Who is running Superlift traction bars?

[csangster]

I broke one of my traction bars; actually the bracket that mounts to the frame.

I have a feeling that I didn't have my traction bars adjusted quite right so it broke the passenger side bracket.

I need to investigate the break to determine if it was a fatigue failure or an ultimate failure.

Regardless of that, what is the proper way to adjust the traction bars so this won't happen again.

The bracket broke at the weakest part (expected), so I am going to strengthen the brackets on both sides for added security.

Anyone have an useful hints? I can post pics of the break if necessary. The bracket broke on the horizontal section just forward of where it bolts to the frame. Broke directly in half, one piece is still attached to the frame and the traction bar, the other half is bolted to the front eye of the leaf spring.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Apogee]

That style of traction bar limits articulation...so if you like to flex your suspension, they will either behave as limiting straps in the rear, or they will break, or both. They seem to last on street queens. I've seen them break on rigs that see dirt. The arc that the traction bar sweeps and the path that the center of the leaf spring sweeps are inherently not the same path, hence the problem.

You sound like the engineering type...you may want to consider putting a better design of traction bar on your rig as opposed to putting some lipstick on a pig. Do a search as a current poll would probably show you that most wheelers would use a single, shackle mounted, anti-wrap bar as close to the driveshaft as possible. SaddleUp has one that seems to accommodate most stock and modified drivetrains so you might search his posts in particular.

 

[csangster]

Yup

That style of traction bar limits articulation...so if you like to flex your suspension, they will either behave as limiting straps in the rear, or they will break, or both. They seem to last on street queens. I've seen them break on rigs that see dirt. The arc that the traction bar sweeps and the path that the center of the leaf spring sweeps are inherently not the same path, hence the problem.

You sound like the engineering type...you may want to consider putting a better design of traction bar on your rig as opposed to putting some lipstick on a pig. Do a search as a current poll would probably show you that most wheelers would use a single, shackle mounted, anti-wrap bar as close to the driveshaft as possible. SaddleUp has one that seems to accommodate most stock and modified drivetrains so you might search his posts in particular.

Apogee;

Lipstick on a pig it is......I have a feeling that these were used more for mud-racing applications and similar instead of flexy type rigs.

I just want a good traction bar that helps prevent axle wrap up.

Thanks for the input, I'll check with SaddleUp and see what he has on his pics.

Thanks again,
Chris

p.s. you were correct about the engineer thing....I probably should have seen this coming.

 

[bronko69er]

Ahhh a fellow ME. If these are the "over-leaf style" I had some on mine an they limit articulation by several inches. They were unbolted in my avitar pic. After this first try on the ramp I unbolted them and got several more inches of articulation. Here are some pics of Saddleup's bar. I took a few last weekend as i'll be building one like it soon. There are a few more on the last page of his build thread. http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60217&page=5
The benefit of this design is that it doesnt limit front to rear movement (like the solid bar design when it limits articualtion) but it still locks the axle in place rotationally.

 

[SaddleUp]

Nice pics Jesse.

The ones I'm selling differ just a little from the one above. Basically the crossmember is just made from the same material as the bar. This is the second generation of this. The only changes we made from the first generation are an extra bracket on top of the rearend that makes installation simple (bolt up the bracket on the third member and then bolt the large bracket to it with the bar and weld it in place) and then we are also sleeving the eyes at each end since they started to show signs of stretching.

We are getting ready to build 2 of them and will have an extra so if your interested in it let me know.

 

[bronko69er]

We are getting ready to build 2 of them and will have an extra so if your interested in it let me know.

I may be depending on the price.

 

[SaddleUp]

I may be depending on the price.

It looks like $230 plus shipping. I'm also sending you a PM.