Old school traction bars and axle wrap

[rocknhorse76]

For those of you in denial about axle wrap, I have provided a few pics of my old school traction bars showing how much stress they are subjected to.

Before anybody flames me for using these particular traction bars, let me explain why they’re on there in the first place. I finally committed to attending the NW Bronco Roundup for the first time in August of this year, and realized I really needed to scab up something for wrap control in a really short amount of time.

I remembered that I still had the old school style traction bars that I used about 30 years ago. Not ideal, but better than nothing was my thinking at the time. Keep in mind that the bushings are the originals and they actually seemed ok.

I’d love to say that they prevented any u-joint breakage, but that’s not the case. I still managed to grenade one on day one, but was able to jury-rig an emergency setup to get me through the weekend (another story in itself ).

Fast forward to a few days ago, and I figured I’d take a look to see how the bars were holding up since I still haven’t gotten around to building a proper antiwrap setup or biting the bullet and linking the rear. Lazy, I know. Especially since I have 3 other (Duff, WH, and Ruff Stuff) setups laying around in my shop .

Needless to say, they aren’t doing very well. And long story short, old school traction bars aren’t a good way to eliminate axle wrap when combined with a lot of power, low gearing, and big(ish) tires. They’re probably fine for a pavement princess with small tires and stock drivetrain, but I’d still recommend something from one of the classic bronco vendors.

 

[73azbronco]

with 11 leaf springs, heavy duty plates, my anti axle wrap Toms offroad like system, still allows front of yoke on diff to raise or lower about an inch. They work, or, it works.

 

[rocknhorse76]

An inch is acceptable. I will probably end up modifying either the Ruff Stuff or WH Wrap Trap to work with my running gear. I have a trussed 14B in the rear, so there’s not much axle tube to work with.

 

[Tricky Dick]

"New school" ones with a shackle are pretty slick though.

 

[Yeller]

An inch is acceptable. I will probably end up modifying either the Ruff Stuff or WH Wrap Trap to work with my running gear. I have a trussed 14B in the rear, so there’s not much axle tube to work with.

Weld it to the center section, it will work just fine. Clean it, weld it at 200amps in a horizontal position with a MIG, make 2 passes all they around and be happy. No axle tube required.

 

[73azbronco]

"New school" ones with a shackle are pretty slick though.

View attachment 934131

that would be my style, toms offroad style

 

[73azbronco]

Weld it to the center section, it will work just fine. Clean it, weld it at 200amps in a horizontal position with a MIG, make 2 passes all they around and be happy. No axle tube required.

I was considering that version, but then I would need a cross frame brace. Went with it stuck on one side mounted to frame and axle.

 

[Speedrdr]

"New school" ones with a shackle are pretty slick though.

View attachment 934131

Not to hijack the thread, but who makes the ‘new school’ model in the pic?

Randy

 

[Tricky Dick]

Not to hijack the thread, but who makes the ‘new school’ model in the pic?

Randy

https://www.tmrcustoms.com/products/anti-wrap-bar-diy-builder-kit?currency=USD

 

[rocknhorse76]

Yeah I have one just like it from Ruff Stuff.

 

[rocknhorse76]

Weld it to the center section, it will work just fine. Clean it, weld it at 200amps in a horizontal position with a MIG, make 2 passes all they around and be happy. No axle tube required.

Yeah, I have the brackets ground out to fit onto the center section and truss, just haven’t gotten around to welding them on and building a shackle mount for the front. Maybe someday soon lol. But then again, I also already have another set of coilovers and bump stops for the rear, so maybe I’ll just link it. Damn, I wish I was rich!

 

[rocknhorse76]

Honestly guys, this post was meant to show just how much stress the rear leafs have to endure when axle wrap comes into play. I know the options I have, just need to figure out what my wallet can support!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Yes, the forces are pretty crazy on the axle housing. Running 10 leaf packs with a bit of a block I once had what is probably the worst possible arrangment.
Started with a single plate (like the CAD sketch), not doubled up. Arm was a long stick along the top and the bottom had an angled piece that terminated about halfway, adjustable turnbuckle. It was beefy stuff, 1¼ quarter wall tube. The triangle bent the top bar on the way home. Rebuild with more triangle, kept the adjuster (to dial in pinion angle I told myself). Now I could explode the 3/8" hardware any time I wanted, compression and it just folded.
OK, get serious, make that lower bar out of stout material. All is good. I no longer explode stuff.
First trip to SEMA 2002 I took the Bronco. Wheeled it north of town that weekend (Thank you Vegas Bronco Club). On the way home I notice the back window getting wet, with gear oil.
That single 4-link bracket I was using peeled the axle open like a can opener. I took the arm off in the parking lot of Shelby, brake cleaned the tear and packed it with RTV. Went into the truck stop for dinner. Gently drove it home.

Massive learning curve on how much torque/force there is on the rear axle. Final fix was a front radius arm grafted onto the rear axle with a shackle on the front. FYI, there is a 3-point heim joint you can get at a tractor supply shop for cheap that is the right bore to fit on the bushing side of the radius arm. As far as I know that arm is still working perfect.

 

[Speedrdr]

https://www.tmrcustoms.com/products/anti-wrap-bar-diy-builder-kit?currency=USD

Thanks. It’s only money, I keep telling my wife. Lol

 

[Yeller]

Yes the forces are extreme. Ripped 3/16 plate like tissue paper on my first one.

 

[Tricky Dick]

Thanks. It’s only money, I keep telling my wife. Lol

Just sell her on the u-joint savings!

 

[rocknhorse76]

Yes the forces are extreme. Ripped 3/16 plate like tissue paper on my first one.

This is what keeps me leaning in the direction of a 4-link. Move the axle back another 1-2” and be done with it.

 

[Yeller]

That fixes everything

You can do that with coil springs, not cut the floor and use the stock shock mounts with a 10” shock and have enough wheel travel that it is quite impressive. Not overly complicated doing the rear, the front gets busy fast lol.

I’ve done enough of them that I can do the rear only in 2 days with a few purchased brackets.

 

[rocknhorse76]

That fixes everything

You can do that with coil springs, not cut the floor and use the stock shock mounts with a 10” shock and have enough wheel travel that it is quite impressive. Not overly complicated doing the rear, the front gets busy fast lol.

I’ve done enough of them that I can do the rear only in 2 days with a few purchased brackets.

I need a neighbor like you! Having my bronco out of commission for a long time is my biggest concern with doing a link conversion.

 

[bronco italiano]

For those of you in denial about axle wrap, I have provided a few pics of my old school traction bars showing how much stress they are subjected to.

Before anybody flames me for using these particular traction bars, let me explain why they’re on there in the first place. I finally committed to attending the NW Bronco Roundup for the first time in August of this year, and realized I really needed to scab up something for wrap control in a really short amount of time.

I remembered that I still had the old school style traction bars that I used about 30 years ago. Not ideal, but better than nothing was my thinking at the time. Keep in mind that the bushings are the originals and they actually seemed ok.

I’d love to say that they prevented any u-joint breakage, but that’s not the case. I still managed to grenade one on day one, but was able to jury-rig an emergency setup to get me through the weekend (another story in itself ).

Fast forward to a few days ago, and I figured I’d take a look to see how the bars were holding up since I still haven’t gotten around to building a proper antiwrap setup or biting the bullet and linking the rear. Lazy, I know. Especially since I have 3 other (Duff, WH, and Ruff Stuff) setups laying around in my shop .

Needless to say, they aren’t doing very well. And long story short, old school traction bars aren’t a good way to eliminate axle wrap when combined with a lot of power, low gearing, and big(ish) tires. They’re probably fine for a pavement princess with small tires and stock drivetrain, but I’d still recommend something from one of the classic bronco vendors.

K Bar S axle wrap bars!!!! I had them on my first bronco in the late 1980's!!!