Traction Bar Pics

[Hondarider552]

on a lifted truck IMO, their pretty much worthless. too much angle, not enough caltrac.

[03Dmax90]

May be a dumb question to some but what is the purpose of traction bars

[Hondarider552]

i have no clue man, i bought them because mcrat had some so i have to be cool too.

[MMLMM]

Traction bars help prevent axle wrap. Which can lead to wheel hop. Also when launching on the track energy used to forward motion the truck will be lost in teh twisting of the axle. And its reversed energy will be released slower rate then which it initially applied (another words, you wont gain the energy back going down the track).

However with a traction bar pushing the load toward the front of truck it may stop axle wrap, but it could cause axle to 'roll" back with the axle rotation. On 99% of street driven/weekend race trucks, a set of cal tracks or traction bars will be just fine. Your ultimate would be a 4 link preventing any axle wrap or add a reversed biscuit bar over the center of the axle along with traction bars.....

here is a pic of my bars.

[Iceman56]

Originally Posted by IdahoRob

For racing the traction bars should be pointing up higher than the centerline of the truck to push the rear up and the front down(anti-squat) This helps plant the front tires(4x4 only).

The way shown above may be good for pulling(I'm not a puller), but not for the drag strip. That way the rear is trying to lift the front, not press it down.

Look into some software describing centerline/anti-squat/suspension. This will show you the way Mike.

What exactly does that mean Rob? What is the centerline of the truck you talk about?

Thanks for the help

[Iceman56]

Originally Posted by MMLMM

Traction bars help prevent axle wrap. Which can lead to wheel hop. Also when launching on the track energy used to forward motion the truck will be lost in teh twisting of the axle. And its reversed energy will be released slower rate then which it initially applied (another words, you wont gain the energy back going down the track).

However with a traction bar pushing the load toward the front of truck it may stop axle wrap, but it could cause axle to 'roll" back with the axle rotation. On 99% of street driven/weekend race trucks, a set of cal tracks or traction bars will be just fine. Your ultimate would be a 4 link preventing any axle wrap or add a reversed biscuit bar over the center of the axle along with traction bars.....

here is a pic of my bars.

Mike you wouldn't happen to have a good pic of where it connects to your frame up front would ya?? Trying to decide exactly how the make the bracket up there?

Thanks

[Six-Gun-Todd]

Let me demonstrate why you need traction bars/cal tracs.......20 psi launch at the track last night in 4x4.....truck wheel hopped so hard it broke something in the system and wala no 4x4.

[IdahoRob]

Again the pic of above is not right either for track use. The bars are pointed way below centerline thus lifting the front. Good for 2x4 though. They will help with axle wrap though. A set of spring clamps helps without bars.

Think guys. The front tires on a 4x4 do a great deal of the work pulling the truck down the track. Do you want to help unload the front tires, or do you want to plant the front tires? You may not think that helps much on a high 12 second truck, but it does. Then get to setting up a 9 sec truck and it makes a world of difference.

Centerline is the point where you can balance the truck like a teeter-tauter verticely and then draw a line at crankshaft height. Where those two points meet is your centerline. The bars need to be pointing at or above this(either with the back lower, or the front higher, or both). Here is a basic pic from a 4 link software program, but you can use the bottom bar for reference. With this software, I can change different settings on the trucks and find the best setup for each application.

[TYREBOYZ_DEMAXIN]

Originally Posted by IdahoRob

Again the pic of above is not right either for track use. The bars are pointed way below centerline thus lifting the front. Good for 2x4 though. They will help with axle wrap though. A set of spring clamps helps without bars.

Think guys. The front tires on a 4x4 do a great deal of the work pulling the truck down the track. Do you want to help unload the front tires, or do you want to plant the front tires?

Centerline is the point where you can balance the truck like a teeter-tauter verticely and then draw a line at crankshaft height. Where those two points meet is you centerline. The bars need to be pointing at or above this. Here is a basic pic from a 4 link software program, but you can use the bottom bar for reference. With this software, I can change different settings on the trucks and find the best setup for each application.

that does make sense and i myself was curious on how that works so thankyou for the exclamation!
does anybody build traction bars for RC trucks?i bought a set of procomp ladder bars that would have done what your suggesting but i need them a lil longer or shorter to make it work,prefer shorter! they are a 72" ladder bar!

[Six-Gun-Todd]

Originally Posted by IdahoRob

Again the pic of above is not right either for track use. The bars are pointed way below centerline thus lifting the front. Good for 2x4 though. They will help with axle wrap though. A set of spring clamps helps without bars.

Think guys. The front tires on a 4x4 do a great deal of the work pulling the truck down the track. Do you want to help unload the front tires, or do you want to plant the front tires? You may not think that helps much on a high 12 second truck, but it does. Then get to setting up a 9 sec truck and it makes a world of difference.

Centerline is the point where you can balance the truck like a teeter-tauter verticely and then draw a line at crankshaft height. Where those two points meet is you centerline. The bars need to be pointing at or above this. Here is a basic pic from a 4 link software program, but you can use the bottom bar for reference. With this software, I can change different settings on the trucks and find the best setup for each application.

I've seen that software before......very useful stuff when it comes to setting up suspension.