Traction Bars, Ladder Bars, or Torque arm help?

[Crankin]

Hey everyone,
I saw this post titled "Anti Wrap" and I was really impressed by the craftsmanship of those bars. Great Job!
My FSB is a tarbaby though, and I'm getting a lot of axle wrap even during normal driving situations (stop and go). I'm afraid I'm going to break a leaf spring or ruin the U-joints. With x-mas around the corner , I really don't have the extra cash to go out and buy a $400-$500 set of traction bars or ladder bars. I am a metal fabricator with a huge facility at my disposal, (no in house water jet though) so I was wondering if any one would know of any cheeper traction devices out there or has any plans or measurements to build your own? I was also wondering, wouldn't a torque arm be cheeper, more simple to design, and alow more articulation?

My FSB: 96 EB edition 5.8 auto, 4" Superlift, 35" BFG AT's

[Dangling_Dave]

This one was pretty easy and inexpensive to build, but Splah's looks better.

http://www.supermotors.org/vehicles/...=22948#content

Only used a plasma cutter (someone else's) and a welder to fab it up. Not sure about the $$ involved but it was under $200.00.

And my rather lame writeup
http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ight=anti+wrap

dc

[Davids78Bronco]

Before you get wild and crazy about it, make sure everything's tight: U-bolts, shackle and hanger bolts, all driveline bolts, and make sure the U-joints are also in good condition. If everything checks out, then go for it

And fill out some of your personal information, in your profile, too. You being a fabricator could be useful to others in the area, for the DIY'ers

[Crankin]

Hey Nice design!
you're right that does look pretty easy to make. But I'm trying to understand and get the right angles needed to make something like this work properly.

Being a newby I'm still trying to figure out how to do my profile, and add pictures of my FSB

Hey check out this one on ebay, super simple, but does it work?
item# 8022177182

I'm new to 4X4 suspension tricks, I build street racers and drag cars, mostly Mustangs 64-06, since buying my FSB, I'm hooked

[Davids78Bronco]

That's just a link, from a 3pt mount off a tractor. The price is right, if you want to go that route, but I can be almost positive the length will be too short. Plus, with the other fabrication that's needed to complete it, you may as well do it all yourself

*edit - just noticed your Bronco info... is your rear lift made up of lift blocks, or full lift springs?

[Crankin]

Thanks, (ebay traction bar) it looked a bit cheep & cheesy and too good to be true. I have full lift springs.
So how long should the bar be? I heard the bar should be at a 10 degree upward angle from the rear end??
I'm trying to get pictures of my rig on here, but every time I try it says my pictures are too big, so I have to find a way to shrink them down a bit. I'm also trying to get pictures of some of my fabrication work.

[Dangling_Dave]

I cheated when I did mine. I welded the plates onto the axle and then fabbed up the front mount. Then I measured everything to make sure it worked. I have some measurments in my superford writeup but they will be different on your setup.

PS setup a www.supermotors.org account for your pictures. There are instuctions on how to link in the images in the help section on this web site.

Good luck
dc

[Crankin]

Sweet! thanks,
Later on tonight I'll try to get some pictures on.

[BigNorm]

Originally Posted by Dangling_Dave

I cheated when I did mine. I welded the plates onto the axle and then fabbed up the front mount. Then I measured everything to make sure it worked. I have some measurments in my superford writeup but they will be different on your setup.

PS setup a www.supermotors.org account for your pictures. There are instuctions on how to link in the images in the help section on this web site.

Good luck
dc

That's not cheating! That's how I built my whole truck!

[bronc12hi4u]

These guys are a pretty cheap alternative, and they'll make you whatever size you want.

www.anninengineering.com

[Redwagon]

heres a link to something I think I am going to try and fab up for my bko.
http://www.jeepaholics.com/tech/bambar/

[peteyg]

Originally Posted by redwagon

heres a link to something I think I am going to try and fab up for my bko.
http://www.jeepaholics.com/tech/bambar/

I'm building that for my leaf conversion. I know a guy who has it and is very happy.

I'll have mine done in a couple weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. You're welcome to come down while we're building, too, if you'd like.

[MikE2]

Good idea, I like that.

[Redwagon]

Originally Posted by peteyg

I'm building that for my leaf conversion. I know a guy who has it and is very happy.

I'll have mine done in a couple weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. You're welcome to come down while we're building, too, if you'd like.

That would be awesome...but next 2 weekends are screwed...

[peteyg]

Originally Posted by redwagon

That would be awesome...but next 2 weekends are screwed...

Well, realistically, my next two weekends are screwed, too, but I'm hoping I can find some time. I'll let you know when we're building, and you can decide if you can make it.