traction bars

[cruznude]

do they they still make them for a 620 and where can I get them?

[Pacific coast Datsun]

Yes still available. Google search them..Mike bought a set recently. Or maybe check Jegs or Summit racing.

[flatcat19]

JC Whitney.

[datzenmike]

Track bars? How '70s. This is for 1/4 mile and 300 hp???

[MicroMachinery]

Uh oh.. The Canadians are feisty.

[datzenmike]

Yah, I come home and found the animals in the corn field. Had to corral them and fix all the fences. Worse, I found we have a new MP up here.

[banzai510(hainz)]

Mike I thought they would work on lowered leaf spring trucks and wagoons so the axle don't wrap cause all the kids pull all the springs out. put a adjustable threaded snubber

[kelowg]

Or try leaf spring clamps on front side of spring pak. With one or two leafs(dont remember) removed, clamps stopped my axle warp/wheel hop.

[datzenmike]

On poorly designed or weak leaf springs they limit the upward tilting of the differential where the driveshaft joins it when placed under severe acceleration loads. The leaf spring tends to reverse arch until the tire breaks traction, at which point the spring snaps back into shape and the tire grips again only to bend the spring up again becoming a run away oscillation. At this point the loads on the axles, ring and pinion gears can shear them off and even the suspension parts can break. A 'track bar' bolts to the bottom of the U bolts on both sides and extends forward just under the front leaf spring mount. Here an adjustable rubber snubber is located. In use, the operator adjusts the amount of snubbing required to prevent 'wheel hop' depending on changing surface conditions. It is only intended for straight 1/4 mile launches for drag racing and does nothing to improve regular handling in corners.

[Jester]

Almost correct there Mike. The bars sole purpose is to stop axle wrap. The adjustable snubber on the end is to adjust how much or little that spring deflects. A car that drifts form left to right in the burn out box can be adjusted so it leaves striaght. All by that little snubber. 

Traction bars are cool if your doing a retro/old school build. If you building anything serious, look for a better way. There are plenty.

[Laecaon]

You are better off with just clamping the leaf pack in front of the axle. This prohibits the individual leafs from sliding as much, and you will feel the difference in the seat, the truck will feel like it hooks up better.  And its a very cheap mod.

[cruznude]

Well, really liked the old school look with them

[scooter]

It's old skool, and works. I wanna see a mini set of caltracs built for one of these. The problem with caltracs is they can make your car snap oversteer or understeer in an autocross situation. Another idea is use a sprung and shocked 3rd link above the diff.. some dirt oval track cars run those. All have their advantages and disadvantages.

[Buzzbomb]

They might look cool, but my experience with traction bars was they negatively effected ride quality. Furthermore, the one size fits all cheapo traction bars can actually wind up breaking the leaf spring right before the front perch because the snubber doesn't usually center under that  spring perch like it really should

[cruznude]

Not talking so much on the function ability but just for looks. they go so good with the late 70's and early looks on a 620.

[datzenmike]

Only on leaf spring muscle cars.

[Trophy24]

With wonky soft springs

[datzenmike]

Not necessarily. Muscle cars usually had better, stiffer suspensions than their base model brothers. I remember the early Camaro was absolutely terrible for wheel hop. Second year they put one shock in front and the other behind the axle to try to tame it. I found the Camaro had too much leaf spring in front of the axle, or axle too far back, allowing spring wrap on hard take offs. 

 

Traction bars are not needed on a Datsun because traction isn't an issue. Traction bars are there to prevent/eliminate acceleration induced wheel hop. Ain't happening. They are simply, form over function like mad camber and tire stretching but not as dangerous.

[kelowg]

Front spring clamps, stiffened things right up. No wheel hop and rear seems to stick the corners better. Can keep up with L series 510's in the twisties.