adding Trac bar with drop shackles?

[zf>allison]

I was wondering if anyone has added a Trac bar to the rear end after adding super long drop shackles to there trucks. My brother has drop shackles and he left work one day and kicked it all sideways, and it looked like the rear end had some side to side play for sure. I didn't notice any sway when I added mine. It was just mainly a thought I had, I could see the longer shackles adding a little sway to the rear but maybe I'm totally wrong. But i don't think a Trac bar could really hurt unless your talking about weight. Just looking to hear a few opinions.

 

[rickettzusaf]

I had a 5 inch drop in the rear with my truck (2" drop hangers and 3" drop shackles) and I had custom made 55" traction bars. Basically they attached under my u-bolts and were welded on the frame right before it curved up for the rear. I also had full leaf still.

 

[OregonDMAX]

Wait wait, traction bars or trac bar? They are two different things...

 

[bfmine]

Sounds like the op is talking about a trac bar to keep the rear end from moving side to side under the truck. Not the traction bar to fight axle wrap

 

[c20elephant]

Panhard bar...

 

[clrussell]

Panhard bar...

This ^^ I believe that's what Jesse is talking about..

I've never noticed it on my truck with 3" drop shackles. Seems stable as factory.

 

[zf>allison]

Yes a Panhard bar not traction bars. I have caltracs, and my truck seems stable. But i seen my brothers tire move side to side out of the wheel well pretty bad. He has no traction bars or anything. And we have the same shackles. If i didn't see what I seen it never would have crossed my mind. And that's him kicking it sideways not just cornering. Maybe I can get a go pro video of it doing it.

 

[zf>allison]

I had a 5 inch drop in the rear with my truck (2" drop hangers and 3" drop shackles) and I had custom made 55" traction bars. Basically they attached under my u-bolts and were welded on the frame right before it curved up for the rear. I also had full leaf still.

btw like that stance alot

 

[kivetts04dmax]

Too bad you didn't get ahold of me earlier, meeting a guy in STL in a couple hours to sell him my Cognito front/rear swaybars..

 

[zf>allison]

I was wondering if they would have the same effect. I'm sure it's gonna stiffen it up either way, Panhard or sway bar. I looked at hell wig sway bars but never pulled the trigger. I have a caltrac bar I ****ed up one bungs threads. I might cut it off and re weld a new bung on the one side and make it into a Panhard bar. But I'll gopro my brothers hangers before wasting my time. But I'm sure that's where the flex was happening.

 

[zf>allison]

Just did a little reading. A pan hard seems to be used on leaf spring cars only when running rubber buschings in the leafs, which caltracs get rid of that with there aluminum ones. And on cars with long shackles/drop shackles. They also have alot less leaves so may not be as stiff as our trucks, but also most cars have rear anti roll bars where our trucks do not. I might build one just to do it. Might just be something fun to try out. If it doesn't work oh well. This would be geared more toward dd trucks that get driven hard around corners more than a drag truck and have drop shackles

 

[c20elephant]

SuperSteer trac bar bolt on, found them last year just could not remember who..

http://www.supersteerparts.com/products/supersteer-trac-bar-gm-2500-3500-trucks-hd.html

 

[zf>allison]

Yeah I might do one with heim joints. But those are cool for someone who can't make one. I wonder if they will work on lowered trucks?

 

[LBZ1991]

Still have the rubber in the rear and the poly in the shackle. But like you said your brother doesn't have cal tracs with the aluminum bushing up front

 

[kivetts04dmax]

I just think sway bars make it ride too stiff..

 

[zf>allison]

Yeah that's why I wanna try a pan hard. My brothers reg cab already rides like shit. A sway bar would be horrible on top of it

 

[bfmine]

I have a sway bar with heim joints on a jeep. Imo it's good to be able to flex with the suspension. But they wore out fast and make a lot of noise. The screeching from the heims go away with some lube. But the clunking doesn't. Fwiw. Good luck

 

[Turbo Performance]

Yeah I might do one with heim joints. But those are cool for someone who can't make one. I wonder if they will work on lowered trucks?

If you build one, I wouldn't do a double heim panhard. It'll wear out crazy fast. Make one side a rubber/poly bushing and it'll live a lot longer.

 

[Chevy1925]

dont use the cheap ass heims and they will actually last a good long while. two 7/8" FK heims in the K or J series would work well. you will hear the bushings through the frame if you go anything but Derlin. Poly does not do well.

 

[Turbo Performance]

dont use the cheap ass heims and they will actually last a good long while. two 7/8" FK heims in the K or J series would work well. you will hear the bushings through the frame if you go anything but Derlin. Poly does not do well.

My experience was a little different. 10K on my Dmax street rod last year and the double heim panhard was hammered out.QA1 heims. Going to a poly bushing this year to hopefully make it last.