OK, I know the traction bar question has been asked a million times, but I need to add a twist to it.

I have a 4 wheel drive 99 5.3 1500 4x4 that I would like to eventually put a lift kit in. Where I live now, my garage is too low to even think about going higher. So, the lift will have to wait until I move. Until then, I would still like to solve my lack of traction, preferably with a solution that I could still use once the lift was installed. Since most lift kits use blocks and add-a-leafs in the rear, I'm guessing the Lakewood or Cal-Trac traction bars would be less effective or not work at all, due to the change in geometry, as well as the fact that they would hurt my ground clearance because of their under-axle mounting.

Therefore, my thought process leads me to think Rancho kicker shocks may be a good solution - they could be installed now, and I put in a lift kit, maybe they will adjust enough to compensate for the geometry change, or maybe even replace the shock, leaving the mounts as is.

Does anybody here have experience with kicker shocks? Are they effective? I've heard that some of the Lightning guys are using them. Is anybody aware of any other possible solutions? Would the Cal-Tracs work in a lifted truck? Grave Digger Monster truck-style four link setup, perhaps? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Thanks in advance!
Travis

 

Not a bad idea. i guess if you used a coil over shock it would even be better.

 

you can do it home made style. you drill a hole in the over load sprinv in front of the axle. then you get a carriage bolt (diecent size) and put it in the hole. you put a nut on the top side of the spring and on the bottom side of the spring. Than you can adjust how far the head of the bolt is sitting from the other springs. if you make it touch the other springs then you kinda hove preload. that is the cheapest track bar you will find.

 

I like that idea, sleeper - pretty easy and low buck. The holes are already started too, since the overload springs have those little squeak stoppers in them. Thanks for the idea!

I also got to thinking - it seems a kicker shock kit is just a glorified bracket kit with shocks. I'm gonna do some measuring this weekend, and see if maybe I can design something... If I were to use a 5 way adjustable shock, I'd have some tunability...