Traction bars

smkscrn

New member
Nov 17, 2013
30
0
0
Spring hill ks
Which traction bars seem to work the best. I know on street cat stuff cal tracks seem to be where it's at for leave spring cars. But what about the longer bars? Pros and cons before I spend the money on them?

Thanks
 

TROJAN366

Gold Rush
Jan 13, 2012
2,474
1
38
MASS
What are you planning on doing with it??
Long bars seem to be the best for sled pulling and most street driving. Cal Tracs work well for drag racing and aren't bad for daily driving. I have heard they rattle but can be adjusted so it isn't a problem.
 

smkscrn

New member
Nov 17, 2013
30
0
0
Spring hill ks
Mostly street maybe a few stop light races and I wouldn't mind trying to pull one of these days as well. I just didn't know the gain of the long bars over cal tracs and what works best. Thanks for the input
 

brandon06dmax

the reckoning
Apr 29, 2013
365
0
0
jactionville nc
I drive traction bars and they drive great I love them much better feel and I have a guy who builds them for a good price pm me for his info if interested
 

Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
3,361
64
48
Lincoln, Ne
Seem to ride smoother then the traction bars. I run 1/4 turn of preload on the street with the caltracs and then more at the track. Even with no preload on the traction bars it seemed like they was to stiff for the street.
 

TLyons90

New member
Apr 22, 2013
1,631
0
0
Greenville, SC
I find the caltracs hard to find a happy medium depending on how much fuel is in my gas tank and what not. Regardless I get a lot of noise out of them I don't like and a stiff like a rock ride...
 

Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
3,361
64
48
Lincoln, Ne
I find the caltracs hard to find a happy medium depending on how much fuel is in my gas tank and what not. Regardless I get a lot of noise out of them I don't like and a stiff like a rock ride...

How much preload are you running on yours?
 

Utahski

New member
Oct 20, 2008
546
0
0
Northern Utah
Caltracs work fine and they're easy to adjust. I removed the bottom overload spring. Daily driving the Caltracs are set to just barely touch. For spending a day shooting, out plonking in the sage, they may/may not get backed off a little. For the dragstrip they're tightened to touch then given about 1 more turn. Calvert (makers of Caltracs) is terrific to deal with, the best company anywhere.
 

TLyons90

New member
Apr 22, 2013
1,631
0
0
Greenville, SC
Take out all of your preload

Caltracs work fine and they're easy to adjust. I removed the bottom overload spring. Daily driving the Caltracs are set to just barely touch. For spending a day shooting, out plonking in the sage, they may/may not get backed off a little. For the dragstrip they're tightened to touch then given about 1 more turn. Calvert (makers of Caltracs) is terrific to deal with, the best company anywhere.

I have ran them with the pin barly touching the top of the leaf pack and also with slight preload to them for DD. Either way any kind of bump I hit there slamming up and down on the leaf pack which makes for both a rough and loud ride... Maybe I am doing something wrong when it comes to adjusting them and need to be learned :roflmao:

Seems like a few different factors go into getting them almost perfect and 1 of the biggest to me would be whether you have a full tank of fuel or 1/4 tank...
 

Ne-max

I like turtles
Nov 15, 2011
3,361
64
48
Lincoln, Ne
What does a little extra weigh have to do with it? If your axle is not wrapping there should not be anymore load on the clatracs.
 

pullsanything

Enthusiast
Oct 7, 2013
78
0
0
Iowa
I drive traction bars and they drive great I love them much better feel and I have a guy who builds them for a good price pm me for his info if interested

PM sent!:thumb: Would be interested in buying brackets. I can make the bars myself no prob but would rather skip all the work fabbing brackets as I will be borrowing my buddies welder.