I am getting a lot of axle wrap in my front end ('76 Ford D44, SOA, shackle reversal) just from putting on the brakes (and under throttle) on my YJ. I have tried adding leaves, adding a leaf above the mainleaf, and just got done fabbing a single, center mounted, double heimed rod (14" long) from the center of the axle tube to a custom crossmember just in front of the oil pan drain plug (attempted to post a pic, but I think it is too large). None of these attempts have worked. I know the triangulated, shackle bars are suppose to work well, but I don't think there is enough room to built an effective one. What do you guys do in the front where there is not a lot of room to work with? If you guys think you could help and want some pics of the current setup, just let me know an I can e-mail them to you.

A local company here in Cali makes some pretty trick traction bars that dont take up much room at all and they work awesome.

E-mail this guy: trailsport@earthlink.net his name is Julio and the company is called Trail Sport.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/99may/trailsport.jpg

Here is a rigged up pic

build that one into a ladder bar style traction bar. if it doesn't work, it's not like your out since that one isn't working anyway. :flipoff2: let me know what you find out cause i plan on a front traction bar like the sam offroad style. later.:D

is this axle wrap actually causing wheel hop or driveshaft bind???? if not don't worry about it. If so try moving the axle mounted end of your current link up further away from the axle housing, this way it has more leverage and it will take alot more force for the axle to pivot around it and bend the springs into an S.

go 4 link like i did. i did not do it to limet wheel hop
seeing how the stock ford radius arms do a good job of that any how. but to get the most articulation, and axle control. the best of both worlds.
you can see pic's of my build up here.

http://w3.one.net/~marc/broncohio/tech/fourlink.html

why do anything else?
steelman

single link to the top of the housing doesn't do much except give the axle a place to pivot on. the only way to eliminate axle wrap is to get a ladder bar style traction bar or go 4-link. any axle wrap can cause lack of traction because as the spring wraps it stores energy and when the tires reach their traction limit the spring unloads and causes the axle and tires to slip further than just normal tire slip and less chance of regaining traction (same effect as going to lower gears). the tire travels less distance slipping and can try to gain some traction sooner. ;)

does he sell neon shock boots to match my triple arm windshield whippers as well? :rolleyes:


Originally posted by Bogger-chic
A local company here in Cali makes some pretty trick traction bars that dont take up much room at all and they work awesome.

E-mail this guy: trailsport@earthlink.net his name is Julio and the company is called Trail Sport.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/99may/trailsport.jpg

Originally posted by Bogger-chic
A local company here in Cali makes some pretty trick traction bars that dont take up much room at all and they work awesome.

E-mail this guy: trailsport@earthlink.net his name is Julio and the company is called Trail Sport.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/99may/trailsport.jpg
Lo'Rene,
Thats a cool looking traction bar... Id wonder if it will work well. HMM Don't see why it wouldnt. Maybe I'll cruise down to trail sport when I get my SOA done, and get me a traction bar from them :)
Scott :grinpimp:<><

the reason your setup doesn't work is because it is on top of the axle. with a springover a top link basically acts as a pivot and does nothing for wrap. if you were spring under it would work. with a spring over the link needs to be at the bottom of the housing instead. i think you should turn your current setup into one of the "a" style arms and use a shckle at the forward point like the rear ones everyone is using. the shackle setup will prevent wrap but it will not bind your susp. like a hard mounted link can when used with leaf springs.

Originally posted by Bogger-chic
A local company here in Cali makes some pretty trick traction bars that dont take up much room at all and they work awesome.

E-mail this guy: trailsport@earthlink.net his name is Julio and the company is called Trail Sport.

http://www.rockcrawler.com/features/newsshorts/99may/trailsport.jpg

I've got these on my CJ soa and they work damn good.