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Zaurusman
GenIII
 
4/19/2002
12:52:38
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 Subject: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
So I'm looking in JC Whitney, and I come across what looks like a curved leaf spring that goes between the front leaf spring hanger and the axle and supposedly acts like a traction bar, preventing wheelhop.
Well, I think the distance between them is a inch short to use on my Dakota though I'll be remeasuring later (in daylight!) but my question is: Do these things work? I'd love to replace my Lakewoods with something that doesn't hang down in search of stray plastic bags and the such. Any other nifty ideas if so?
I really don't want to fork out for that Roadmaster system.
TIA!
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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Demon-Xanth
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2002
13:11:43
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
I believe those won't do much for wheel hop, but they are to effectively stiffen the spring.
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Zaurusman
GenIII
4/19/2002
14:14:26
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Has anyone tried the ones that are specifically designed (or at least "marketed") for wheelhop prevention? I saw other half-leafs on that page for load capacity increase, but these were specifically supposed to act like traction bars and were actually shaped a little differently.
Ah, here they are online:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?CATID=179891&BQ=jcw2
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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CW
GenIII
4/19/2002
14:26:28
|  RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
My roadmasters did squat for wheel hop but handle excellent with the trailer.
2001 4.7 RC 5sp 3.92 LSD
Click on thumbnail for mods.
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Fubar512
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2002
16:22:15
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Mopar should bring back pinion snubbers.
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SS_Dakota
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2002
16:28:05
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
i saw them in there too and was thinking the same thing. if you get them, lemme know how well the worked.
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roadracer
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2002
00:06:30
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
zaurusman, why don't take those chevy bars off and put them in the nearest dumpster. I have told more than more mopar people this than I care to remember. You did not mention what engine you have so I will make my best bet. First, get some 3deg shims and put them in between your axle and leafs, small end towards the front. I hate to admit it but with a v-6 it should solve the whell hop. If you have an 8 try a 4deg shim. Also a good set of gas-nit charged shocks takes some of the tendency for your dak to wheel hop.
And last but not least, if you have a ripper v-8, if funds are there try the lakewood slide a link track bars.
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Lesley
GenIII
4/20/2002
00:20:04
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Could you elaborate on the "shims"? What application have you used them for, Thanks.
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, Brass cap & rotor, JBA 9mm cables, Borla tip, IAT adjuster. Coming: Boyd Smoothies
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HopinGator
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2002
18:06:25
|  RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Shims are little wedges that tilt the rear by degrees to preload it. They fit in between the leaf spring pack and the mount pad on the axle with the thick side at the rear tapered to the thin at the front of the pad. He said for a v-six get a set of 3 degree shims. To install them you loosen the U-bolts that clamp the spring pack to the axle and slide them in and retorque.
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Lesley
GenIII
4/20/2002
18:14:42
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Thanks, I knew what shims were, but wasn't quite sure how he was putting them in.
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, Brass cap & rotor, JBA 9mm cables, Borla tip, IAT adjuster. Coming: Boyd Smoothies
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HSKR
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2002
18:18:29
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
My Caltracs work pretty good, but with the Hotchkis suspension I didn't really have wheel hop. They work good to keep the truck from tracking to one side during a burnout though. And I beleive Pro-Comp makes the SLide-A-Links, not Lakewood.
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Zaurusman
GenIII
4/20/2002
19:12:14
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Well I'll give those shims a try first; just find 'em at an O'Reilly or AutoZone or the such? Heck, why not just put on a 4 even though I have the V6? Anything complicated about the install I need to know, like having to put bolts to specific torque settings and therefore have to buy a torque wrench? Also, does this increase strain on the driveshaft u-joints or anything?
Yeah, the Hotchkis springs are stiffer than stock; they have to be to compensate for the reduced travel without bottoming over bumps. I'm envious, HSKR!
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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DaveR
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2002
21:26:46
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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I believe the "slide-a-link" is made by Comp Engineering. I have a set and I have next to no wheel hop. I haven't had any probloms with plastic bags or any other debris, just not something to go offroading with.
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Alan P
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
02:07:05
|  RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Zaurusman, did you ever try those traction bar alternatives from JC Whitney?
Alan P
98 V6 auto CC sport w/mods
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Zaurusman
GenIII
7/29/2002
09:59:22
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Nope; loooked to be an inch or two too long. I have some Hellwig helper springs coming in that look downright identical though. Odd...
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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Alan P
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2002
12:56:22
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
What was the price on those? Post your results on them if you would please,thanks.
Alan P
98 V6 auto CC sport w/mods
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
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7/29/2002
17:56:56
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
I have them and they are great.The fit is perfect. They work far better than the lakewood bars I have on a shelf because they sucked. Not only do they plant the tires they improve the ride. They are differnt than a helper spring.The truck is a 2wd '97 ,5.2 , auto , with mods.
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Zaurusman
GenIII
7/29/2002
19:21:17
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Really?! Guess I mis-measured... That's awesome to hear, Aaro! In what way does it improve the ride? Reduce leaning? Firm the rearend? Simply smooth out the launch?
Alan, those helpers are around $40 from TruckPerformance.com; I ordered them specifically AS helper springs, though, and they go on the spring behind the axle rather than in front of it as the traction bar versions do. They do have a set that has another for ahead of it, too. They're a week out, so I haven't tested them yet.
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/29/2002
21:54:36
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
The truck is not as harsh over big bumps and the high speed corning is greatly improved, the slight loss of control when hitting bumps at on and off ramps is gone. I have ISA shocks and a rear sway bar with 255/55/16 tires. I was surprised with the springs because they work so well. I checked ride height before and after the springs, they only added a 1/4" or less. The springs are made by Hellwig.
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Zaurusman
GenIII
7/29/2002
22:17:29
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Thanks for your feedback, Aaro. I'm running some too-stiff Gabriel shocks in back at the moment, but was planning on moving to ISA's, and also to adding the Hellwig swaybar for now until I can later drop it via Hotchkis and use their bars -- so your feedback is very relevant to me. I'll grab a set myself, then, as well as the sway bar already on my short-term mods list. Add the helper springs I already have on order and I should be towing quite admirably too!
Oddly enough, your feedback on the spring is the same I read half a year ago about the Lakewoods... Anyone who wants to buy some can email me!
Sounds like you have your suspension nicely tweaked; if you want to go a bit further I can tell you that the Kenny Brown X-Brace makes an appreciable difference in handling response from the chassis. Positive, by a good margin, especially for very quick moves and tight turns. $250 mod, though. I consider it an essential one for really good handling, and I bet it would make more of a difference with your mods than it did with mine (none but "handling package").
Thanks again for posting.
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Zaurusman
'98 RC Red Sport V6 5spd 3.21 15x8's
http://home.earthlink.net/~tiborkun/Dakota/Index.htm
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Alan P
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/30/2002
01:33:37
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
I have a set of the helper springs on my truck now ,increased weight carrying capacity,and really helped with towing,,also improved handling. Picked them up for about 30 bucks at autozone.
Aaro,is the set you have the same as the JC Whitney type?
Alan P
98 V6 auto CC sport w/mods
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Aaro
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/31/2002
20:47:54
| RE: Traction Bars Alternatives?
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Message:
Alan P , yes they are the JC Whitney traction springs. JC Whitney is the only place I have seen them.
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