Traction bars made by Competition Engineering are installed on drag racers and other vehicles subject to extreme acceleration. The traction bars mount on the rear leaf springs to convert acceleration forces acting on the rear suspension into a downward motion to keep the tires in contact with the pavement and reduce tire spinning and wheel hop. Competition Engineering traction bars are rated for use on cars powered by engines up to 450 horsepower.
Instructions
- 1
Jack up the rear wheels. Support the rear of the car on jackstands. Place the jackstands under the frame just ahead of the rear wheels so the total weight of the rear axle hangs on the leaf springs.
2Unbolt the shock absorber at its lowest mounting point. Take out the lower spring plates and the U-bolts.
3Drill out the two mounting holes in the spring perch to half-inch size.
4Thread half-inch nuts on both supplied J-bolts all the way to the end of the threads.
5Slip the J-bolts over the axle tube but under the brake lines. Insert the rear ends of the J-bolts into the holes in the leaf spring perch.
6Unscrew the half-inch nuts on the J-bolts until they contact the leaf spring perch and the top of the J-bolt rests on the top of the axle tube.
7Position the traction bar under the leaf spring center bolt. Align the hole in the traction bar mounting plate with the leaf spring center bolt.
8Insert the front ends of the J-bolts into the holes in the side brackets and push the rear ends down into the holes in the spring perch.
9Install the factory T-bolt over the leaf spring and into the front mounting holes in the traction bar.
10Secure the J-bolts and the factory T-bolt with supplied half-inch washers and nuts. Torque all nuts to 50 foot pounds first, and then continue to torque the rear nuts to 70 foot pounds. Do not tighten the front J-bolt nuts yet.
11Determine the proper shock attachment adapter bracket for your particular shock absorber. Make sure the shock attachment bolt will pass through the mounting hole in the traction bar. If it will not, drill out the mounting hole. Make sure the shock attachment brackets will clear the tires, wheels and brake backing plates.
12Jack up the rear axle with a floor jack under the differential housing so the rear suspension is supporting the vehicle's weight.
13Verify that the distance between the top front of the traction bar and the leaf spring is equal to the size of the supplied rubber snubber pads. If the distance is equal, lower the jack so the traction bar separates from the leaf spring and install the rubber snubber pads.
14Tighten the front legs of the J-bolts with a deep socket on a socket wrench. Tighten both bottom J-bolt nuts evenly until the top of the J-bolts contacts the top of the axle tube. Tighten the top J-bolt nuts until they contact the top of the leaf spring perch. Re-tighten the bottom nuts to 70 foot pounds of torque.
15Install the rear shock absorbers.
16Lower the car to the ground and bounce the back of the car to seat the suspension.
17Thread the 7/16-inch nuts about three-fourths of the way onto the threads of the square U-bolts.
18Install the square U-bolts into the mounting holes on the front mounting bracket of the traction bar. Adjust the nuts so the top of the square U-bolt contacts the top of the leaf springs. Thread the bottom 7/16-inch locknuts on the threads and torque to 70 foot pounds.
19Trim the protruding ends of the J-bolts with a hacksaw if necessary to provide ground clearance.
20Repeat the procedure for the other side of the vehicle.
