junk in the trunk

[Hot COCOAL]

No not really
My question involves rear suspension
Ladder bars or trac bars, whatever you want to label them, like cal tracs keep the rear axel from jumping hopping under extreme power or launch by keeping the axel perpindicular to the frame, right?
So i am wondering, i already have air bags and a big wig sway bar bolted to the rear axel tube, i have not had the rear end hop since i put both products on. I wonder tho? Would a cal tracs set up compliment what i have done, does anyone run a set up like mine? Air rite 5000 helper bags and a hellwig big wig sway bar?
Does a sway bar accomplish almost the same feat as trac bars?
My sway bar mounts to the axel tube in two spots one on each side of the diff, then legs run back and get tied in via a poly bushinged drop arm that is attached to the frame here is a pic

Would i even have the room for a cal trac set, dont get me wrong, i love my set up. I just always hear soo much about the trac bars thought i would try to get some input as to how much differantly it woud be than what i have already done, be too much etc.

 

[Jscherbs]

sway bars accomplish a different task vs. traction bars.

if your not getting wheel hop at your current power level I wouldnt worry about it. if you are going to start increasing your power level and start racing or pulling I would install a traction bar type set up wither it be cal tracs or any other style.

 

[Dirtymaxx03]

ladder bars/traction bars are different then a set of CalTracs. Traction bars only job is keeping the axle from wrapping. CalTracs are adjustable so you can set them to different loads depending on what you are doing with the truck. Your sway bar is for body roll (side to side). If you arent getting axle hop, dont worry about getting bars

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Yes , absolutely they do
my intent for the sway bar is being fulfilled
It seems, by design, the helwig rear bar would posess traits that would mimic what trac bars do
im not saying the sway bar does a good job, but i was just wondering if by looking at the way its shaped, mounted to the axel tube and frame, does anyone think it posess characteristics of a track bar kit?
Also if i wanted to add a track bar kit should i remove the sway bar, or if it all fits run it
Has anyone else tried this

 

[Hot COCOAL]

I was just curious if at some point you lock the rear end down too much, if anybody had gone down this road before
i didnt have wheel hop before? At least not really, a little chatter maybe but no hop
That was before, i guess i'll figure it out, when this new "built trans" goes in i expect it to hook up alot qiucker and much harder, so i am just rrying to be prepared for what i may need to do

 

[Jscherbs]

it all should fit, my traction bars mount from beneath the U-bolt clam

caltracs mount from the front eyelet to the same location.

you should have plenty of room to try it all... hell by the time your done id attempt drifting

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Buddy you read my mind

 

[Dirtymaxx03]

Being that the sway bar is bolted on, it will do nothing against the forces causing axle wrap.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Being that the sway bar is bolted on, it will do nothing against the forces causing axle wrap.

? Thats kinda the way i see it too, i had really bad wheel hop before the install of this big wig sway bar, i had the predecessor to this bar on my last truck and did not have the same results
however the new bar has redesigned mounts, and is larger in dia so, idk thats why i asked
Looks like cal tracs are goin on the list too
:doh:
:broke:

 

[hondarider552]

Track bars will help if you enter drifting contests though..

 

[Harbin_22]

Spring clamps are dirt cheap and do a great job with little to no down fall. I only run spring clamps on the street as Caltracs drive me crazy from noise

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Noise? What kinds of noises occur with cal tracs?
What are spring clamps? Manufacturer/link?
I saw one time a "trac bar" or some set up that mounted above the axel and went backwards, not to the front of the rig
Is that a spring clamp?

 

[Harbin_22]

No they clamp the front of the pack to the overload. I made my set for under $15 with zero problems for 30,000 miles. They are a 3" U bolt from rural king with 3/8 flat steel on the other side. Search it. Burkhardt sells them too

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Track bars will help if you enter drifting contests though..

Haha
Wouldn't that be somethin to see
a duramax powered cc/sb hangin it out and throwin down with a 240sx or silvia in a drift comp
:coal:

 

[arneson]

Really confused on the need for a rear sway bar? I pull 10-15k lbs a couple times a week and play around with my truck that has 600+hp easy and will have alot more once motor is done but i have never felt the need for a sway bar. Rear is solid and feels great. Are u lifted?

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Nope, leveled not lifted
If the rear of yor truck feels solid to you, you may not know you need one til you have experienced a corner in a truck that has one
Power doesnt necessitate a sway bar
Driving characteristics, and possibly a little load control knowledge, those two things will change yor mind
But really like you said, your truck "feels" great to you, why change it
alot of what we put on our trucks is driver preferance anyways

 

[arneson]

Load control knowledge? I own a landscaping company and have 13 trucks, 5 dump trucks, and have been running business for 20+ yrs. Lets just say i k.ow about hauling heavy loads. Lmao. Good luck with your set up sounds like u know what your doin. Lol

 

[arneson]

What tires u running? Pressure? Shocks? Just curious.

 

[Hot COCOAL]

Tires-285/75/18 4080lb single wheel 10ply rated
Shock-cognito spec bilstien 5100
pressure-4-12 psi empty, depending
I do my share of haulin chit too, have had a class A fully endorsed license for 15 years
Congratulations on 20 years in businesses

 

[arneson]

So u are thinkin cal tracs? Street or strip? To help with launch?