Ladder bars on a street car.

[moparmarks]

Anyone running ladder bars on the street? How is the cornering? Any problems with the front brackets hitting the street? Trying to decide between a pinion snubber, Caltracts or ladder bars.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I think I have a set if you decide to go that way. Cheap too. Not me, the ladder bars.

 

[roadrunnerman]

I have run traction bars on the street with my 71 charger and also on the interstate at 105 mph with no issues on stabilaty. Don't know about the others. I know a friend of mine would rather run TB's rather then pinion snubber.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Was told by several members here that traction bars are a no no guess they don't work? I dunnno I like fling all over the place in my RR posi kicks *** lmao

 

[moparmarks]

Ladder Bars guys, not Traction Bars.

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I think I have a set if you decide to go that way. Cheap too. Not me, the ladder bars.

How long are they? Need 32" ones.

 

[74roadrunner440]

im running a snubler havent tried it yet but my prob is im running air shocks and cant get traction because my tires are too wide put on 275 60 r 15 on my 73 rr and if i let air out they look like they will hit would like to get rid of those shocks and get standard ones but with new heels and tires wont work with the wide tires but i need to get traction somhow but i havent drove car since the changes do to that white stuff falling from the sky and dont drive my car in the winter lol

 

[benno440]

cal tracs i heard are great ladder bars on the street is a bit over the top isnt it? is it illegal? cause it is here

 

[moparmarks]

cal tracs i heard are great ladder bars on the street is a bit over the top isnt it? is it illegal? cause it is here

I hear the Cal Tracs make alot of clunking noise on the street. Yes ladders are street legal and no, not over the top for what I'm doing.

 

[benno440]

haha what are you doing? i havent heard of the clunking noise complaint

 

[moparmarks]

Was told by several members here that traction bars are a no no guess they don't work? I dunnno I like fling all over the place in my RR posi kicks *** lmao

I'm one of those that say no to traction bars on a Mopar. Back in the 70's I had Mopar factory manuals that advised against the use of them. Higher torque motor could twist the axle housing they said. Talking racing conditions.

 

[67 B-body]

haha what are you doing? i havent heard of the clunking noise complaint

When they are set "loose" they can make noise when you hit the throttle and the axle wraps up. The "cross link?" comes down against the top of the leaf spring and makes a smack sound......

 

[moparmarks]

haha what are you doing? i havent heard of the clunking noise complaint

This. I know, I know, its an A-body but after 35 years of Bs, Es and trucks this is the first A that I'm building.
Mini tubbed and inboard springs.
440 727 8.75 for now. Hope to build a 512 later.
Trying to get things finished up before paint. Still need to install the frame connecters and need to decide my traction path.
Will see both street and track action.

 

[MikeyT]

I run caltracs on the street and don't mind them at all, I adjust the proload out when not at the track.

Mike

 

[moparmarks]

When they are set "loose" they can make noise when you hit the throttle and the axle wraps up. The "cross link?" comes down against the top of the leaf spring and makes a smack sound......

Thats what I hear tell thus my question.:eusa_think:

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I run caltracs on the street and don't mind them at all, I adjust the proload out when not at the track.

Mike

And doing that quites things down? Aren't they kinda of a pain to get setup right?

 

[MikeyT]

Yes, and I still tweak it(caltracs) however, the noise has never been an issue for me

Mike

 

[RustyRatRod]

Are you planning on getting rid of the leaf springs? Ladder bars and leaf springs are really doubling up on suspension......I really don't think they will work good together. I've seen it done, but IMO you'll be better off with either one or the other, not both. Ladder bars are made to work in conjunction with coil over shocks. The coil overs take the place of the leaf springs.

 

[67 B-body]

Rusty, They also work when using the full floater rear axle setup with leaf springs.... Agreed,,, coil overs would be better though.

 

[moparmarks]

Ya was planning on using leafs. They have already been move inboard. Don't have the money for coil overs. I've installed lots of coil overs and air bags, just not on my cars. I've seen alot of people running ladders with leafs. Didn't know there could be a problem.

 

[67 B-body]

Ya was planning on using leafs. They have already been move inboard. Don't have the money for coil overs. I've installed lots of coil overs and air bags, just not on my cars. I've seen alot of people running ladders with leafs. Didn't know there could be a problem.

I believe the floater kits are pretty cheap...... it allows the axle angle to be adjusted and tuning of the 4 link system.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Well, what happens is, the ladder bars change the arc at which the rear axle travels. So the ladder bars and leaf springs will bind without either eliminating the leaf springs and going to coil overs or adding the leaf spring floaters as 67 B-Body mentioned. At least that's my understanding. I've never had a reason to run ladder bars. I know they work, but when there are cars running in the 8s at over 160 MPH with leaf springs, I just never saw a point. Again, not that they won't work properly set up......I'm just not sure you can just bolt them on with leaf springs and go. I could be wrong.

Another thing to consider is you will lose some of the independence that the leaf springs offer. In other words, with ladder bars, when one side squats or rises, it will take the other side with it, where as with leaf springs, there is some independence from one side to the other. ...and I'm not sure that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's something else to consider.