LB7: Traction bars

[aashton1206]

Spent about four hours installing some new traction bars I had built, still have to adjust them.

2004 Silverado Cali lb7, Airdog ll 165, fresh sticks at 325k, Rick Fletes Dsp 5 on v2, 33x12.5 nitto at on 20 inch American Racing 20x10 wheels, Stage 5 Built Transmission by Mike Cole with triple disc billet low stall converter, 4 inch Injen cold air intake, Profab Intake Horn, Batmo Wheel, PPE Race Valve, Full EGR Removed w/ fed belt, 3.5 inch MBRP Downpipe, Full five inch MBRP Exhaust axle dump, lbz cp3 pump, Dual Yellow Top Optimas, High Output Alternator, Cognito Pittman and idler w/ support kit, Cognito Upper Contol arms, Drilled and Slotted Rotors on all four Corners, FED Y Bridge, Shantz Custom Fab Traction Bars.

 

[TLyons90]

Who built them? Look like decent quality

 

[aashton1206]

Great quality, great finished product. Built by Shantz customs fabrication


2004 Silverado Cali lb7, Airdog ll 165, fresh sticks at 325k, Rick Fletes Dsp 5 on v2, 33x12.5 nitto at on 20 inch American Racing 20x10 wheels, Stage 5 Built Transmission by Mike Cole with triple disc billet low stall converter, 4 inch Injen cold air intake, Profab Intake Horn, Batmo Wheel, PPE Race Valve, Full EGR Removed w/ fed belt, 3.5 inch MBRP Downpipe, Full five inch MBRP Exhaust axle dump, lbz cp3 pump, Dual Yellow Top Optimas, High Output Alternator, Cognito Pittman and idler w/ support kit, Cognito Upper Contol arms, Drilled and Slotted Rotors on all four Corners, FED Y Bridge, Shantz Custom Fab Traction Bars.

 

[Chevy1925]

why do guys still use those crappy heims? ill never understand it....

btw, swap those nuts/lock washers out for some cap lock nuts. much nicer look and they hold torque much better.

 

[c5fourj]

why do guys still use those crappy heims? ill never understand it....

btw, swap those nuts/lock washers out for some cap lock nuts. much nicer look and they hold torque much better.

Is there a place to get rubber based joints?
My 2nd set of heim are making noise again

 

[Chevy1925]

Is there a place to get rubber based joints?
My 2nd set of heim are making noise again

either put in a good set of FK heims and shoot them with a shot of WD40 every month (if you are in a rust belt) or once an oil change OR you change over to a poly bushing but thats not a simple change.

a good quality heim will take a long while before it squeaks and squeaks from a good heim dont mean they are worn out, only that the lining has glazed (wd40 helps keep them quiet and rust from forming inside), the cheap ones dont last for crap and quickly go from squeak to clunk.

i like the ballistic fab rebuildable jonny joints at one end and delrin bushing at the other. no squeaks and the joints hold up well under this purpose. thats if you want a 0 squeak setup and dont mind greasing the joint twice a year.

 

[c5fourj]

I checked over mine a bit and it seems is though im getting noise from the threads themselves. Joints are as tight as day one. Any idea on how to stop the clunking?
Sorry to derail op, but with heims you might run into these problems later too. Everything ive read on them points towards noise eventually.

 

[Chevy1925]

Do you have jam nuts on the heim threads? Also, just because they are tight does not mean they won't make noise

 

[c5fourj]

Do you have jam nuts on the heim threads? Also, just because they are tight does not mean they won't make noise

Yep nut it on and tight.

 

[Chevy1925]

if the jam nut is tight, the threads shouldnt be making ANY noise. if they are, something is loose or wrong

 

[OregonDMAX]

Johnny joints are the only way I would go, heims are cheap (even the good ones are fairly priced) tractor heims are garbage never use them. ALL heims make noise eventually.

 

[c5fourj]

A little update, took the bars aparts and drowned them in wd40 and no more noise! Thank you chevy1925 for the advice.
I will be changing to johnny joints later on though. Seem to be a better design not being metal on metal.

 

[aashton1206]

I hand tightened it then went another half thread with a wrench on both sides. Feels ideal


2004 Silverado Cali lb7, Airdog ll 165, fresh sticks at 325k, Rick Fletes Dsp 5 on v2, 33x12.5 nitto at on 20 inch American Racing 20x10 wheels, Stage 5 Built Transmission by Mike Cole with triple disc billet low stall converter, 4 inch Injen cold air intake, Profab Intake Horn, Batmo Wheel, PPE Race Valve, Full EGR Removed w/ fed belt, 3.5 inch MBRP Downpipe, Full five inch MBRP Exhaust axle dump, lbz cp3 pump, Dual Yellow Top Optimas, High Output Alternator, Cognito Pittman and idler w/ support kit, Cognito Upper Contol arms, Drilled and Slotted Rotors on all four Corners, FED Y Bridge, Shantz Custom Fab Traction Bars.