' so the only force it can apply is verticle, it will not bind when the suspension travels. On a limited wheel travel street truck this is not as important as something with more travel (off road).

I wanted to keep the cage on the axle a little slimmer than it actually is. Everything is square because I don't have a tube bender.